M2 Mac Mini keeps crashing

Question

M2 Mac Mini keeps crashing

My M2 Mac mini has crashed around 20 times since purchase in Jan 2023. The crashes occur most often while the computer is asleep. I’ve disabled automatic sleep, tested by gradually removing all external drives (including Time Machine), and changed the refresh rate for my dual monitors to 60hz and the crashes still happen. I’ve taken the computer to Apple and they say it’s not a hardware issue and the computer is fine. Currently, I have attached to the computer the Qwiizlab UH25 Max (with both a 4TB SATA SSD for Time Machine backups and a 4TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD for my music/multimedia files) connected via USB C and using a separate power supply (i.e., not drawing power from the Mac Mini). Not sure what else to do, any suggestions? Attached is an EtreCheck file.

EtreCheckPro

Mac mini, macOS 14.3

Posted on Feb 20, 2024 11:37 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 20, 2024 10:12 PM in response to hcsitas

Imprecise language on my part. I've not had a crash while actively using the computer. It has only crashed after the monitors timed off (not strictly sleeping since I disabled automatic sleeping).

At least initially, I thought the crashes were due to higher than recommended refresh rates on my 2 monitors. After lowering the refresh rate on both to 60 hertz, I went 3 weeks before the next crash. I'm now wondering if a second contributing factor is my Qwiizlab UH25 Max external hub (which houses 2 drives - a Time Machine backup and a drive for my multimedia files), maybe one of the external drives in the UH25 isn't waking up in time? The last time I disconnected the UH25 was before I lowered the refresh rate. I'm trying to test it again by removing the UH25 to see if I get another crash. Fingers crossed.

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Answer 2

hcsitas

Level 6

11,216 points

Feb 20, 2024 11:44 AM in response to Pradeep Victor

Sleep is unnecessary and should be disabled in all it’s forms. Shut for long absences/idle overnights (i.e. do not manual-sleep), and for regular operation, use the settings exactly as shown here Wake up a remote Mac mini - Apple Community, should fix.

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Answer 3

Feb 21, 2024 12:12 AM in response to Pradeep Victor

I'd uninstall Intego -- 3rd party virus apps are not needed and often produce obscure errors.

I'd also uninstall NordVPN because such VPN provide no real privacy and might also produce glitches.

What's a good VPN for Sonoma OS Mac M3? - Apple Community

"cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up" apps (CleanMyMac, MacKeeper etc) are also bad for the Mac. AppCleaner might be more benign if used cautiously.

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Answer 4

Feb 20, 2024 1:47 PM in response to hcsitas

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Answer 5

hcsitas

Level 6

11,216 points

Feb 20, 2024 10:25 PM in response to Pradeep Victor

You're on the right track. In general and IMO, external drives should be direct-connected and hub-avoided. Also IMO, external SSDs are more marketing gimmick than engineering. Disconnecting the UH25 largely addresses both, should fix.

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Answer 6

Feb 20, 2024 1:38 PM in response to hcsitas

Sleep has been disabled for a while and the settings on my Mac Mini are consistent with the link you sent. Hasn't helped w/ the crashes, unfortunately.

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Answer 7

hcsitas

Level 6

11,216 points

Feb 20, 2024 1:40 PM in response to Pradeep Victor

Snapshots of your settings please?

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Answer 8

hcsitas

Level 6

11,216 points

Feb 20, 2024 1:49 PM in response to Pradeep Victor

Looks good, thank you. Are you manually sleeping your mini? Don’t - shut or let the display turn off on timer, should fix.

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Answer 9

Feb 20, 2024 1:54 PM in response to hcsitas

I just let the display turn off on timer, usually by just walking away. I'll only turn the machine off when I know I'll be gone for at least a couple of days, but otherwise keep it on overnight.

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Answer 10

hcsitas

Level 6

11,216 points

Feb 20, 2024 8:45 PM in response to Pradeep Victor

Your replies contradict your original post, specifically this: “The crashes occur most often while the computer is asleep.”…explain please?

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