Sonoma keeps crashing frequently and randomly. Never had any such issue with Ventura. Issues started after installing Sonoma on my Mac Book Pro (Apple M1 Max, 16 inch). Clearly a buggy OS, all apps up to date. Don't point at apps, please ...it's a Sonoma problem.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
This is absolutely a Sonoma issue. Using MacBook Pro M1 max. No issues at all until installing Sonoma last week. I've talked to tech twice, shut down all background apps and start ups, shut down all apps, removed all USB devices and re-installed Sonoma. Even after all of that, if I leave the computer idle for an hour or two - it just shuts down.
The Panics logs (I've collected 11 so far) are all identical regards of apps on or off. This is the start of the log. You might check to see if there are similarities.
panic(cpu 1 caller 0xfffffe002ae643b4): DCPEXT0 PANIC - apt firmware: adisp.c:1323 piodma_control() -- - iomfb_mailbox(69)
apt firmware: adisp.c:1323 piodma_control() --
RTKit: RTKit-2413.1.1.release - Client: local-t600xdcp.release
!UUID: 4bcc7a73-3ced-3fd9-a1c7-3238cf8e94ac
Time: 0x0000006cdb5db1d7
This is absolutely a Sonoma issue. Using MacBook Pro M1 max. No issues at all until installing Sonoma last week. I've talked to tech twice, shut down all background apps and start ups, shut down all apps, removed all USB devices and re-installed Sonoma. Even after all of that, if I leave the computer idle for an hour or two - it just shuts down.
The Panics logs (I've collected 11 so far) are all identical regards of apps on or off. This is the start of the log. You might check to see if there are similarities.
panic(cpu 1 caller 0xfffffe002ae643b4): DCPEXT0 PANIC - apt firmware: adisp.c:1323 piodma_control() -- - iomfb_mailbox(69)
apt firmware: adisp.c:1323 piodma_control() --
RTKit: RTKit-2413.1.1.release - Client: local-t600xdcp.release
!UUID: 4bcc7a73-3ced-3fd9-a1c7-3238cf8e94ac
Time: 0x0000006cdb5db1d7
I've been thinking to run a script like yours, but for
ps -ax -o "rss,wq,command" 164
Process 164, at present, is loginwindow, which has been suddenly exploding in memory size, from ~25mb to 10GB. I tracked down a cache belonging to it, nuked it (which caused it to crash on logout, providing me with more useful information). I suspect that the use of a specific app is causing the memory bloat.
In your case, I suggest installing iStat Menus and keeping an eye on the memory in your menu bar. Then you'll be able to see which process is exploding. For instance, I found a serious bug in Final Cut Pro where, after a micro SD card has been inserted, FCP will start filling up memory until the computer crashes, pretty much. I can't help wondering if something like that is happening on your computer.
I concur with the thread author. Sonoma has stability issues, of note in my case:
Other odd behavior: I have a menu with shortcuts where clipboard can be "read" i.e. via the OS' speak function. After a few hours of the machine running, the shortcut/read function will not work for many hours, then work again. Cleary only a minor inconvenience. The instability and crashes/reboot need a fix; I think the memory management is probably the culprit and needs to be addressed by Apple.
-> To try out this theory: I didn't encounter crashes until now, when closing down Safari / all browsers overnight while backups were running. Crashes always occurred with the browser on.
Observed browser behavior under Sonoma:
I even started to avoid letting the computer on at night for backup purposes. Too many reboots. Only solution until now is to quit Safari/browsers on a regular basis and not letting the computer run overnight unsupervised (or at a minimum, close all browsers.)
PS: machine is an Macbook Air M1 16GB
response to TRS80child...
Yes I may have found my issue. I've been using CalDigit's Element Hub successfully for the past two years. It's the only Hub that wasn't glitchy with the new M1 chipset. I disconnected it and that solved the problem. I'm not convinced however that's the only issue. I went ahead and plugged it back in without any components - no crash. So I've been adding back USB-C devises still no crash. It may be my original configuration which is extensive. Including daisy chaining the Hub. Talking to CalCigit - the hub should be able to handle daisy chain without issue. I'll continue to add items till I get back the crash. I'm guessing it's not the USB-C components but rather the USB-A (3.0) on the Hub. I'll find out. My suggestion to others is unplug everything from the USB-C ports on the MAC and see if it still crashes, then add back items and go from there. Good luck.
Regarding CalDigit Element Hub as potential issue. I've found a way to stop the crashing but clearly this is a OS issue. It just shouldn't happen. It appears if I add more than 5 devices to CalDigit (monitor, hard drive, ethernet, so on) the system crashed. I've been adding back devices one by one to find out if one particular device is the issue - but I'm convinced this is an OS issue not CalDigit. I'm going to contact CalDigit as a head up. I hope Apple sends an update soon. Fixing the the problem is taking more time than it's worth...
Amys6: I've been on the phone with Apple care three times. My 2021 M1 Max had no issues until I installed Sonoma three week ago. With Sonoma it crashed routinely until I unplugged my CalDigit hub and all connections. I was able to determine the issue may be connecting my monitor through the hub using Apple's HDMI to USB-C. Now I'm able to run everything else (except my monitor) through the Hub with no issue. I agree with one user that it appears to happen when the computer sleeps and then turns on. Anyway back to Apple Care. They don't have any records of these crashes and stated that new software with crashes could be due to a number of issues. Bottom line don't expect a patch soon. Not happy paid for apple care - really doesn't give me anything.... Still doing my own plug and check routine. I'll try turning off sleep next and see it that works.
amys6 wrote:
SO....I started my computer in Safe Mode. It stopped crashing. Meaning, first, it's a software issue. And second, it's either Sonoma or some piece of software that isn't updated for Sonoma. Good times.
