We’re sure you’ll agree that Mac devices are known for their excellence in quality, scalability, speed, and dependability, among other things. However, it’s possible that your Mac will underperform and experience unforeseen problems.
Of course, you can always take your Mac to the closest Apple service center to get it fixed, but you could also want to try to figure out the issue on your own first. Your time and money will be saved this way, and catastrophic system crashes will be avoided. The potential actions and next steps will be determined by determining whether the issue is a hardware or software one.
The first thing to try when dealing with a hardware issue is to run Apple Diagnostics (or Apple Hardware Test). It will assist you in identifying the procedure that contributes to the issue and decreases Mac productivity.
If you’re not sure how to run Apple Diagnostics on your Mac device, we’ve written this guide for you. Read carefully, then follow the specific instructions we’ve provided to guide you through the process.
What is Apple Diagnostics?
Apple Diagnostics is a built-in testing tool for Mac devices that can help identify any faulty hardware parts and locate system issues. The RAM, power controller, logic board, battery, and other wireless modules will all typically be examined throughout the test.
Running Apple Diagnostics Process on Different Mac Devices
The diagnostic tool was previously external to the Mac, but starting in June 2013, Apple integrated the tool (through Internet recovery) on all Macs.
Running Apple Diagnostics on a MacBook with an M1 or M2 chipset (Apple Silicon) is essentially the same procedure, and it’s a pretty straightforward one too.
For your Apple Silicon MacBook Pro to undergo diagnostics:
- Put the computer to sleep.
- With the exception of the power and Ethernet adapter, unplug all other devices (if present). You can keep your external wired keyboard and mouse connected if you use them.
- Press down on the power button until you can see the message “Loading startup options…” on the screen.
- Hold down the command and D keys at once while the Startup Options screen loads to bring up the diagnostic tool. The Mac will then reboot into the diagnostic tool after around 10 seconds.
- Keep in mind that Apple Diagnostics on Silicon Macs needs an Internet connection to start up. You can choose to use the tool in offline mode after it has been loaded. If you are not using an Ethernet adapter, click the Wi-Fi symbol in the top right corner of the screen to connect to a Wi-Fi network after the computer has restarted.
- Click OK after choosing your language from the options.
- To start the diagnostic tests, select “Run offline” or “I agree” on the following screen.
If you’re running Apple Diagnostics on MacBook Pros with Intel Processors, follow these easy steps:
- Put your MacBook Pro to sleep.
- With the exception of the Ethernet, power adapter, keyboard, and mouse, if any, unplug all other peripheral devices.
- After turning on the Mac with the power button pressed, quickly press and hold the D key on your keyboard. A firmware password must be disabled on your Mac in order to boot into the diagnostic tool, so ensure to keep that in mind.
- In order to start the diagnostic tests, choose your language.
If you’re working with a MacBook Pro introduced before June 2013, you can run diagnostics by following the instructions below. Note that you will require an optical disk or flash drive containing the OS X media connected to your MacBook if the Mac is running Snow Leopard or a previous version of OS X.
The following are the instructions you’ll need:
- Put your MacBook Pro to sleep.
- All peripherals outside those mentioned as well as the installation media should be unplugged.
- After turning on the Mac with the power button, quickly press and hold the D key on your keyboard.
- Try using option + D to boot into diagnostics online if your Mac was produced in 2011 or later.
Apple Hardware Test (AHT), an older version of diagnostic software, is used by Macs manufactured before June 2013. Select your language after the computer has loaded AHT, then click the arrow to continue. The tool will perform a brief self-test before you click Test to launch the diagnostics.
What Happens After Running Diagnostics on my Mac?
You’ll receive the list of faults with thorough explanations and associated reference codes after running a Mac hardware test. Each code denotes a specific problem and aids in helping you determine the appropriate course of action.
A typical error description will include potential fixes. However, Apple Diagnostics may advise contacting Apple or taking your Mac to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Store to address a particular issue, though.
It’s possible that the system testing turns up with no problems. You could choose one of a few options if you’re in this situation. Keep in mind that these options are mutually exclusive, so pick the one that works best for you:
- You could click on the option to “Run the test again” which will repeat the procedure. This may be necessary because sometimes a minor error could ruin everything. It’s possible that your power adapter was not plugged in the first time you attempted to run Apple Diagnostics. It will help to reconnect it and attempt again to identify the issue.
- Click on “Get started” to learn more about the support and service choices. This will launch the macOS X recovery. Next, click “Agree to send”; this will send your reference codes and serial number to Apple. Make sure to obey the directions displayed on the screen afterward.
- Reboot your Mac
- Press the Shut Down key.
If Apple Diagnostics still finds no hardware issues and your Mac is still acting up, it’s possible that a software issue is at blame. In this case, a dedicated tool such as CleanMyMac X will be useful in conducting a thorough test to identify any issues on your Mac device. It can then clean up, speed up and optimize your Mac device as needed.
In summary, feel free to take advantage of Apple’s dedicated diagnostic tool to identify any hardware issues with your Mac device. Also consider visiting an Apple service outlet if you encounter any technical problems, or if you’d rather not go through the process by yourself.
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