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flickering menu bar in mavericks

I recently upgraded to OS X Mavericks. When at least 1 additional monitor is connected, I've noticed (and see other postings about this) that the inactive menu bar constantly flickers. This happens when I am using my macbook pro with retina display + a HD-connected external monitor, and it also happens when I'm using two thunderbolt displays (but not using the macbook pro monitor). I haven't seen any solutions posted, but I thought I'd mention that the problem disappeared when I switched to a default wallpaper. I had previously had iPhoto pictures as the desktop, but I switched to a default desktop photo in the "Apple \ Desktop Pictures" folder that was white at the top so I wouldn't notice the flickering as much. All of the sudden - no more flickering.

If this was just a coincidence or if someone knows why, I'm curious to know. Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 28, 2013 6:46 AM

37 replies

Jan 1, 2014 11:05 AM in response to JeremyG_

Hi guys, my way through that problem:

After updating to Maverics OS got this menubar unsystematic blinking. When trying to use spotlight from menubar, got crash of menu guaranteed. This crash make a report in console log, i looked through report and found mention of some vmware windows image (in your case it can be any damaged file) which i had not used for a long time. When i try to watch it in finder, got finder crash. So i reloaded in safe mode and remove the file from shell. And now everything is fine!!!

My guess: spotlight is permamently indexing files on disk, and when meet damaged file (actually not damaged, but inappropriate in some way) causes crush of uiserver. So i think it is defenetly bug of Maverics

RUNTMC

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Jan 29, 2014 10:31 AM in response to JeremyG_

For me, it's definitely a Microsoft/Apple compatibility issue in Mavericks. When the secondary monitor/desktop has Word, Outlook, Excel, etc. as the active application, the menu/toolbar will flicker periodically.

If the active application on that monitor/desktop isn't MSFT, no flickering.

Hope this compatibilty issue gets fixed...super annoying.

"Like" if you're experiencing the same thing, so we can figure out what the cause is for most people. Thx!

Message was edited by: RUNTMC

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,776 points

Jan 29, 2014 3:17 PM in response to RUNTMC

RUNTMC wrote:

For me, it's definitely a Microsoft/Apple compatibility issue in Mavericks. When the secondary monitor/desktop has Word, Outlook, Excel, etc. as the active application, the menu/toolbar will flicker periodically.

Which version of Office?

I have 2011 and don't see any of that. Is this in combination with some other software?

RUNTMC

Level 1

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Jan 30, 2014 10:32 AM in response to Barney-15E

I have 2011 as well. Must be.

Other folks in this thread have pointed to Google Drive(?) and other potential culprits. Who knows.

For me it definitely seems like something to do with MSFT & Apple.

Feb 4, 2014 2:49 PM in response to JeremyG_

Same issue here, inactive desktop menu bar flickering in Mavericks on Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 15' Retina. Flickers on monitor if I make the laptop desktop active and vice versa.

I always have either Word or Excel (2011) open, so I just shut both applications and the flickering stopped. Have reopened Word and flickering has not started again... yet.

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,776 points

Feb 4, 2014 2:50 PM in response to RUNTMC

RUNTMC wrote:

I have 2011 as well. Must be.

Other folks in this thread have pointed to Google Drive(?) and other potential culprits. Who knows.

For me it definitely seems like something to do with MSFT & Apple.

I just saw it when opening the Visual Basic editor in Excel, but I don't see it with the apps running normally.

Jun 29, 2015 2:20 AM in response to JeremyG_

The fix for the blinking or empty menubar in Yosemite (and Mavericks?) is quite simple:

Start Disk Utility

Select your hard disk in the column on the left

Repair Disk Permissions.

That's it.

flickering menu bar in mavericks