2020 MacBook Pro getting WindowServer crashes after installing Tahoe

My 2020 macbook pro keeps crashing and generating a windowserver report after installing Tahoe. Is there a fix a non-programmer can make, or is Apple going to fix this? The report lists "bug type 409." Maybe this line of report text is also helpful:

WindowServer (0 induced crashes) returned not alive with context:","is_alive_func returned unhealthy : Display 69734208 not ready: DisplayID: 0x4280f40","Surface Use Counts: 3(1) 5(1) 14(3)","FB RegID: 4294968550, On Glass SurfaceIDs: 5 3 14, Transactions: [ Active: SurfaceID: 5 ] [ Waiting: SurfaceID: 3 ] [ Waiting: SurfaceID: 14 ], Surface Use Counts: 4(1) , Notified IsActive, has not exited since first loaded"]},

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 26.3

Posted on Mar 8, 2026 6:38 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 9, 2026 2:35 AM

Part 1 of 2


Restart the computer in Safe Mode 


Do the issues persist ?


Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.


If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up.


To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac.


Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.


If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.


Part 2 of 2


To Drill Down further and to avoid a session of Q&A, Q&A  and Q&A  


Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.


The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet "  and is  only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 


This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer Hardware / Software used on this computer 


The application is free or paid from added features. 


The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 


Post back the Full Report - Share Report >> Copy , then  paste  >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 9, 2026 2:35 AM in response to MoBrody

Part 1 of 2


Restart the computer in Safe Mode 


Do the issues persist ?


Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.


If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up.


To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac.


Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.


If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.


Part 2 of 2


To Drill Down further and to avoid a session of Q&A, Q&A  and Q&A  


Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.


The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet "  and is  only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 


This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer Hardware / Software used on this computer 


The application is free or paid from added features. 


The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 


Post back the Full Report - Share Report >> Copy , then  paste  >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

2020 MacBook Pro getting WindowServer crashes after installing Tahoe

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