Kernel panic during Sequoia 15.4 installation on Apple M1 2021 MacBook Pro with Sonoma 14.7.5

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Grant L Author

Level 1

92 points

Kernel panic during Sequoia 15.4 installation on Apple M1 2021 MacBook Pro with Sonoma 14.7.5

Have tried upgrading w 400GB disk space, no apps running.

Make it through Sequoia download, preparing and installation, but always KERNEL PANIC on restart.

/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports shows 5x panic-full... reports for 5x times I have tried to upgrade to Sequoia.

1st time all apps on Sonoma 14.7.5 up to date.

2nd time restarted 3x times to clear any updates/locked files and safe mode on last boot, then normal boot and install... failed

3rd time ... tried Recovery Mode, installed Sonoma on top of existing,

Weird, noticed updated for Safari update available from 17.6 to 18.4, so installed it... then tried Sequoia upgrade... failed.

4th time... entered Diagnostics Mode, submitted report to Apple Support... no hardware issues....upgraded Parallels v19 to v20.2.2 because their web site now shows "*" by v19 support and forums show restart issues and kernel panic ... better to be on v20 for tested/supported use... maybe ARM drivers causing issue... then installed Sequoia update... failed.

Not sure where the 5th was... used a new TEST user... all the same failures.... reported to Apple... and Support...

PANIC - latest

"panicString" : "panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0): t6000dart 0xfffffdf03b568d70 (dart-dispext0): Can't ignore lock validation @t6000dart.c:437\nDebugger message: panic\nMemory ID: 0x6\nOS release type: Not set yet\nOS version: Not set yet ...

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

com.apple.driver.AppleT6000DART(1.0)

com.apple.driver.AppleARMPlatform(1.0.2)

com.apple.driver.IODARTFamily(1)

SEE ATTACHED TEXTLOG FILE.

Just noticed SHUTDOWN_STALL(s) and RESET COUNTER with these Panic Reports. SPINDUMP?

Looking at web/apple forums... this appears to be kernel issue w M1 processor and in past, seems to be resolved by coding fix by Apple.... som refer to FIRMWARE updates for?

Thoughts?/Fixes? I'm scheduled to see Apple tech at Apple Store... Thursday.

PS. I thought maybe install Sequoia v15.0/1 and see if install based and then upgrade... avoid major "leap" of if M1 problems brought into play w later Sequoia release (regression). But I was told Apple hasn't made Sequoia individual downloads available?! I just spent $100 for Parallels update to work with Sequoia...

Grant

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Apr 1, 2025 5:15 PM

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Answer 1

Grant L Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 1, 2025 5:44 PM in response to Grant L

UPDATES...

5th attempt was disconnecting all peripherals except power and USB-c 2.5G ethernet.
Trying the following:

Open Terminal -> softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.2 and will then run /Applications/Install macOS Sequoia over the top of your existing installation.... (15.1 and earlier not available)

( YES... I have a couple of TimeMachine Backups )

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Answer 2

Grant L Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 1, 2025 7:08 PM in response to Grant L

I was able to successfully upgrade to Sequoia v15.2 using the identified commands in my last post.

There were several restarts during the installation process (apple logo with status bar, until N mins shown and completed).

I am now attempting to use the Software Update function to upgrade to Sequoia v15.4.

Weirdly, when I first requested this update, I got a message available software updates have changed and were not available?! See screenshot. I tried again and it then appeared to work, started download and installation process.

Is there something wrong with the Apple Update Service currently, and maybe why I have been having issues all day? Or perhaps some issues w upgrade from Sonoma directly to Sequoia 15.4 due (to M1)?

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Answer 3

Grant L Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 1, 2025 7:23 PM in response to Grant L

On a side note...

If I look at DiagnosticLogs folder after upgrade to Sequoia 15.2... some microstack and other issues, high cpu, etc... unsure if these are "normal" or "anomalies" from upgrade... and possible issues?

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Answer 4

Grant L Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 1, 2025 7:56 PM in response to Grant L

Unable to upgrade from Sequoia 15.2 to 15.4 on M1.

During installation process, a second update was downloaded ~830MB... not sure what it was.

