How to Resolve Constant Restarts on macOS

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Disable automatic restart

   Open System Settings and navigate to General, then Sharing. Ensure that Energy Saver settings are not forcing a reboot after a power failure, and if using an Intel Mac, verify the Energy Saver preference pane under System Settings to uncheck 'Restart automatically if the computer freezes'. This prevents the system from cycling due to minor power irregularities.

   Note: For Apple Silicon, this behavior is managed by the unified power controller.
2. 2 min

   Check for kernel panic logs

   Open Console from Applications > Utilities. Select 'Log Reports' in the sidebar and filter for files ending in '.panic'. If you find these files, the restart is caused by a hardware driver or system extension conflict.

   Note: Look for the specific process ID causing the crash inside the panic log.
3. 1 min

   Run Apple Diagnostics

   Shut down your Mac. For Apple Silicon, press and hold the power button until 'Loading startup options' appears, then press Command + D. For Intel Macs, hold the D key during startup to identify hardware failure codes that indicate a failing logic board or RAM.

   Note: Write down any reference codes provided by the diagnostic tool.
4. 1 min

   Remove incompatible startup items

   Navigate to System Settings > General > Login Items. Remove all unnecessary background applications and login items to rule out software conflicts. Restart your Mac normally to see if the stability improves.

   Note: Third-party antivirus and optimization software are frequent causes of kernel panics.
5. 2 min

   Reinstall or update macOS

   Go to System Settings > General > Software Update. If the system is fully updated, boot into macOS Recovery by holding the power button (Apple Silicon) or Command + R (Intel) at startup and select 'Reinstall macOS'. This refreshes core system files without deleting user data.

   Note: Always ensure your Time Machine backup is current before running a reinstall.