MacBook Pro 16” M1 Pro – random shutdowns & boot loops

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Level 1

4 points

MacBook Pro 16” M1 Pro – random shutdowns & boot loops

Hey everyone,

I’m really struggling with my MacBook Pro 16” M1 Pro. For the past two weeks it has been shutting down randomly without any warning. Sometimes it works fine for 1–2 hours, other times it reboots after just a few minutes, even when I’m not touching it.

After a random shutdown, when I restart, macOS runs a disk check (fsck_apfs) as if the power was suddenly cut.

I already tried Safe Mode and even a full DFU restore — it helped for a short time, but the shutdowns came back.

Sometimes the machine runs stable for hours (especially after being left plugged in overnight), then suddenly crashes again.

No kernel panic logs, just abrupt power loss and random boot loops.

I took it to Apple and they only suggested a full logic board replacement for about 900€, which is completely out of my budget as a student. I also dropped it off at an independent repair shop, but so far they haven’t given me a clear solution.

What I really don’t understand is how such a severe failure can happen to a Mac that I bought brand new from the Apple Store just 2.5 years ago — a machine I literally worked and saved for years to afford, which costs a fortune, and which I only got to use for my studies. I’m honestly desperate at this point… it feels so unfair after everything I put into getting this laptop

Has anyone experienced similar issues with M1 Pro machines randomly shutting down? Could it be power management, battery controller, or another board-level component? Any advice would be super helpful 🙏

MacBook Pro (2021)

Posted on Sep 4, 2025 05:43 AM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

66,746 points

Sep 4, 2025 09:07 AM in response to N4wfel

The important question is whether you had the issue while booted into Safe Mode. If you did not encounter the issue while booted into Safe Mode, then it may mean (assuming you used it a sufficient amount of time) that some third party software caused the problem.

Also, did you thoroughly test the Mac after the DFU Firmware Restore before restoring from a backup and before installing any third party software?

Make sure to test by disconnecting all external devices just in case one of them is causing a problem.

Try running the third party app EtreCheck and posting the complete report here so we can examine it for possible clues.

How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting an EtreCheck Report - Apple Community

FYI, Kernel Panic logs are located in "/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports" and sometimes will be moved to the "Retired" subfolder. Usually they will have file names with "kernel" and/or "panic". Use the Finder to look for these files since the Console app doesn't show all of the available log files anymore.

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