Actual hardware failure is rare, but it happens from time to time. A common hardware failure is random-access memory (RAM). The Apple Hardware Test can check your Mac’s RAM and let you know if there are any issues. Some Mac models allow you to upgrade the RAM yourself, but in general, the newer your Mac, the less likely this feature will be supported.

Apple Hardware Tests on Newer Macs

Not all Macs can use the internet-based AHT. Some must use a local version that’s either installed on the Mac’s startup drive or included on the OS X install DVD.​

Macs made after 2013 must use a newer version of the hardware test, called Apple Diagnostics. You’ll find instructions for testing newer Macs using Apple Diagnostics at Using Apple Diagnostics to Troubleshoot Your Mac’s Hardware.

Macs That Can Use Internet Version of AHT

From the Apple menu, select About This Mac. In the window that opens, click the More Info button. If you’re running OS X Lion or later, click the System Report button; otherwise, continue with the next step. In the window that opens, make sure Hardware is highlighted in the left-hand pane. From the right pane, make a note of the boot ROM Version number, as well as the SMC version number (if present). With the version numbers in hand, go to the Apple EFI and SMC Firmware update website and compare your version against the latest available. If your Mac has an older version, you can download the latest version using the links on the above webpage. When you finish using the Apple Hardware Test, quit the test by clicking either the Restart or Shut Down button.

Use the Apple Hardware Test Over the Internet

Now that you know your Mac is capable of using the AHT over the internet, it’s time to run the test. To do this, you need a wired or Wi-Fi connection to the internet.

Make sure your Mac is turned off. If you’re testing a Mac portable, connect it to an AC power source. Do not run the hardware test using only your Mac’s battery. Press the power button to start the power-on process. Immediately hold down the Option and D keys. Continue to hold the Option and D keys until you see a Starting Internet Recovery message on your Mac’s display. Once you see the message, you can release the Option and D keys. After a short time, the display asks you to choose a network.  Use the drop-down menu to select from the available network connections. If you chose a wireless network connection, enter the password and then press Enter or Return, or click the checkmark button on the display. Once you have connected to your network, you’ll see a message that says “Starting Internet Recovery,” which might take a while. During this time, the Apple Hardware Test is downloaded to your Mac. Once the download is complete, you will see the option to select a language. Use the mouse cursor or the Up/Down arrow keys to highlight a language to use, and then click the button in the lower-right corner (the one with the right-facing arrow). The Apple Hardware Test checks to see what hardware is installed in your Mac. This process can take a little bit of time. Once it’s complete, the Test button is highlighted. Before you press the Test button, you can check what hardware the test found by clicking the Hardware Profile tab. It’s a good idea to take a cursory look at this, just to make sure that all of your Mac’s major components show up correctly. Verify that the correct amount of memory is reported, along with the correct CPU and graphics. If anything appears to be wrong, verify what your Mac’s configuration should be. You can do this by checking the Apple support site for the specifications on the Mac you are using. If the configuration information doesn’t match up, you may have a failed device. If the configuration information appears to be correct, you can proceed to the testing. Click the Hardware Test tab. The Apple Hardware Test supports two types of testing: a standard test and an extended test. The extended test is a good option if you suspect an issue with the RAM or video/graphics. Generally, though, starting with the shorter, standard test is a good idea. Click the Test button. The hardware test starts, displaying a status bar and any error messages that result. The test can take a bit of time, so be patient. You may hear your Mac’s fans rev up and down; this is normal during the testing process. When the test is complete, the status bar disappears. The Test Results area of the window displays either a “No trouble found” message or a list of problems. If you see an error in the test results, take a look at the error code section below for a list of common error codes and what they mean. If no trouble was found, you may still want to run the extended test, which is better at finding memory and graphics problems. To do so, place a checkmark in the Perform Extended Testing (takes considerably more time) box, and then click the Test button. When you finish using the Apple Hardware Test, quit the test by clicking either the Restart or Shut Down button.

End an Apple Hardware Test in Progress

You can stop any test in process by clicking the Stop Testing button.

Apple Hardware Test Error Codes

The error codes generated by the Apple Hardware Test tend to be cryptic at best and are meant for Apple service technicians. Many of the error codes have become well known, however, and the following list should be helpful:

Perform Additional Troubleshooting

You can perform additional troubleshooting for RAM, hard disk, and external disk problems. In the case of a drive, whether internal or external, you can repair it using Disk Utility (which is included with OS X), or a third-party app, such as Drive Genius.

If your Mac has user-serviceable RAM modules, clean and reseat the modules. Remove the RAM, use a clean pencil eraser to clean the RAM modules’ contacts, and then reinstall the RAM. Once the RAM is reinstalled, run the Apple Hardware Test again, using the extended testing option. If you still have memory issues, you may need to replace the RAM.