MacBook Air M1 2020 (Monterey) freezes when trying to attach or upload file, or use "save as" in programs

Hey Carl!

Thanks for the extra info, it helps knowing that you’re using a browser, and that this happens in more than one application.

I think the question remains as to where you are saving these files to, uploading them from, and saving to. (Such as Downloads, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, External storage device), I only ask this to find out if the problem is the location where these files are stored, or if it doesn’t matter where they are stored.

There are a few issues here, so I would start with two relatively simple tests, they may take a little time, but not much:

See if the issue persists in a new user account:

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

See if the issue persists in Safe Mode:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

These tests will tell you if the problem is in your user account, if system wide, or if the issue is happening due to third party software you have installed that are interfering, or even a file system issue, (All of which can be fixed, only have different fixes for different results).

Glad to assist if you’re able to isolate a possible problem area, (Including the file’s location, or if a specific file type etc., as I had mentioned earlier).

Thanks!

Hey again!

Thats good to know.

It may be a user permission issue, but I’d first try these steps, which don’t take too long:

Open System Settings > General > Login Items. Turn off or remove any apps that may be causing an issue and restart to test.

If that fails, try clearing out the user Cache:

Open Finder, while holding the Option key, on the top menu hit Go > Library.

Open the Caches folder > Select All > Move to the trash, restart and test.

If those fail:

Open the hidden Library again, the same way as described above, (Finder > Go > Library, while holding Option of course).

On the keyboard, press Command and i to pull up the Get Info window.

Expand the Sharing and permissions section on the bottom, click the lock to make changes, click the three dots icon and choose > Apply to enclosed items, then hit Okay/Done.

Once that process finishes, open Terminal in Finder > Applications > Utilities.

Copy and paste this command in Terminal then hit Return:

diskutil resetUserPermissions / `id -u`

You’ll be prompted for your admin password, you can type it and hit Return again, (Just know that it’s invisible, which is normal). Once that process has finished, quit all apps and restart to test.

If this also fails, follow this article below to repair hone folder permissions from recovery mode:

https://eclecticlight.co/2020/03/28/apple-has-changed-resetting-permissions-again/

Although for your Mac, instead of starting with Command R, you can turn it off, then press and continue holding the power button until you see the startup options, then choose Options > enter your admin password to get there.

Hope you find the fix with the least resistance!

Hey there!

I think a brody made some good suggestions.

Can you say if these apps that you are using are all Apple apps? Or all third party non-Apple apps? And can you say, either way, what apps?

Is this File > Save As freezing happening in all apps? (Apple and third party)?

Does it make any difference where these files are located when you try uploading/sharing/saving? Say either locally on your Mac, iCloud Drive, One Drive, Dropbox, or even on a connected external hard drive?

If the issue happens in all of the above apps and locations, you may need to deal with a performance issue, including testing in safe mode or another user account.

However, if you are able to narrow it down to a specific app/set of apps, file type, location, external drive, even network, that would help to identify the cause as well.

That's not normal. Is your document stored on an iCloud backed up folder, or folder being backed up by time machine, or are you using Filevault? Each of these functions can affect file accessibility, and create freezing scenarios.

Is the document in a standard file path for documents such as:

Users -> yourname

Users -> yourname -> Documents

Users -> yourname -> Desktop Folder

Users -> yourname -> Downloads

If not, put it there before trying trying to open it from another application. There are certain folders that are limited to system operations you shouldn't touch unless you know what you are doing.

"This is true for Safari as well as for Chrome. "

A browser independent issue could indicate a connection problem in generation.

Make sure you are hard wired with ethernet to your modem and see if the issue persists.

if the issue persists there, ask your internet provider to reset your modem. If you are using a third party router, check if an ethernet connection directly to the modem makes a difference. Some routers can be more problematic than others. Try to narrow down the cause. If you can optimize your performance as fast as possible you can eliminate factors which are slower than could impede your performance. Ethernet is faster than WiFi.