My MacBook Air is running out of Application Memory

Question

In the last few weeks I have experienced frequent application crashes accompanied with the &#x27;out of application memory&#x27; error message.  Force Quit and restart is required.  This happens many time a day.  The onset did not accompany the installation of any new software as far as I am aware.  I would like to know what is causing this and how to correct it.I am using a 13" MacBook Air  with 16GB RAM and running OSX 10.9.5 (the System Information says MacBook Pro, late 2013).  The crashes occur with many applications (perhaps all).  This can even occur when the only open application is Pages.  I have two HD partitions, the Start Up disk is 404.94GB capacity and had ~75GB free at the onset of the problem.  The second partition has 94.35GB capacity and was almost empty.I&#x27;ve tried copying ~90GB of files to the previously-empty Hard-Disk 2 and deleting them from the start up disk.  Curiously, available space on the Start Up disk has increased by only about 10GB, which is odd.  This has not solved the problem, although it may have ameliorated it.thanks for your help

cavemees · Answer

Start running Activity Monitor, open memory pane and sort it on column Memory. Have a close look on it when you start using your MacBook to see what process really starts eating up the memory on your system.Use Activity Monitor on your Mac - Apple Support

Nick Baker 22 · Answer

I see that I got most of my missing 95GB back, which is good, but I ran out of application memory again within minutes (in Firefox).Here  is the Activity Monitor window (after Force Quitting Firefox).

Nick Baker 22 · Answer

Another crash this morning, Safari was the only application open.  Here is the Activity Monitor (after force quitting Safari).  The Orange memory pressure was slowly advances across the window to the left.Thanks!

Nick Baker 22 · Answer

A quiet few days.Yesterday on start up I noticed in Activity Monitor that Calendar Agent was already out of control before any applications had been opened.  I took screenshots of Activity Monitor approx every minute.  Although the Mac never crashed, I restarted after 10 minutes, with no further problems through the day.  Here are the successive screenshots.

cavemees · Answer

Would suggest to create a test account, that way you can analyse wether you need further troubleshooting on OS level or that you have a problem in your current user account.Looking at the last EtreCheck report, I&#x27;m curious about the several launch agents and launch deamons from Bomgar and Adobe. What is Bomgar and do you need it? Are you running both CS4 and CS5 btw?How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple SupportAlso not seen yet in the postings, boot into Safe Mode as it cleans up caches and does some maintenance tasks: macOS Sierra: Start up in safe modeProbably worth, resetting SMC, quotes from the support page:"The computer is performing unusually slowly, though it isn&#x27;t experiencing abnormally high CPU utilization." and"Applications don&#x27;t function correctly, or they stop responding after being opened." Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

cavemees · Answer

Please follow this thread but if you think you&#x27;ve a similar problem its better to start a new post. Recommended to read why you should do it "Ask your own question. Don&#x27;t tack a new question on to someone else&#x27;s." from Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question

Barry Hemphill · Answer

Advise is frequently worth what you pay for it and mine is free 😉However, I would get rid of the extra partition, for sure. Incidentally, I have not seen any instance where permissions caused problems in over three years.Barry

OGELTHORPE · Answer

You indicated that your Mac had 16 GB RAM.  That shows that third party RAM has been installed.  Reinstall the original RAM and see if there is a difference.  (Macs have a reputation of being very selective with third party RAM)Ciao.

OGELTHORPE · Answer

You are correct that I erred since I failed to notice that you said the Mac in this discussion is a 2013 retina MBP:&#x27;I am using a 13" MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and running OSX 10.9.5 (the System Information says MacBook Pro, late 2013).&#x27;The reason for my post was that no Macbook Air has ever been manufactured with more that 8 GB RAM.  Hence the Mac that you have is a retina Macbook Pro.Ciao.

