/etc/zshrc:7: fork failed: resource temporarily unavailable /Users/my_name/.zshrc:1: fork failed: resource temporarily unavailable

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Level 1

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/etc/zshrc:7: fork failed: resource temporarily unavailable /Users/my_name/.zshrc:1: fork failed: resource temporarily unavailable

I started getting the above message a few days ago on my Mac Mini M4 running Sequoia 15.5. whenever I start Terminal. Terminal can respond to pwd but not to any other command, including ls. I re-installed Sequoia non-destructively but the problem persists. All other apps run normally. On re-boot, with no apps open, Activity Monitor shows about 400 processes. As soon as I open Terminal that number jumps to 2,913 (always the same number) and thousands of zsh processes, each using one Thread, are spawned. When I quit Terminal, the zsh processes all disappear. Possible cause - I installed the Wave Terminal app but it did not install completely and I deleted it before doing the re-installation of Sequoia, so I discount that. Please advise if you have any insight into this, thanks.

Posted on Jul 17, 2025 9:14 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

74,334 points

Jul 17, 2025 9:56 AM in response to iwm3465

What Barney said.

As a temporary measure to regain access to Terminal, you can deactivate the .zshrc file by renaming it.

In Finder, open your home folder, (Command-Shift-H)

and set Finder to show hidden files (Command-Shift-period)

Locate the .zshrc file (hidden files appear in a greyish color to distinguish them from other files), and

rename it - for example, to .zshrc-inactive

Start Terminal again. You will have functioning shell windows, but of course other stuff that might be running as part of the .zshrc file does not run now.

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Answer 2

iwm3465 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 17, 2025 10:42 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks to both of you.

.zshrc file (now re-named) and all works.

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,020 points

Jul 17, 2025 9:32 AM in response to iwm3465

Reinstalling the OS will do nothing. The OS cannot be modified except by an Apple update.

Looks like whatever you tried to install modified your .zshrc file incorrectly. You’ll need to edit that file and remove whatever that program modified. It may have isolated its changes with some sort of delimiter, but not all developer’s are so inclined.

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