System rebooted and got the usual (15.4) KERNEL PANIC (as before from Sonoma upgrade to Sequoia):

"panicString" : "panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0): t6000dart 0xfffffdf031910d70 (dart-dispext0): Can't ignore lock validation @t6000dart.c:437

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:\n com.apple.driver.AppleT6000DART(1.0)

dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleARMPlatform(1.0.2)

dependency: com.apple.driver.IODARTFamily(1)

CLEARLY... there is a problem with Sequoia 15.4 in Apple's software update... for M1 processors... that needs to be fixed... submitted logs and link to this thread as FYI.

:). I hope this helps others

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Answer 5

Apr 2, 2025 7:40 AM in response to Grant L

I upgraded by 2020 M1 Mac mini to Sequoia 15.4, get a kernel panic on installation.

What is the cause? Was this not Q/A'd on Apple's own chipset?

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Answer 6

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

69,212 points

Apr 2, 2025 10:21 AM in response to Grant L

I would suggest a DFU Firmware Revive or better yet a DFU Firmware Restore. Both of these will reset the secure enclave chip & system firmware. The latter will also reset the internal SSD & push a clean copy of macOS onto the internal SSD. Unfortunately this process requires access to another Mac currently running macOS 15.x Sequoia.

How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support

FYI, "dart" I believe is Device Address Resolution Table used to delineate hardware and memory on an M-series Mac (internal & external). I'm not certain on the exact name since I'm unable to locate the information with a quick search, but this is what I recall from investigating a year or so ago to assist another user.

If you are seeing this crash with a clean install with no external devices connected and without any third party apps & restore from backup, then you have a hardware issue most likely with the Logic Board.

Edit: Please keep us updated with the results and whatever happens with Apple.

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Answer 7

Apr 3, 2025 2:31 AM in response to Grant L

Yes! "CLEARLY... there is a problem with Sequoia 15.4 in Apple's software

update... for M1 processors... that needs to be fixed... submitted logs

and link to this thread as FYI."

Am having the same issue on an M1 Macbook Air. Upgrade from 14.7.5 to either 15.4 via the systems settings or to 15.3 via the Appstore failed with the same message.

Apple support confirmed that the are currently running an internal investigation.

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Answer 8

Grant L Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 3, 2025 10:04 AM in response to HWTech

Thank you. I also thought about possible DFU firmware update might help but did not know where to locate.

I will try these steps, Revive first as less intrusive w SSD reset.

I did speak w Apple Support and they ran Hardware Diasgnostics test remotely... apparently results showed no hardware issues. I updated that support ticket with pointer to this thread for more details and follow-up. :)

I do have a few older MBPs around... apparently Sonoma 14 will do as minimum to use as other MBP with DFU connection. I also believe I have Apple USB-C to USB-C cable somewhere in my office

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Answer 9

DLZab

Level 1

64 points

Apr 3, 2025 3:21 PM in response to Grant L

Grant - Thanks for all this data! Were you able to finally get to 15.4 after successfully getting to 15.2? I'm trying to decide if I should just wait for 15.4.1 (or whatever the next one is) and stay on Sonoma 14.7.5 in the meantime.

Thanks again!

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Answer 10

Grant L Author

Level 1

92 points

Apr 3, 2025 4:15 PM in response to DLZab

YW.

No, I ran into same kernel panic problem with upgrade from 15.2 to 15.4.

Someone else posted that Sequoia 15.3 does the same... so 15.2 is latest available that works on my M1.

I am attempting to use another MBP to reset DFU firmware... and see if this corrects the issue.

I have an 2020 MBP 16 inch w Intel/T2 but OS is corrupted and won't boot...

and I don't have firmware password (change/format drive) and stuck... I'd like to install NEW Sequoia on 2TB SSD.

If anyone knows how to fix/workaround this... LMK

Another user posted that Apple Support is aware of M1 issues w 15.4 and currently working on resolving

Maybe a 15.4.1 soon?... and solve all our problems :)

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Answer 11

DLZab

Level 1

64 points

Apr 3, 2025 11:27 PM in response to Grant L

Thanks again. I have seen a couple other threads other sites with these same symptoms, so hopefully, as you suggest, Apple is working on a resolution. I'll just wait a few days before trying again.

Thanks again Grant

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Answer 12

Apr 4, 2025 5:04 AM in response to Galileo135

@Galileo135

Hi,

Are you in direct contact with Apple, please? I recently had a call with the local support team in the Czech Republic, and their statement was that Sequoia has no installation issues, and the problem lies with the hardware on my MacBook.

Thanks

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