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macOS Sonoma crashes when using QuickTime Player

Upgraded to macOS Sonoma a couple days ago.

Crashed 4x in the last two days when using QuickTime Player, 2x when using it to record video, 2x when using it to play .mp4 files. On each occasion a report was forwarded to Apple.

Any known fixes?

MacBook Pro 13″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Oct 1, 2023 2:01 PM

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Posted on Oct 4, 2023 8:02 PM

I switched over to Elmedia Player https://www.elmedia-video-player.com/ and things seem to be working ok. There's a free version and a paid version . . . and here's a site that will show you how to change Elmedia to your default video file viewer: https://recorder.easeus.com/screen-recording-resource/change-default-video-player-mac.html

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Oct 4, 2023 8:02 PM in response to johncla

I switched over to Elmedia Player https://www.elmedia-video-player.com/ and things seem to be working ok. There's a free version and a paid version . . . and here's a site that will show you how to change Elmedia to your default video file viewer: https://recorder.easeus.com/screen-recording-resource/change-default-video-player-mac.html

Jan 11, 2024 10:52 AM in response to johncla

I have the same issue on an M1 MacBook Air running the latest macOS Sonoma. When opening "some" video files with QuickTime it will cause the entire operating system to freeze, this is serious freeze as the entire OS becomes unresponsive. At this point the machine must be forcibly shut down by holding down the power key.


Seeing that a Live Wallpaper is essentially a video file being played back, my intuition is telling me that the Live Wallpapers feature introduced in Sonoma is the cause of the issue. I recently disabled Live Wallpapers & Screensavers, setting my wallpaper to a still image and using a screensaver that was included in previous macOS versions. After doing these things, I have not seen the issue re-appear, yet.

Jan 19, 2024 7:04 AM in response to johncla

After some testing and research, the issue appears to be in how Displays are currently being handled in Sonoma while in mirrored mode. Throughout the crashes, my M1 MacBook Air was attached to an external monitor in mirrored mode. When changing this mode to extended, it has been a week now using Quicktime exclusively for video playback without crashes. Crashes do not occur when no monitor is attached to MacBook Air. If you are using your display in mirrored mode please switch to extended mode and let us know if you see any more crashes.

Jan 22, 2024 4:34 PM in response to alexanderlindo

That is the first logical observation I have seen so far regarding this crashing issue, have observed 6-7 crashes since update to Sonoma, all times the external monitor was connected in mirror mode. Not sure why that should cause a crash, but I can also observe how this behaves in extended display mode.


Also, does anyone know why Apple is so silent on this issue?

Mar 6, 2024 2:51 AM in response to johncla

This is getting ridiculous. I don't care why this issue happens and what workarounds there are. I'm an Apple user since 1993 and I don't have the time or nerve to worry about issues like this. Please spare me "did you already do this and that…". Yes I did. 


QT Player freezes the whole system and it has been reproduced often enough. I'm working 8-10 hours a day in Final Cut and for clients expecting me to deliver in time and it's just plain embarrassing that QT isn't even able to play videos anymore. And by the way QuickLook in fullscreen also freezes the system — epic!!


I paid a lot of money and I expect nothing less than a working system.


PS: Thanks, Apple, for deleting my original post. Just shows how much you care ♥️

Mar 12, 2024 6:22 AM in response to johncla

I am outraged how apple is handling this bug.


It was reported in November. Had several crashes. Apple support contacted me around Christmas. Later beggining of January I have provided everything - sys logs, logs while it crashed, video taken with my iPhone while crashing and the video file that caused the crashed.

We had about 5-7 calls some about an hour long. I couldn't use my laptop (m1 Mac 13 inch) for work anymore because of the crashes and purchased another one.


Now it is mid of March and still I didn't get update what happened and if it is resolved. I am afraid to try my new machine with the mirror mode again as it is my working machine.

Jan 25, 2024 4:24 AM in response to M_R_G24

Pretty much same issue. Not sure what device you are using but mine is 14" pro, less than 12 months old. Since, update to Sonoma , it has frozen and rebooted 10+ times, never before that, never had to reboot Mac in past.


A few comments below someone mentioned about this happening with external monitor connected on mirror mode. Could you please let us (co-sufferers) know if you are using external monitor while this is happening.


Clearly, Apple has no interest to fix this, the users will have to figure this out on their own.

Feb 5, 2024 4:35 AM in response to costa242

Indeed very disappointing. I tried one thing and not had crashes in past 15 days, it was crashing few times a day before that.


I need some verification from others, but I think the issue is with this setting

Settings --> Desktop and Dock --> Click wallpaper to reveal desktop --> Set this value to "Only in stage manager"

Settings --> Desktop and Dock --> Stage Manager --> Turn this off


The theory:


Clicking desktop creates this dark band around the desktop, this sends all open windows into oblivion, pushing them towards the edges out of view. I think some applications don't like being treated this way, I have had issues with Quiktime Player and also with Windows Remote Desktop, causing system crash.


To be verified: I think this issue happens when the external monitor is different aspect ratio/resolution than Mac screen. So detaching monitor might not surface the issue.


I am just another person on this forum suffering from this ill-tested feature release by apple. But since my laptop is not crashing after this setting change, I wanted to share.... and also get your feedback

Feb 11, 2024 1:14 AM in response to johncla

I tried this suggested fix ... it worked.


  

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therealpankajupreti has posted in the macOS Sonoma community. 

macOS Sonoma crashes when using QuickTime Player


Indeed very disappointing. I tried one thing and not had crashes in past 15 days, it was crashing few times a day before that.


I need some verification from others, but I think the issue is with this setting

Settings --> Desktop and Dock --> Click wallpaper to reveal desktop --> Set this value to "Only in stage manager"

Settings --> Desktop and Dock --> Stage Manager --> Turn this off


Jan 9, 2024 10:42 AM in response to johncla

I am experiencing the same with use of QuickTime and macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 (23C71). When I create a screen recording all goes well however when I review the recording my system will hang and the beachball will appear. Sometimes my computer will reboot on its own saying an issue occurred and other times I have to complete a force reboot. I did not experience any issues with use of QuickTime when my laptop was on macOS Ventura.

Mar 14, 2024 9:24 AM in response to johncla

johncla wrote:

OP here, this issue may be resolved. It was reported above that the problems with playing mp4 files might be connected to using an external monitor.
Last night I upgraded to Sonoma 14.4. This morning I disconnected my external monitor and played a 20-minute mp4 file w/o problems. This is hardly conclusive ... but the hint is to do this: 1. upgrade your OS, and 2. disconnect your external monitor.

That is great to hear that you are no longer having an issue but I and others are on macOS Sonoma 14.4.0 and the issue is not resolved. The whole point of having this issue resolved is so that we can have video playback using QuickTime with an external monitor attached and in mirrored mode.

macOS Sonoma crashes when using QuickTime Player

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