Some Apps unresponsive after sleep (El Capitan)

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Level 1

8 points

Some Apps unresponsive after sleep (El Capitan)

Product: 13" Macbook Pro Retina (12,1) (base model specs)

El Capitan Version: 10.11.6

The Problem:

When I log in after my Macbook has slept, I frequently encounter issues with some of the stock apps. In particular I have had this problem with Messages, Mail, Reminders, and Calendar. This seems to be an issue when they are open before putting the macbook to sleep. This same problem has not happened with non-apple-stock apps.

After logging in, if I click the app icon, the app window will come into focus. After this, I'm unable to use the app (as if it is frozen) and I frequently just see the spinning rainbow mouse icon.

I can force quit the app, and then open it again but now the app doesn't load.

To fix the issue I can reboot the macbook and all is well.

Some other, likely associated weird things I saw (only caught this once...but didn't try looking again either):

I opened the calendar app after the macbook slept, and my usually full calendar was blank (wouldn't that be nice if it were true!). Anyway, I checked the "accounts" and also found there to be no accounts! (I have 3 going). So I wonder if there is an issue with the accounts after sleep since these apps I had problems with all use iCloud account, and mail also uses some other accounts.

Big Question: Is there something I can do so this does not happen?

Thank you for your help! Sorry if this is a double post- it's hard to find an answer via google search.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 14, 2016 7:37 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 15, 2016 5:08 PM in response to theonedrc

A Safe Mode boot deletes system caches that may help ..

Follow these steps to start up into safe mode.

Start or restart your Mac.
Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the Shift key.
Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.

After the Apple logo appears, it might take longer than usual to reach the login screen or your desktop. This is because your Mac performs a directory check of your startup disk as part of safe mode.

To leave safe mode, restart your computer without pressing any keys during startup.

Then try Message, Mail, etc.

If you still have problems, check the startup disk.

Launch Disk Utility located in /Applications/Utilities

Then select the startup disk on the left then select the First Aid tab then click Run.

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Answer 2

theonedrc Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 14, 2016 7:45 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Okay thank you for such a quick response. I will try those two suggestions. If I have further problems I'll write back.

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Answer 3

Sep 14, 2016 7:53 PM in response to theonedrc

Try running in safe mode.

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Answer 4

theonedrc Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 15, 2016 5:08 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Hi Carolyn... after a day and normal use things look good. (for now!!! 🙂 ) Hopefully they stay that way. Again, thanks for your help!

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Answer 5

Sep 15, 2016 5:10 PM in response to theonedrc

You're welcome 🙂

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Answer 6

theonedrc Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 15, 2016 10:40 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Okay - the problem lives on...

I have a few other details. It is a little bit different than what I thought originally.

The circumstances are the same - an issue after the macbook has slept.

But, I am now experiencing issues opening stock account-connected apps that were not open when the macbook slept. It's likely that I would have had the same problem before - I just didn't do much checking!

- I tried FaceTime (the icon just keeps bouncing)

- I tried Reminders (the title bar at the top came up, along with the rainbow spinner)

- I tried Notes (the icon just kept bouncing for about a minute)

- I tried Contacts (bouncing icon)

Other strange things:

- Calendar was open, I added an event. Quit the app. Re-opened it, now the window is there - no account based calendars, just empty, and the rainbow spinner.

I checked Settings > Internet Accounts and found this issue again:

I suspect the main issue is that the accounts information is not loading properly (sometimes) after sleep.

I know that a restart will fix this, but I'd prefer not to restart every time - hopefully this can just be resolved permanently somehow.

I know that Sierra is coming out next week and I will upgrade. It's possible that there will be no issues after that.

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