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Glitchy messages app on Mac

Since moving to BigSur (which was also a move onto an M1 MacBook Air) the messages app has been glitchy... when I delete or try to correct text, other text will also change - seems to be fairly randomly. I've taken to composing messages in TextEdit and pasting them in as finished messages - which isn't ideal.

MacBook, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 16, 2021 8:52 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 16, 2021 9:04 AM

First try the "universal first fix" which is to boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to nearly twice as long as a normal boot as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


Next, if the problem still persists log into a basic admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.


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1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 16, 2021 9:04 AM in response to Sumner Milford

First try the "universal first fix" which is to boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to nearly twice as long as a normal boot as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


Next, if the problem still persists log into a basic admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.


Glitchy messages app on Mac

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