Finder keep crashing

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Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Finder keep crashing

Solutions on this post do not help: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8625061

Am I have to re-install?

Posted on Feb 7, 2021 10:33 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,678 points

Feb 7, 2021 11:06 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

Deleting the Finder preference file is safe, after deleting the Finder preference file, restart your mac will

regenerate a new com.finder.plist.

Click once on your Desktop, click on Go in the menubar and select Go To Folder.

Enter this text in the box

~/Library/Preferences

Click Go.

A new Finder window will open, scroll down to com.apple.finder.plist

move it to the Trash.

Restart your mac, see if it has made a difference, your may need to rein put your Finder preferences.

When you are in the ~/Library/Preferences folder have look down the entire list of Preferences to see if

any files in the list have a string of alphanumeric characters after the .plist extension.

This is an indicator that these files are corrupt, you should put them in your Trash, empty the Trash and restart your mac.

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Answer 2

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,678 points

Feb 8, 2021 12:31 AM in response to Renfrew CHEN

Right that is progress, this points to some app that runs in the background while

you are logged into your main account.

What apps do you have that launch at login.

Are you running any anti-virus apps or any cleaning or optimisation apps.

If so uninstall them according to the developers instructions.

Apps like those interfere with the macs own management.

You could run this app, https://etrecheck.com this will generate a report

on your mac which you can share back here.

At the top of the report click on the Share Report button

and then paste the report into a Reply here using the Additional Text

icon third from the right at the bottom of the Reply window.

No personal data is included in the report.

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Answer 3

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 9, 2021 10:25 PM in response to Eau Rouge

Thank you so much.

I solved the issue.

Solution:

Step 1: Turn off the iCloud Drive "Desktop & Documents Folders." Then wait for the computer to finish the necessary operations.

Step 2: Turn on the iCloud Drive "Desktop & Documents Folders." Then wait for it, which may be 1 day. It took a super long time to set up and sync again.

Reboot and turn off the iCloud Drive may help. I am not sure because it does not help at the beginning, but it helps after many hours and when it still stuck.

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Answer 4

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,678 points

Feb 7, 2021 11:41 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

Safe Mode will clear cache data.

Have you tried creating another User account with Admin privileges

and see if the Finder issues still occur.

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Answer 5

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,678 points

Feb 7, 2021 11:28 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

Did you try it.

Deleting items on your Desktop won't help.

Do the Console crash reports give you any indicators.

Bite the bullet and reinstall the OS.

You don't need to erase the mac and then reinstall.

Just reinstall the OS over what you have the reinstall

will reset system files and caches.

Make a full back up first.

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Answer 6

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 8, 2021 12:01 AM in response to Eau Rouge

safe mode on my account is not that bad.

Now, on my new account, the finder is good.

The problem seems to be on my account.

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Answer 7

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 8, 2021 8:09 AM in response to Renfrew CHEN

The interesting point is when I submit the log into here, the EtreCheck crash.

I think I finally identify the issue.

I used the terminal to delete everything on the desktop again, then the finder seems back to normal.

However, when I click anything related to iCloud Drive, the finder would crash.

I guess I need to rearrange the files in my documents folder.

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Answer 8

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,678 points

Feb 8, 2021 10:07 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

There is nothing in the report that sticks out.

Uninstall any Google apps you have and see if that makes a difference.

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Answer 9

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 7, 2021 10:40 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

Issue: Finder keeps crashing over and over

Attempt 1: Startup in the safe mode - no help

Attempt 2: Repair a disk using Disk Utility on Mac - no help. The Disk Utility reports that the disk appears to be OK.

Then I am here.

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Answer 10

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 7, 2021 10:48 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

The disk has lots of space as well. Therefore it is not the issue address on https://www.anysoftwaretools.com/mac-finder-slow-not-working/

My Mac info.

Version 11.1

MacBook Pro (13 inches, 2016, four thunderbolt 3 ports)

Not sure if "Delete finder preference" is safe. Address on: http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/finder.html

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Answer 11

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 7, 2021 11:33 PM in response to Eau Rouge

I just use the terminal to delete my desktop. Before that, I was waiting on the finder to respond so I can move files to the trash can.

Now, the startup is much fast than before with files on the desktop. However, the finder crash again.....

some posts said google drive may cause the issue, but I do not have it.

auto-mount drives issue? I do not have those either.

Login items? it's empty.

Well, I think I have to reinstall again...

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Answer 12

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 7, 2021 11:38 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

Does anyone know where the finder cache data?

Seems the cache has issues.

I have removed files on my desktop, but when I restart, all files' icon back to my desktop again.

However, on the terminal, no files on the desktop.

I highly suspect this is an issue on the finder's cache or index.

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Answer 13

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 7, 2021 11:53 PM in response to Eau Rouge

I just create an admin account on my account.

Then I reboot to safe mode and trying to log into my new account.

It is super lag, and I cannot even configure the new account.

Guess I have to reinstall if the safe mode will clear cache data.

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Answer 14

Renfrew CHEN Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 8, 2021 7:58 AM in response to Eau Rouge

Here is it.

What apps do you have that launch at login. --- none

Are you running any anti-virus apps or any cleaning or optimisation apps. --- none

I also run the app on another account. the different is the google update. maybe the issue? I will try.

Report

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Answer 15

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,678 points

Feb 7, 2021 10:37 PM in response to Renfrew CHEN

I am not going to read the post.

Just tell us what your problem is and anything you have tried to resolve it.

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