What is SOCD report detected: (AP watchdog expired)?

Running Big Sir 11.4, Mac Mini M1. 16/512, Display - BenQ PD2700U connect directly to Mac via USB-C to Displayport cable.

I did not start getting issues until I added external devices. However, I no longer got the watchdog error but rather, my screen started to act up. This has happened 3x over the last 6 weeks. 2 times I got odd flickering and the remaining time I had what appeared to be off colour/shade with an added ghost of what may have been an earlier or previous screen. Each case turned off both the screen and the Mac and waited a few moments before turning on. I find that just a reboot was not sufficient. However, I still remained with a dock attached via TB with 2 USB-C connections (PeachTree24 speakers and Sabrent SSD).

I do recall that the Mac was on for several days without any reboots and at night, most often either put to sleep or screen saver used.

Not sure what other info I can provide. I can say that the BenQ normally works and looks very good and is shared with another device.

FYI, the error doesn't come up at the time of reboot, but is what appears in the "report to Apple" popup after the computer comes back. The actual crash usually maniests as a green screen or weird video glitching out, or the system just plain hanging for a few seconds.

Logic board issue - is this 100 percent the culprit or just trial and error luck? I am not doubting you but wanting to be sure given that where I live it is quite a drive to the nearest Apple store. Please do let us know.

Issues being the watchdog error and for some, screens going daft for no found reason (on Mac Mini M1).

I updated the CalDigit firmware and will report back if that made a difference. My crashes are few and far between, so that may take a while.

Thank goodness fir WFH, I never lost anything on the host computer due to these sudden, violent, green screens of death.

My M1 Mac mini locked up when I was trying to reinstall macOS Big Sur after having been using the Monterrey beta. I had been informed by online Apple Support that this was necessary before they could install a new logic board for this issue. The Genius bar was able to restore the mini to Big Sur in less than an hour and I took it home with the factory settings without having a new logic board installed.

I used a Time Machine backup to restore my data. I again installed the beta.

One of the peripherals that was attached to the mini was my Canon MG 2520 all-in-one printer. A few days after bringing the mini home I experienced the GSoD, but without the SOCD report on reboot. I detached the printer and have never experienced the GSoD again going on over a month now.

I return to my original idea voiced in the early days of this thread, these GSoD are being caused by certain attached legacy USB-A devices.

M1 Mac mini, macOS 11.5.1; Watch, series 5 GPS/cellular, watchOS 7.6.1; iPad Pro 2nd Gen, iPadOS 14.7.1; iPad Air 2, iPadOS 14.7.1; iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 14.7.1; TV 4th Gen, tvOS 14.7  HomePods, audioOS 14.7 and Airport Express w/ Airplay 2

I just started getting it again and I think I've narrowed down the culprit: I think it's from my Logitech C920 webcam! I had switched to a different webcam around the time that I stopped having the issue, and then a few days ago I switched back to it, and wouldn't you know, that's when the crash started happening again.

OK, but I have had my C920 connected all this time and I don't think it ever caused the issue, just connecting my Canon all-in-one printer. DIsconnected the printer and it has never happened again, even though the camera has always been connected.

I have a 2021 MAC M1 for only a few days and just now had this AP Watchdog re-boot error. I have a USB Hub (powered) and a SSD disk (for time machine) attached to both Thunderbolt ports. Don't know what's going on but not good.

Any usable resolutions and/or indications when it will be addressed by Apple?

Thanks.

I had a new variation of this, the Magenta Screen of the Circle of Death & Resurrection (MSCD&R)!

Yesterday my M1 Mac mini entered a Groundhog Day loop. The screen would freeze and in less than a minute the screen would flash magenta and restart, ending up with my login. I would login and in less than a minute it would happen again. Later, I realized that if I didn't login the mini would also freeze and restart over and over, Ad Infinitum! Also, I could not use the Shut Down command, it would also put the mini in a restart loop, however without the login portion. I had to use the power button for a hard shutdown.

I used my iPad Pro for a while, made a Genius Bar appt and watched another episode of a TV series I'm currently watching. Then I took a nap.

As happens often when I sleep on an issue, I woke with a solution, disconnect the USB hub with three external USB drives. I did so and the MSCD&R stopped happening.

I've canceled today's Genius Bar appt. I'm now running with the 3 external drives plugged into a different USB hub.

We shall see what happens.

PS, as a side note, all of this mayhem corrupted my TimeMachine backup. I had to erase & reformat the disk and start a new TM backup.

It was this Sabrent 4-port USB hub. It has served me well with 2 different Intel Mac minis, so I suspect that it is the USB 2.0 model.

I plugged it in long enough for System Report to verify it is USB 2.0.

There is no SMC reset on M1 chips. Apple has no right to re-start my computer - unless there's a willingness to compensate for work lost for this unwarranted and illegal intrusion.

[Edited by Moderator] 

M1 mini 5 times in 1 week, 20+ reboots in 3 months

Never occurred with my 2012 i7 Mini

From all of the online comments about this problem this must be a fundamental fault with the M1 chip.

Apple please do something.

I have been using Mac's since 1994 & since June more problems with the M1 that all other Apple hardware in the last 27 years.

Will never buy another new Apple product again.

I am happy to warn my companies clients, family & friends to avoid Apple products

I understand your frustration, but when you go through the above comments, you'll see that this is likely an USB accessory plugged into the M1 Mac Mini causing the issue. Still bad, but relatively simple to solve.

I stress my previous comment that Apple has no right to re-start my computer. Can we all imagine if cars could be re-started by the manufacturer while we are driving! Apple can hide behind software agreements and reams of words prepared by its legal teams but restarting someone's (purchased) computer without permission and any accountability is a gross violation of privacy and law. There is a growing community of users that are fed up with how our rights have been taken away to advance old perceived notions that the industry needs this exemption to survive. If the industry wants to keep this exemption that it is responsible for making its software perform. Building auto-restart into operating software is stupid and dangerous.

Fix the problem and stay out of our business.

Your understanding of the problem is flawed in my opinion. Apple does not 'remotely restart' your machine. The computer crashes and reboots. That's what's happening. No big brother in Cupertino taking over your computer, so the car analogy does not hit the mark.