Download issues with Mac Mini

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Level 1

5 points

Download issues with Mac Mini

I have a fairly new Mac Mini and 'upgraded' to a dual monitor about two months ago. As a university instructor and grad student, I download a lot of documents. Occasionally, when I download, the location choice screen pops up but is frozen. The cancel button doesn't work and it will not allow any functionality. I have to close out everything, shut down and then restart the system. The browser and everything that is open are also unavailable.

Generally, the download feature will then work until the next time it doesn't. It also doesn't seem to matter which screen I am using as the downloading screen but it always occurs when I am operating both screens doing research or whatnot, which is most of the time.

How can I fix this?

Thanks.

Mac mini, macOS 12.6

Posted on Jan 1, 2023 1:31 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

104,209 points

Jan 2, 2023 7:25 AM in response to LyndaElaine

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

2 - Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading

3 - Does the issue present in this mode ?

4 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

5 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.

6 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.

7 - Download the Application Etrecheck directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer

The application is free or paid from added features.

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information.

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

We can have a look at the report for possible issues and may have possible suggestions to resolve the issues.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

104,209 points

Jan 5, 2023 1:37 AM in response to LyndaElaine

Q - " I can not get safe mode to come up. "

Q - " I have a fairly new Mac Mini " as in Intel based Mac mini or and Apple Silicon used Mac Mini ?

A - If using a Bluetooth Keyboard that can be cabled directly to the Computer, strongly suggest doing so.

The Bluetooth Kernel may not load soon enough to enact the Safe Boot as per the Instruction in previous post.

Notation, there are two different methods of Safe Boot and are dependent on Intel or Apple Silicon based machine

Apple Silicon M1 / M2 Computer

1 - Choose Apple menu > > Shut Down.

2- Do not attempt a Restart to access this feature. The computer Must be Shutdown and pause before moving forwards

3 - Press and hold the power button on your Mac until you see “Loading startup options.”

Q - " What does your item 2 mean exactly? What will be eliminated? Or do you mean they won't be available? "

A -If some Third Party Software or Process is set to Launch after a Cold Boot Up - Eliminate with make that Software or Process Not Load which is Effectively making it Not Available in Safe Mode

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

104,209 points

Jan 2, 2023 7:02 AM in response to LyndaElaine

Generally and in Normal operations of macOS, any type of a download is pre-determined to " Download " the " Downloads " Folder on the Dock.

That is unless the User has Purposeful changed native Behaviours, to download to another Location on the computer

Then there are the Antivirus Software and the like IF installed and used on this computer that may interfere with the Normal Operations of the Computer and the " Downloads Issue "

images below

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Answer 4

LyndaElaine Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 2, 2023 6:37 AM in response to MartinR

Like normal document downloading. I find the document on the web using various search engines based on the topic I want and hit the download button. The 'where to place the document' pop up, pops up and it is frozen. I can't exit, save, nothing.

SO as explained completely above, I have to literally restart the computer.

Like I said, this didn't start until I added a second monitor and it is not all the time but enough to be frustrating because I am in the middle of several research projects. This issue is NOT specific to a certain website or source. It only happens when I have things going on with both monitors.

I keep a browser open on one and document related apps on the other (excel, word, powerpoint etc. whatever I am using).

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Answer 5

LyndaElaine Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 2, 2023 7:17 AM in response to Owl-53

I am not using Safari. The issue is an intermittent one which is the problem because I can't track it down. The only thing that has changed is using two monitors.

The file is NOT downloading. The action of trying to download is locking up the screen.

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Answer 6

LyndaElaine Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 4, 2023 6:03 PM in response to Owl-53

Thanks for your response. However, I can not get safe mode to come up. I have followed those instructions multiple times and it always leads me to macOS recovery with the only options are resetting to factory default and a few other things, but not safe mode.

What does your item 2 mean exactly? What will be eliminated? Or do you mean they won't be available?

After dealing directly with Apple support the other day (completely unproductive btw) , the issue is now constant. I can not download anything at all from any source or website.

I don't know what I am doing wrong here but this is beyond frustrating. I am in the middle of two major grad projects and getting classes updated and ready before January 23rd. I work from home so I do not have IT support. This is all my own equipment.

Anyway, I am going to go ahead and set up the dummy account to see if the issue happens there.

Cheers,

Lynda

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Answer 7

MartinR

Level 7

24,942 points

Jan 1, 2023 2:00 PM in response to LyndaElaine

Downloading how? Web browser? Logged onto a server using Finder? FTP client? VPN? Other?

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Download issues with Mac Mini

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