MacOS Monterey Messages crashes on launch

WMZoo...

Try this...

1) Click anywhere on your desktop to get to what's called the Finder.

2) Click on the word "Go" at the top while holding down your "Option" key. This will show you the Library folder, which is usually hidden because it just has system stuff inside.

4) Select that entry, "Library," in the drop down menu under "Go"

5) You're now in the Library folder. About six folders down, you'll find "Application Support." Double click on that.

6) When the Application Support folder opens, now look for the folder called "Address Book." Double click on that.

7) When the Address Book folder opens, you'll see lots of files with system-like names. Search for "AddressBook-v22.abcddb"

8) Drag that file to the trash bin in your lower right corner. Empty the trash by selecting that option under "Finder" in the top menu. And reboot.

If it went right, your Messages app should now be working.

Good luck!

Here how I fixed the issue ...

First the method that didn't work for me --

• going to lib --> app support --> address book --> clear the address book --> deleted and clear the bin --> Restart ----- DIDN'T WORK --- Tried it several time and it didn't work for me!

WHAT WORKED

1. Go to your System Preferences in your MAC.
2. Go to Security and Privacy.
3. There you see 4 tabs - Select Privacy tab and unlock the locked key on the bottom left corner.
4. On the left panel SELECT CONTACT. 
5. On the right panel UNCHECK the Message+ 
6. Restart your message+

This worked for me.

"Apparently Monterey OS doesn't allow for Message+ to access the Contacts " --- AND THAT IS THE REAL ISSUE!

Sorry it didn’t work for you. I followed macrobin’s steps exactly. Are you sure you’re in the right directory? Only thing I can think is, on confirming the correct directory, empty the trash and restart. Strange that I only had this issue on one of the three systems updated.

Hey Que...

I know how you feel. I had a similar reaction when I bought a top-of-the-line 2017 MacBook Pro and started having trouble with the faulty keyboard. Those experiences are indeed frustrating. And now, years later, I'm on that same 2017 machine and still occasionally replacing keycaps. The good news since is that Apple realized the design was a problem and has changed it.

That said, I've been using Apple computers since the Apple II+, with only a very brief period in the '90s when a job made me use a company-issued IBM Thinkpad. And over that time, the user-friendly reputation for Apple's/Macs/the OS has been well-deserved. Situations like this, comparatively, are very rare.

As for customers being the QA department for Apple, that's the purpose of this forum. It's designed so customers can help each other. You'll still find Apple Support and the Genius Bar in the stores generally very helpful. Though, in situations like this, reaching out to the customer community is actually better because they're more able to recommend granular solutions like this one.

About the Messages problem, can you confirm... are you using the steps exactly as outlined in Macrobin's original post or as I detailed for another user in a post not too far below this one? (The message with eight outlined steps, including emptying the trash before rebooting?) If that's not working for you, you might have a different issue.

What are the symptoms you're having?

P.S. Apple is usually pretty diligent about issuing a fix... eventually... and this seems to be a widespread issue.

I came back SPECIFICALLY to say thank you to this post… after installing Monterey on my wife’s computer, her Messages app would not stop crashing. I spent three hours trying all kinds of solutions found online, none of which were specific to Monterey.

I guess it took a few days for the problems and solutions to surface.

In any case, when I came across this one and tried it, the result was instantaneous. Messages now works great. I’m so grateful for this being shared to the community and hope others find this and get the same result. Thank you!

Hello JFT,

Unfortunately it did not work for me. I see three files with that name, which Messages seems to create at opening when they are not present:

AddressBook-v22.abcddb-wal

AddressBook-v22.abcddb-shm

AddressBook-v22.abcddb

Did you move all three to trash? I tried with only "AddressBook-v22.abcddb" and also with all three, and it still does not work. Messages takes forever to start, and then nothing happens. The icon just sits there with no action, and I can only change its status by force quitting it.

Did you do anything else, like restarting?

Thank you

Having the same issue and tried to find the file you mentions. I'm relatively new to macOS and can't seem to find the file path or specific AddressBook file. Any help for a newbie having the same issue?

This was exactly what I needed! I found the Application Support folder in the main (?) directory, but didn't look under users. Coming from Windows, I'm still learning where everything is. Thanks so much!

I have MacBook Pro 2020. I have followed your instruction and restarted the computer a couple of times but it didn't work.

This is a MAC OS Monterey issue for me. I had no problem with Big sure OS.

I also experienced a memory stack issue with Pixelmator Pro (Mac Photoshop competitor) AFTER UPGRADING to Monterey OS.

It seems that we (THE CUSTOMERS) are the QA department for Apple. Unfortunately, the good old days of quality Mac is GONE!

AND YES, I thought about downgrading to Big Sur. However, it requires a complete clean-up of my drive with all the apps and files.

That means a lot of hours spent on an expensive computer that is supposed to be USER FRIENDLY, with an UNKNOWN Result.

Apple should fix these issues and have a mandatory OS update!!!

Thank you for your thoughtful note. I, also have been Apple and PC user since the Apple Version I back in the '80s (LoL)...

• In regards to my frustration with this particular MacBook Pro: this new (2020) Macbook Pro had a screen issue and the screen had to be replaced 2 months after I bought it. I guess I have to be VERY GENTEL when closing the lid. Not like the old days when slamming the led closed at the end of meetings and nothing happened to the computer. I missed those computers.
• In regards to the issue (Message+) - I did remove the files and cleaned the bin and restarted the computer.
• Tried to lunch Message+ (desktop) and it failed for the same issue. The issue persists. (However, I can access my messages through a browser)
• Like I mentioned before, this happened after the OS upgrade to Monterey, and additionally, the Pixelmator (Apple App Product) crashes in the middle of a project. That seems like a memory stack issue. But again I am experiencing these problems after the OS update.
• All of my crash reports are sent automatically to Apple. I am hoping for a resolution on the other side of this.

Regards,

Que

In the old days, we could find OS release notes which made it a bit easier to figure things out. I am not sure who dropped the ball (Apple or Verizon). But even if Verizon drop the ball and didn't update the message+ to work with Monterey, it is Apple's responsibility to have a special note next to the message+ app in the Apple store notifying the issue.

My Suggestion to Apple:

Before customers install any new OS ask the customers if they would allow Apple to run special software to scan for any incompatibility of the new OS with any of the apps running in the customer environment. If the customer allows then scan and produce a report, to help the customer choose if they are willing to update to the new OS.

Regards,

Que

The proposed fix (deleting ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/AddressBook-v22.abcddb, AddressBook-v22.abcddb-shm, AddressBook-v22.abcddb-wal, emptying trash and rebooting - multiple careful attempts) doesn't work for me - but macrobin, my crash report is different from yours, could be a different issue:

Is anyone else seeing this "Unable to create constraint with anchors ... because they have no common ancestor" business??

Thank you so much! Had the same problem and the same resolution.