Level 1

14 points

Apple Diagnostic M1 MBP Freezing

Does anyone else has this problem? Long story short;

a) Big Sur 11.2.3 Apple Diagnostics ran just perfect

b) updated to 11.3.1 and now Apple Diagnostic freezes right before starting the test, actually it freezes when it says: test could take a minute (whatever) and the that’s it; cursor frozen, and trackpad doesn’t even does the click.

another thing, had the same issue with another M1 MBP which I returned it for this issue, and ran Apple Diagnostics because Apple TV+ froze randomly and was asked by Apple care to do the hardware test.

thank you

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on May 5, 2021 6:03 PM

Top-ranking reply

SergZak

Level 6

10,672 points

Posted on May 10, 2021 7:11 PM

It's not just an issue with Diagnostics crashing. I've personally experienced an odd issue regarding Bluetooth immediately after updating to 11.3.1. This is the initial reason that prompted me to run Diagnostics in the first place. I posted the contents below elsewhere but feel it's appropriate here as well:

Specifically in my case, after my M1 MBA was "successfully" updated to 11.3.1, I turned off Bluetooth to test something. When I went to re-enable it, it asked me for my admin password (very odd, never seen this) to enable it. Once I entered it and enabled Bluetooth again, I could not disable Bluetooth any more...reboots/shutdowns didn't help. I then decided to run Diagnostics (accessed differently on M1's). Diagnostics opened and allowed me to begin running it. The progress bar came up and the system immediately froze. No trackpad click, nothing. This required me to force-shutdown (press & HOLD the power button until shutdown). No amount of trying would get Diagnostics to complete...it always froze immediately in the same way described above.

I wiped the SSD and reinstalled 11.3.1 from scratch which then fixed the Bluetooth issue but Diagnostics was still freezing. What good is diagnostics if it crashes/freezes?

I made a Genius Bar reservation where they verified the issue. (Some content omitted below due to perhaps embarrassing someone)

I left the MBA with them to repair it which they did (it took two days). I verified Diagnostics was working correctly when I picked up the repaired MBA.

After getting the MBA back, I initially tested the MBA but then wiped the SDD & reinstalled 11.3.1 from scratch because I wanted to start with a perfectly clean slate because of the initial Bluetooth issue. The install went well and I had my MBA back up but did zero setting up on it. I shut it down to run Diagnostics which now ran fine but was now reporting a possible problem with the power supply. I shut down, disconnected the power supply and then restarted diagnostics...again with a reported possible power supply problem.

The MBA ran 100% fine otherwise. Because the OS was just cleanly installed, I again wiped the SSD, then reinstalled 11.3.1 from scratch to test. After it was finished, I again ran Diagnostics which now completed without any issues. The MBA is back to normal now but this makes me think that the 11.3.1 update is somehow corrupting the firmware or causing some kind of issue with how Diagnostics is performing. The firmware is updated (if an update is required) when the OS is updated...this was also verified by another different Genius in the Apple Store.

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62 replies

AppleM1

Level 1

8 points

Jun 7, 2021 5:09 AM in response to gomezcantu

I can confirm it is broken in Big Sur 11.4.

The update has also removed my camera- it does not work in Photo Booth and is showing as not installed in System Information. This is why I was trying to run Diagnostics. Anyone got that problem after installing 11.4?

AppleM1

Level 1

8 points

Jun 11, 2021 4:53 AM in response to AppleM1

UPDATE

Apple Care meant a tech came to my work and replaced the screen which included the camera and now the camera is working.

Strangely the tech was able to get diagnostics working but when I got home I tried it an it froze! The tech said the network source has a lot to do with it. He used his phone but I tried hotspotting but it still froze.

SergZak

Level 6

10,672 points

Jun 11, 2021 6:10 AM in response to AppleM1

AppleM1 wrote:

The tech said the network source has a lot to do with it. He used his phone but I tried hotspotting but it still froze.

So going by that logic, if your Network isn't up to some unknown "standard", Diagnostics will freeze? What happens then if you run it when the Mac is offline?

Not meant for you to answer, just wondering out loud. I've tried running Diagnostics many, many times, both in the offline and online modes and they both crash in exactly the same way. Going by this "logic" my Apple Store's network source must also not be "up to snuff" since when I physically took my MBA into the store when I first reported the issue and set up a Genius Bar reservation, Diagnostics crashed there when the Genius ran it in the Apple store exactly the same as it has crashed anywhere I've run it.

