SOCD report detected: (AP watchdog expired), I have a 2022 MacBook Air with an M2 chip. I can't seem to do anything to stop this error from happening. It happens very randomly but usually when processing anything, like an assignment or something. I tried downloading a new copy of OS on my hard drive, tried resetting it multiple times. Is there anything else I can do aside from take it to be repaired?
MacBook Air, macOS 14.8
The “SOCD report detected (AP watchdog expired)” message usually points to a low-level hardware or firmware issue rather than a software problem. On Apple silicon Macs, this error often appears when the system processor stops responding due to a failing logic board component, memory fault, or power management issue. Since you’ve already reinstalled macOS and reset the system, that strongly suggests the cause isn’t related to your operating system or files.
At this stage, the most effective solutions are hardware-focused. I recommend running Apple Diagnostics to confirm whether a fault is detected, but realistically, the next step would be an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider evaluation. They can check for logic board or power subsystem issues and advise on repair options. Unfortunately, there isn’t a reliable software fix for this specific error, but getting it assessed early can prevent more serious failures later on.
Ref: Apple Silicon Mac: Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair - Apple Support
The “SOCD report detected (AP watchdog expired)” message usually points to a low-level hardware or firmware issue rather than a software problem. On Apple silicon Macs, this error often appears when the system processor stops responding due to a failing logic board component, memory fault, or power management issue. Since you’ve already reinstalled macOS and reset the system, that strongly suggests the cause isn’t related to your operating system or files.
At this stage, the most effective solutions are hardware-focused. I recommend running Apple Diagnostics to confirm whether a fault is detected, but realistically, the next step would be an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider evaluation. They can check for logic board or power subsystem issues and advise on repair options. Unfortunately, there isn’t a reliable software fix for this specific error, but getting it assessed early can prevent more serious failures later on.
Ref: Apple Silicon Mac: Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair - Apple Support
Maybe I'm mistaken, but the name "SOCD", to me, sounds like the sort of name that macOS engineers would pick for a "System On Chip Daemon" process.
Where System On Chip refers to the M2 chip, and Daemon is an old BSD Unix term for a system process that runs in the background. The M2 chip contains all sorts of computing units (CPU cores, GPU cores, Neural Engine cores, I/O controllers, etc.) – and it would not surprise me to learn that macOS expects some operations to be carried out within a given time frame. If they were not, that might be considered an indication of a bug or hardware failure that was severe enough to warrant generating an error report, and maybe even deliberately crashing the computer.
I can't say offhand whether the issue is in hardware or in software, but if the problem persisted even after loading a fresh copy of macOS, that might tend to point towards a hardware issue.
You could try running Apple Diagnostics. (Follow the instructions for Apple Silicon Macs.)
Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support
If the next step turned out to be be taking the Mac to Apple, or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, the following links might be of interest:
Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support
How to send your Mac to Apple for service - Apple Support
Mac - Official Apple Support (see links under "Service and Repair")
SOCD report detected: (AP watchdog expired), routinely occurs
