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Fixing macOS Shutdown Failures

Issue Description 

Mac hangs on shutdown or reboots instead of powering off. 

Common Causes 

  • Stuck background processes 
  • External devices blocking shutdown 
  • Corrupt shutdown services 

Step-by-Step Solution 

Step 1: Disconnect Peripherals 

  • Remove all USB devices 
  • Attempt shutdown again 

 

Step 2: Identify Blocking Apps 

  • Open Activity Monitor 
  • Look for apps marked Not Responding 

 

Step 3: Shut Down via Terminal 

  • Open Terminal 

sudo shutdown -h now 

 

Step 4: Reset Power Management 

  • Reset SMC (Intel Macs) 

Explore Further 

  • Check shutdown logs 

Prevention & Best Practices 

Quit apps before shutting down.