Zoom is freezing(crashing) MacBook Air with HighOS Sierra

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Zoom is freezing(crashing) MacBook Air with HighOS Sierra

Hi guys, I found similar topic for Mojave, but I still have Air with HighOS Sierra 10.13.6 (17G12034) and when I try to join conference on Zoom, my MacBook Air freezes and the only option is to press the power button for a few seconds to shut it down.

The reason why I'm writing here that I was not happy with answers given by Apple experts in previous threads. Yes - Zoom is 3rd party app, but I'm running it as non-priviledged user, so in my view it is Apple problem as well as if app misbehaves, the worst thing it should happen is that app itself crashes. It should not be able to halt the whole system and affects all other apps nor the system itself...

So this is clearly a bug on the Apple side and there is no point to hide it or dilute the truth.

Apple please fix it!!!

MacBook Air 13", 10.13

Posted on Apr 8, 2020 1:37 AM

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Answer 1

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apple_baker Author

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20 points

Apr 8, 2020 5:28 AM in response to ckuan

Dear ckuan,

Your response is EXACTLY the response I CANNOT accept.

First of all MacOS is not just a 'platform', it is first and foremost the operating system. It is modern and 'secure' operating system - it is not Windows 3.1 nor Windows 95, so no application - especially running under non-priviledged user - should be able to FREEZE WHOLE MACOS system!!! That's a BUG of Mac OS which Apple needs to fix.

The fact that Zoom has privacy and security configuration issues has NOTHING to do with the fact that it is able to freeze the system which then needs a hard reboot during which unsaved data can be lost and other filesystem errors can occur - again - if any app running under non-priviledged user is able to freeze the system, it is a problem of that system.

So it is MacOS issue which happened after some new updates - it was not happening before and it seems to be down to Intel hardware acceleration - but that's part of MacOS system/Apple hardware, so Apple is responsible:

Apple, please fix unstable MacOS!!! More information are here:

https://mrmacintosh.com/2020-002-update-causes-some-macs-to-freeze-when-using-video-conf-apps/

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Answer 2

apple_baker Author

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20 points

Apr 8, 2020 5:56 AM in response to Urquhart1244

I'm sorry it is a problem of not just Zoom but ANY video acceleration. I wish I could downvote your useless answer.

More info is here: https://mrmacintosh.com/2020-002-update-causes-some-macs-to-freeze-when-using-video-conf-apps/

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Answer 3

a brody

Level 10

84,141 points

Apr 8, 2020 6:26 AM in response to apple_baker

You aren't speaking to Apple here. There are discussions moderators, but if you really want to make a difference, join http://developer.apple.com/ and submit a bug report to http://bugreporter.apple.com/

Note you will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and not report any status of the bugs reported to this discussion board.

If you have Automatic Graphics Switching under this System Preference, toggling the setting to the alternative setting might solve the problem:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202043

If you have more than 85% of your hard disk full, or have any memory resident optimizers, both these facets can actually affect your Zoom video. See my tip on nefarious software:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250001907

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Answer 4

a brody

Level 10

84,141 points

May 21, 2020 9:53 AM in response to _greasemonkey

Security Update 2020-002 addresses these many issues:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211100

It is possible one of these issues triggers the issues you are getting with the software, and the software you are using is not able to work with those issues addressed. What that says is the software you are using needs to look at the same security issues the security update is, and make sure it doesn't try to open the very ports that Apple resolved needed to be closed.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

245,567 points

May 21, 2020 10:49 AM in response to apple_baker

The free Malwarebytes which may take care of it...

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/

Or...

EtreCheck is a simple little app to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac.

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

Pastebin is a good place to paste the whole report if you capture the URL while there…

https://pastebin.com/

Workable but harder for me to work with...the Note tool on the bottom of this editor's toolbar, as shown in the image, to copy and paste the output from EtreCheck.

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Answer 6

ckuan

Level 10

120,788 points

Apr 8, 2020 5:51 AM in response to apple_baker

Think what you want. Are you a Zoom developer?

If not then ...... you don't have a slightest idea how the app is implemented.

Again this is not an Apple product, best you ask the app developer on their website/forum for support.

Cry all you want, Apple is not here.

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Answer 7

apple_baker Author

Level 1

20 points

Apr 8, 2020 6:07 AM in response to ckuan

I wish I could downvote your useless answers too.

I have degree in comupter science. Your answer shows me you do not understand the basic rule for the security of the OS - unpriviledged app should be not not able to crash the OS (!!!) If it does, then OS design is not safe/secure. This can actually point to exploitable DOS (in OS) or it can be possibly used for data leaks between apps as well - which is OS problem too.

So if you like it or not - Zoom crashing MacOS is a problem of MacOS !!!

And by the way - it is not just Zoom, but apparently almost any app using hardware accelerated video... This issue only happened after certain MacOS upgrades - check the link I posted.

> Cry all you want, Apple is not here.

Apple should be here as the problem is with almost ANY video apps using HW acceleration - see here:

https://mrmacintosh.com/2020-002-update-causes-some-macs-to-freeze-when-using-video-conf-apps/

It is MacOS problem. Apple should fix it.

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Answer 8

apple_baker Author

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20 points

Apr 8, 2020 6:11 AM in response to ckuan

You don't get it level 10...

You pointed me to Shneier's security blog, I hope you are able to understand this:

https://mrmacintosh.com/2020-002-update-causes-some-macs-to-freeze-when-using-video-conf-apps/

I would repead my points again.

MacOS has a flaw in video acceleration. Zoom freezing is just a symptom, not the problem. Apple does not need Zoom source code to investigate this. Please stop sending useless replies, you are not helping anybody!!!

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Answer 9

May 21, 2020 12:14 AM in response to apple_baker

Same issue here also. MacBook Air macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 I've got three students doing WebEx meetings since this pandemic began without any problems. Starting around March 30 to May 8, each student had an hour to an hour-half per meeting. No issues at all. Ever since the Security Update 2020-002 installed May 8, every meeting has froze. Tried everything until I found this thread. Zoom and WebEx? OBVIOUSLY MacOS problem, and Apple SHOULD FIX IT! and ASAP because I need my Asus laptop back from the kids!!

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Answer 10

a brody

Level 10

84,141 points

May 21, 2020 2:28 AM in response to _greasemonkey

Check that graphics switching is off in the system preferences for Energy Saver. If it is off, then turn it on, and see if the problem reproduces itself. If it reproduces itself no matter what the graphics switching is set at, check to see if MacKeeper, Advanced Mac Cleaner or any system optimizers which empty the system cache are loaded. Use Etrecheck to find out what’s running in the background, and please start a new topic thread so we can isolate your problem. I know it seems many people are having the same problem, but there are many third party software that get installed inadvertantly just by surfing the web. And having other people involved in your computer’s running, you have to make sure they didn’t accidentally add something not innocuous to your system.

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