Catalina restart with AppleGFXHDADriver error

I have nearly the same problem with AppleGFXHDA.kext as described. Here's how I can reproduce:

1. Turn on MacBook Pro (13" Touchbar entry-level 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports)
2. Connect to monitor via USB-C dock
   1. Dock is a USB-C OWC 10-port dock (https://www.owcdigital.com/products/usb-c-dock)
   2. Monitor is a Dell U2718Q
   3. Connected to dock using Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter
3. Disconnect USB-C dock from MacBook Pro
4. Put MacBook Pro to sleep via the Apple menu or by closing the lid
5. Wait 10-15 seconds for it to actually sleep
6. Open the lid
7. MacBook Pro reboots with a kernel panic

The workaround I found is to remove the AppleGFXHDA.kext (/System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext)

This can be done temporarily by using kextunload:

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext

When I did that, the problem went away. I could then connect and disconnect my monitor at will without a crash.

I then took more permanent steps to eliminate the kext. I feel somewhat comfortable doing this since that kext is meant to provide high-definition audio over HDMI and DisplayPort. My monitor does not have audio so I'm not losing anything with it.

Hi,

apple just posted an information how to solve this issue on MacBook Pro 2019 with 2 Thunderbolt ports. My MacBook is from 2018 and has 4 port but still I’m going to try to go to this steps and maybe it will fix the issue.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210615

It was the one I posted (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250790639?answerId=252079520022#252079520022). I was getting this error:

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff80032288b7): "AppleGFXHDADriver::setPowerState(0xffffff8048fd7b00 : 0xffffff7f86c28b6e, 0 -> 1) timed out after 10165

So, I ended up getting rid of AppleGFXHDA.kext. If your problem is similar, it would be worth a try. Especially with kextunload since it is non-destructive. It just temporarily unloads a kext.

1. enter the recovery mode：power off and press the key command+R
2. open terminal tool, input the command `csrutil disable`
3. restart your mac
4. open the terminal tool, input the command `sudo mount -rw /`, then you have the permision to delete files in `/System/Library/Extensions `
5. execute the command `mv -v  /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext.original` to rename `AppleGFXHDA.kext` file
6. the problem will be resolved

the problem annoyed me long time, it's been resolved via this way, try it ,good luck!

I just installed 10.15.5 and the problem still persists for me. After connecting to my USB-C dock with a monitor attached, my MacBook crashes when unplugging the cable.

Here's what I did to rename the AppleGFXHD.kext. I was unable to get sudo to run so just mounted the -Data partition using Disk Utility:

1. Reboot into Recovery Mode (hold down Command-R when starting up)
2. Logged in as a known user
3. Ran Disk Utility
4. Mounted the "Macintosh HD-Data" partition (I had to guess which user to use from the dropdown. I only have two user accounts so it was easy).
5. Closed Disk Utility
6. Ran Terminal
7. cd /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD-Data/System/Library/Extensions
8. mv AppleGFXHDA.kext mv AppleGFXHDA.bak
9. Reboot
10. Enjoy

sorry, it's my fault, I just tried it again, and you're right, the last step failed, I forgot add 'sudo' before 'mv-v ....' , the last step that rename the filename command should be: 'sudo mv -v /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext.original'

the last 2 steps as below, try it again,good luck!



Hi,

I have the same problem on my Macbook Pro. Have you found a solution to solve this problem?

It happens when my Macbook comes out of standby, as marvindelfin described it in the previous comment, but for me it's not every time.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Same for me. Almost the exact stacktrace.

My OS came from an upgrade. I tried a fresh install but my macbook pro keeps dying/rebooting.

There is no solution for this?

Man this drives me crazy. I want to hammer my mac down

Its not working:

❯ sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext

(kernel) Can't remove kext com.apple.driver.AppleGFXHDA; services failed to terminate - 0xe00002c7.

Failed to unload com.apple.driver.AppleGFXHDA - (iokit/common) unsupported function.

Hello, you can't modify this file anymore, or you need complex operations rebooting in safe mode etc.

What you can do is unload the kext like this:

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext

But you will need to do it after each restart

Sadly this does not work on the newest catalina. Step 5 returns

mv: rename /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext to /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext.original: Permission denied

and when doing

sudo mount -rw /System/Library/Extensions

it returns

mount: /System/Library/Extensions: unknown special file or file system.

No, you need do 'sudo mount -rw /' , not 'sudo mount -rw /System/Library/Extensions', it'll be not work if this step failed.

then do 'mv -v  /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext.original'

Yup... that does not work:

$ mv -v /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext.original

mv: rename /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext to /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGFXHDA.kext.original: Permission denied

Try booting into safe mode and leaving it for a while does it restart while in safe mode?