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

Regardless of whether you are using a Windows Box or a Mac, a restart will always be one of the first troubleshooting steps to resolving an issue!

We have had a number of ideas as to the cause of this, it isn't peripherals and it isn't software. No software updates will solve this.

It's a logic board fault. Check out sajal101's comments towards the bottom of page 3 of this thread.

Your best bet for a solution is to take a screenshot of the report that you see after your Mac restarts two or three times to show to an Apple tech. Then make a Genius Bar appt for warranty repair. When you get to the appt show the tech your screenshots as well as this Apple Support Communities thread, pointing out sajal101's comments and request a new logic board.

The tech at my local Apple Genius Bar has ordered a new logic board for my Mac mini. I custom ordered a mini, so the board isn't one they usually have in stock at the store.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The auto re-start is built into the OS, which means it is not under my control - so it might as well be remote. If Apple has the right to do this then it must be accountable for the results, but it not because it is exempt from any accountability whatsoever. We have given our rights away.

For my new Mac, that’s what fixed it. I spent hours on the phone with Apple Support with no resolution. The technician at our Apple Certified repair place was able to talk to the engineers and that’s what ended up fixing it.

I have had it happening for 5 months multiple times a week, 2 weeks ago it shut down 6 times..

Try reinstalling your system, after my third reinstall the problem has stopped.

Another problem I encounter every day is the Finder becoming unresponsive then having to force quit.

So every few days I use First Aid in the Disc utility app.

I am annoyed with Apple as the M1 was supposed to be superior to Intel's chips.

On a daily basis I revert back to a 10 year old i7 Mini or a 5 year old 21" iMac to carry out tasks the M1 fails on.

Will never buy a new Apple product again & if any friends or clients ask about the M1 my response is do not buy, keep their Intel until the 3rd generation M1 is released, by then it should be problem free

so my mac mini m1 16GB got it today as well.

i have him only few months, it's means i need to replace the motherboard?!