Well, not any software. Just System Modifications, like kernel extensions.
You can find those in /Library/Extensions--note that there are three in there installed by Apple, two HighPoint and one SoftRAID. If you find anything else, they could be the problem.
EtreCheck will also list any third-party kernel extensions.
Just wanted to post here and say that after an insane number of crashes from kernel panics over a two week period I finally bit the bullet and re-installed the OS cleanly. And my Mac Studio M1 Max is now happily running 14.2 without any more issues. I had previously tried just updating from 14.1 to 14.2 and that made no difference. I also tried a ton of the other recommendations in this thread, but to no avail.
Possible fix. I noticed that before each crash, which happened a couple of times a day on my new 15-inch MacBook Air, if I happened to be on the desktop when it happened, two or three of my widgets would go purple first, and then the whole screen would go purple and reboot. Not sure which ones went purple, though one was Contacts. I had the desktop covered with widgets. I recalled someone mentioning widgets as a possible cause, so I removed every one from the desktop two days ago. So far no crashes at all. Very stable. This is the longest I’ve gone without a crash so far. Could be coincidence, or it could be an interaction with a widget in the background when it crashes. I’ll wait another day or so, and if it remains stable, I’ll start putting them back on a couple at a time and see if I can find a culprit.
I also reported the same thing quite a few days ago. After about 4 days without crashing, I added the 4 widgets I used most (I had the whole desktop covered with widgets when it was crashing). I still haven't had a single crash. I know this fix hasn't worked for everyone, so whatever is wrong must be pretty complex; hopefully there will be a fix at the OS level. In my situation, what made me try turning off the widgets is that I noticed one time, when I was at the desktop level with no windows blocking the desktop when it crashed, that several individual widgets turned purple first, then a couple of seconds later the whole screen went purple. Not sure if that was unusual, but it got me to try shutting all widgets. As I said, not a single crash a couple of weeks later.
Hey Gang, 14.2 is out. Give it a go. The test release of it solved my crashing problem.
Near as I can figure, this was the root issue, with the Swift development environment:
I got this "unable to satisfy mandatory allocation" problem daily.
An Intel app I installed a few years ago was the problem.
XeroxPEInstallationCompanion.app
Had to delete a few files:
User Launch Agents: [Loaded] com.aviatainc.powerengage.XRTK.plist (Not signed - installed 2022-09-30)
Command: /Applications/Xerox PowerENGAGE.app/Contents/MacOS/Xerox PowerENGAGE -LSRC autolaunch
[Other] com.aviatainc.powerengage.helper.XRTK.plist (Not signed - installed 2022-09-07)
Command: /Applications/Xerox PowerENGAGE.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/EngageLauncher.app/Contents/MacOS/EngageLauncher -LSRC autolaunch
Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.aviatainc.powerengage.XRTK.plist Command: /Applications/Xerox PowerENGAGE.app/Contents/MacOS/Xerox PowerENGAGE -LSRC autolaunch
Deleting these fixed the kernel panic and also cured Spotlight/Finder search which hadn't been working for months.
LocaAlicia wrote:
Luis Sequeira1 wrote:
A clean install followed by migrating only the user accounts will easily restore sanity.
When you say "migrating only the user accounts", does that mean I only have to move this folder back from the external SSD?
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/0936cac5-a713-47da-b7b7-6ae29cf681c4
No.
The steps to a clean system in a recent mac:
1) Time Machine backup
2) System Settings->General->Transfer or Reset->Delete All Content and Settings
3) When asked if you want to migrate, choose the TM backup, and then Check ONLY the user accounts (not applications, settings, or other files). This will get rid of all the old agents and daemons that may have been installed, perhaps a decade ago.
I used to have this same problem on my 15" MacBook Air, but I was able to resolve the issue. I believe there are a number of factors that contribute to the problem, and one person's solution will not necessarily work for someone else. But a few months ago, several of us on this thread solved the problem the same way, so I thought I'd share it again. My Mac was crashing regularly while using it, several times a day. By crash, I mean it would lock up, the screen go black, and it would reboot. One time, it happened when I was looking at the desktop, where my icons and widgets were located. I noticed that before everything went black, a number of widgets went black. Then very quickly the whole screen went black. So I tried what someone else had suggested and removed every single one of my widgets, then rebooted. The result: no more crashes. I waited a few days, then I slowly started returning the widgets. I first put back all the Apple ones, and nothing crashed. Then I added a few other key ones I use a lot, such as Accuweather and Parcel. Still no crashes. I've now gone months without a crash. I confess that before this fix, I had my home screen completely filled with widgets. I don't know if there was a single offending widget or multiple ones, and I suspected the ones that were actually iPad widgets that were able to be used on a Mac. I suspect this fix won't work for most of you, but it might be worth a try. Remove all of them and reboot, then wait to see if you crash. I'd love to know if this works for anyone else. Good luck!
I finally got it resolved. Went to Apple Store and they wiped the computer clean and started clean sheet with Sonoma 14.4. The instructed me to install one piece of software at a time and let it run for several hours before I tried installing another one. I did that and I've re-installed most of the software I had before (like 90%) the rest I have not yet because they were installed on an as-needed basis. Also updated my MS Office to a newer version (I believe the older version *might* have been the issue but not going to ever find out now) and so far no crashes, super stable. And I keep regular time machine backups in case I need to revert.
MacBook Pro with macOS Sonoma crashes frequently and randomly.