Makes no logical sense

toddsuza

Level 1

20 points

Jun 23, 2021 1:47 AM in response to Mario_2019

Further to my post of 27 May I can confirm the issue appears to have been fixed by Apple remotely. Just ran diagnostics on M1 MBA online and it worked fine and thankfully no issues detected (code ADP000). Thks Apple engineers.

May 10, 2021 4:52 PM in response to lulu7017

A senior contributor confirmed this had happened with an Apple-Silicon M1 MacBook Air as well.

Apple was able to fix his while it was "in the shop". No parts were used.

lulu7017

Level 1

21 points

May 11, 2021 2:09 PM in response to SergZak

I agree I spent several hours and days researching this and apple called me and let me know that it should be fixed in the next release

Jun 1, 2021 1:53 AM in response to Community User

I can confirm this issue on my MBA M1 with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD running on MacOS 11.4. Please fix this Apple. The diagnostic tool is absolutely useless in this state.

Jun 1, 2021 6:52 AM in response to winterdesign

I just called support and they were able to run the Apple Diagnostic in online mode. Still freezing when running the it offline mode.

gomezcantu Author

Level 1

14 points

May 5, 2021 6:51 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Let it sit for almost an hour each MBP, not once, not twice but three times each. Everything was disconnected except power cable.

And both ran the test perfect before updating to 11.3.1

Thank you for your reply Grant Bennet-Alder

gomezcantu Author

Level 1

14 points

May 5, 2021 6:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Froze when it start the diagnostic and status bar is almost empty, cursor doesn't moves and trackpad doesn't does the click.

under 11.2.3 diagnostics ran fine, fast and all perfect.

Since this happened in the first MBP that I bough and was the reason to return it, that is why I tried to do it in the 2nd and then it froze when starting the test.

Also, been trying several times, and randomly get a spinning wheel on checking for connection and let it sit for some minutes until had to restart it and then it allowed me to continue.

I did pass the agreement of the offline or online test and when starting to do the test it freezes.

gomezcantu Author

Level 1

14 points

May 7, 2021 6:44 AM in response to leroydouglas

Yes, Apple TV+ was freezing randomly and App Store randomly opening a blank window.

I paid in full for this and I would expect everything to work; specially assuming that some updates could have glitches and using the Diagnostics tool to check your computer once in a while. Which I do by the way.

May 7, 2021 7:33 AM in response to gomezcantu

gomezcantu wrote:

Yes, Apple TV+ was freezing randomly and App Store randomly opening a blank window.

I paid in full for this and I would expect everything to work; specially assuming that some updates could have glitches and using the Diagnostics tool to check your computer once in a while. Which I do by the way.

Apple TV video freezes..

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250388153

Apple TV 4K freezes while streaming

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251325142

Mac App Store Updates screen is blank

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8325952

Update screen is blank in App Store on MacBook Pro

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8340253

gomezcantu Author

Level 1

14 points

May 7, 2021 10:37 AM in response to gomezcantu

here at Best Buy and thinking buying a 3rd one, not upgrading yet to 11.3.1

but would like to know it is not an M1 issue that may bug me for the rest of the MBP life. Having second thoughts on trade in my iPad Pro 12.9 2nd Gen as it has been an amazing product and not be able to get it back if I return my 3rd MBP

gomezcantu Author

Level 1

14 points

May 11, 2021 6:09 AM in response to lulu7017

Thank you @lulu7017 for your reply, lets hope it is and hope they get it fixed for next update. Have received a couple of replies asking; why should you want to check your computer if it is running ok..." I say Is like buying a car and your central console doesn't works and you can't check your ABS brakes and Airbags work properly and the technician tells you: "but why do you want to check your car?...."

Go figure.

gomezcantu Author

Level 1

14 points

May 24, 2021 2:46 PM in response to Morac2

Dang... just updated it giving a leap of faith this would be solved. Skipped 11.3.1 thinking that Apple would fix this in the upcoming update.

we will wait for Apple to listen and fix it.

the most powerful Apple chip and brakes in its own diagnostics.

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Apple Diagnostic M1 MBP Freezing