google earth quits everytime I try to use the search function

Try re-installing the App. It's not an Apple App and if its the only one that crashes then uninstall and then re-download and re-install.

Before hitting the Search button, go to the GE help menu and choose "Google Earth Communities."

Google Earth is not a Apple product and it sounds like you have a Google problem. I think the best and fastest help will be there.

Be sure to include your Mac OS version and your version of GE when posting in the Google Earth forums. That saves time in getting a response appropriate to your exact situation.

I have a mid-2012 Retina MBP running 10.8.3 and Google Earth crashes whenever I search now. This has happened before. My solution previously was to dump Google Earth v. 7 and reinstall 6.2. Google Earth is now on v. 7.1 and you can only install 7.0 or 7.1. I tried both this morning without success. I'm not sure if it's an update from Apple that inadvertently causes the conflict, or an update from Google. I am sure I won't be using Google Earth for awhile and that's a shame.

I believe this crash occurred after Apple's last update, the recent updated version of Google Earth worked for me before Apple's last update. I have deleted and reinstalled the latest Google Earth app several times. All crashed upon searching. I went back to an earlier version from another hard drive, Google Earth v6.1.5001, it still works. I believe it is an Apple problem, but of course I may be wrong.

MacPro early 2009 Software OS X 10.8.3 (12D78)

Processor 2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Memory 8 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC

Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB

Google Earth v 7.1 works on my mid-2011 MacBook Air, but on my mid-2010 iMac it crashes every time I try a search as described by other folks. Both machines are running OS 10.8.3.

I just restored Google Earth v 6.1 from Time Machine onto my iMac and it runs fine. Unfortunately, I hadn't upgraded to Google Earth v 6.5 so I can't restore that version from Time Machine.

I'd sure like to know what's going on.

I just read a solution on a Google Earth help forum and here it is:

"I finally found the problem of why Google Earth was crashing on search. I was at the Genius bar for 1.5 hours once and then for 1 hour again. They finally found the issue. It is in the Library in the Internet Plugin folder. They deleted the contents and the search began to work again without problems. I tested further and found the problem file named: Move-Media-Player.plugin. I don't know if this is a corrupted file or a Google Earth incompatible file. And, of course it may not be your problem. But check that folder and get rid of the contents and see if it does anything to help. What a relief it was for me."

I just went in and deleted the Move-Media file and I can now search in 7.1.1 without the immediate crash.

I just tried that, I didn't have the file Move-Media-Player.plugin but I did delete all the contents of the Internet Plugin folder found in the Library, restarted and for my computer it didn't work. Possibly because I have an older Mac Pro.

MacPro early 2009 Software OS X 10.8.3 (12D78)

Processor 2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Memory 8 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC

Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB

Have been trying for weeks to figure this out... Thank you Sea911! The move-media plug in was found and deleted and it works again!

I saw this on the Google forums too, and it worked for me but I had to look in my user library folder which is now hidden in OSX by default (NOT the root library folder which also has an Internet plug ins folder.)

To find this you need to go in finder to the "go" pulldown menu and select "Go to folder..." and then type the following...

/Users/your user name/Library/Internet Plug-Ins

Of course be sure to replace "your user name" with your actual user name.

I was able to fine the "move-media plug in" in there even after a file search that allowed system files and hidden files. Deleted it and GE search works now!

Thanks brain213

This finally worked for me after months of trying.

MacPro early 2009 Software OS X 10.8.3 (12D78)

Processor 2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Memory 8 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC

Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 MB

Thanks! That worked...after weeks of searching out different ideas on google earth forum discussions about this very thing.

Yes! This is excelllent advice!! I had the problem on 2 different Macs so it must be a Mac issue. THank you so much for your help!!

That has sorted me as well as far as Google Earth Search is concerned.

What bothers me is that this problem only occurred in my Main account, not in another and Guest acount.

Incompatibility with some app or other, I reckon.

This would suggest to me that this plugin is required by some app which will become glaringly obvious in time.

Perhaps the Google Earth intelligiensia could let us know the likely source of this plug-in and even come up with an update to accomodate it.

http://www.longlines.com/support/question.php?id=118

The above may be of interest.

IMHO not a Mac issue per se.