System Preferences not loading after updating to Ventura 13.4

Update: I have started using the apps AutoStarter and Delay Start, which resolved the privacy settings load issues.

AutoStarter takes control of the login items, while Delay Start, as its name implies, allows me to decide the timing of the application load sequence for apps of my choosing. Important there is no duplication between the login section of Settings>General and those included in either of these two apps.

Once installed, AutoStarter will appear in Settings>General “allow in the background” section. There, make sure its toggle is on. Also, within the app, include Delay Start, positioning it at the bottom of any items you have added here.

For the Delay Start app, I included any apps that were causing problems in the default startup sequence after logging on. That included PathFinder, Default Folder X, and Bartender 4.

I literally went through the exact same thing and apple support was a God send!

• Go to "Disk Utilities"

• Hit the "+" where volume is

• Name it "test" and hit create. you've just created a new test hard drive

• shut computer off and go to "recovery mode" and go to reinstall Mac OS

• now reinstall it on your "test hard drive"

go through the installation process and now when you go into it, it should work. If this is successful, transfer any data you need from the original drive to this new drive and you're good to go! Hope this helps someone!

mccosha wrote:

any other suggestions?

Install EtreCheck and post the report. Allow Full Disk Access.

https://etrecheck.com/

Use the Additional Text icon to paste in the report.

Did you try to see if things work normally while in Safe Mode?

Start by uninstalling ClamXAV. Not installing **** is the first step to a sane mac.

You also have a great deal of system modifications, apparently installed over many years and across different systems and possibly different macs.

While this is very easy and comfortable, it always comes a time where stuff breaks.

It is recommended to start fresh, when upgrading to a new OS, as from Monterey to Ventura.

It is ok to migrate the users, but then install the applications fresh. This ensures that old extensions that you are not even aware are installed will get left behind.

Can you please include what Mac you are using? After updating to Ventura 13.4, my Mac mini M1 restarted and every one of my apps that rely on Accessibility or Full Disk Access started asking for permissions again. I am able to open System Settings and Privacy & Security, but both Accessibility and Full Disk Access are EMPTY!! To top that off, my Mac won't start up in Safe Mode (shift key) or with the option key.

The odd thing is, sometimes (with no repeatable process), when holding the shift or option keys down on restart, the OS will load with Accessibility and FDA.

I'm using Ventura (13.6.1) on a 2017 iMac. Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) has been the only reliable workaround when privacy settings fail to load. I had no such problem prior to installing Ventura in August. I even tried reinstalling MacOS. Privacy loading problem persists.

I'd try running Sonoma, however, my iMac has reached the limits of its OS life.

Sometimes (no predicatable pattern), the privacy settings will load, however, some of the switches in Full Disk Access, Accessibility, or even Input Monitoring or Screen Recording are switched to the off position.

It's all rather maddening.

mccosha wrote:

• I have tried everything

restarting in safe mode

• Deleted System Preferences plist file & restarted

• reset smc and nvram

• ran disk utility

• rebuilt the Launch Services Database

nothing

this is infuriating

any other suggestions?

?

Are you asking about the new System Settings...

ref: Customize your Mac with System Settings