Nick Baker 22 · Answer

So I&#x27;ve has two more crashes, (both with Firefox), both times Activity Monitor shows that the most memory is being used by Calendar Agent, once with 3.78GB, once with 2.47GB.  Any suggestiona for the next step?thanks

Lexiepex · Answer

16GB of Ram is more than enough for everything you can think of.If you have a shortage of Ram you can easily see that in ActivityMonitor: look for "Swaps Out": that is going to happen when you are having a serious shortage of Ram. If you have, say, 50MB of SwapsOut in a day of use that&#x27;s nothing; it gets serious when you have seriously more SwapsOut than 1GB in an hour or so...I think that some tool or app is "cannibalising" the Ram.Go to  Etrecheck.com   read about etrecheck, what it does and does not, how to use it. After that download and run it. Post the list it makes here.Lex

Nick Baker 22 · Answer

Thanks.  There are no kernel panics listed in Diagnostic Reports.  There are some resource.spin and MacBook-Pro.hang events.  There is a very long entry in each report, what information would be useful?

cavemees · Answer

Seems to me that Calendar Agent goes nuts. Question is, is it the Calendar Agent on its own or is it related with Firefox. Do you have any &#x27;Calendar like&#x27; extensions enabled in Firefox? Do you have in &#x27;System Preferences&#x27;, &#x27;Internet Accounts&#x27; setup any calendars? If so try (temporary) disable one by one (if more accounts) your calendar accounts to see which one is causing the trouble.

OGELTHORPE · Answer

Unfortunately that is not an area of my strength.  Those who are proficient analyzing that data usually ask for the last dozen or so lines.  Post same and perhaps there may a clue, or better yet someone else may be able to assist.Ciao.

Nick Baker 22 · Answer

Entrechek report:EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)Report generated 2017-02-07 10:44:35Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.comRuntime 1:38Performance: ExcellentClick the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.Click the [Remove] links to remove adware.Problem: Apps are crashingDescription:frequently running out of application memoryHardware Information: ⓘ    MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)     [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty &amp; Service]    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro11,1    1 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-4288U) CPU: 2-core    16 GB RAM Not upgradeable        BANK 0/DIMM0            8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok        BANK 1/DIMM0            8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok    Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported    Wireless:  en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac    Battery: Health &#x3D; Normal - Cycle count &#x3D; 746Video Information: ⓘ    Intel Iris        Color LCD 2560 x 1600System Software: ⓘ    OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 (13F1911) - Time since boot: less than an hourDisk Information: ⓘ    APPLE SSD SM0512F disk0 : (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)    [Show SMART report]        EFI (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB         Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /  [Startup]: 404.94 GB (140.62 GB free)        Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;  [Recovery]: 650 MB         Macintosh HD 2 (disk0s4) /Volumes/Macintosh HD 2 : 94.35 GB (7.07 GB free)USB Information: ⓘ    Apple Internal Memory Card Reader     Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad     Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub         Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_busGatekeeper: ⓘ    Mac App Store and identified developersAdware: ⓘ    ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.jdibackup.ZipCloud.autostart.plist    One adware file found. [Remove]Unknown Files: ⓘ    /Library/LaunchAgents/com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-sdcust-login-drone-1399318373.plist        /Users/[redacted]/bomgar-scc-20140505-153252.app/Contents/MacOS/sdcust -drone -nodockicon    /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373.plist        /usr/bin/su -l root -c /Library/LaunchDaemons/.com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373.helper/mac_service_hel per.sh com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373 /Users/Shared/bomgar-scc-20140505-153252.app/Contents/MacOS/sdcust -service:run    /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.symantec.Sched501-6.plist        /Library/Application Support/Symantec/Scheduler/SymSecondaryLaunch.app/Contents/schedLauncher -n 6 /Library/Application Support/Symantec/AntiVirus/ScanNotification.app/Contents/scheduledScanner      NVsi SCae path /    3 unknown files found. [Check files]Kernel Extensions: ⓘ        /Applications/LaCie Desktop Manager.app    [not loaded]    com.LaCie.ScsiType00 (1.2.13 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-01-27) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.jmicron.driver.jmPeripheralDevice (2.0.4 - 2014-01-27) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.lacie.driver.LaCie_RemoteComms (1.0.1 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-01-27) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.oxsemi.driver.OxsemiDeviceType00 (1.28.13 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-01-27) [Support]        /Applications/Tunnelblick.app    [not loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tap (20111101 (Tunnelblick build 2891.3099) Unsigned - 2012-10-31) [Support]    [not loaded]    net.tunnelblick.tun (20111101 (Tunnelblick build 2891.3099) Unsigned - 2012-10-31) [Support]        /Library/Application Support/Symantec/AntiVirus    [loaded]    com.symantec.kext.SymAPComm (11.1.2f17 - 2017-01-14) [Support]        /Library/Application Support/Symantec/IntrusionPrevention/SavedEngine    [loaded]    com.symantec.kext.ips (3.1 - 2011-02-09) [Support]        /System/Library/Extensions    [not loaded]    com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDevice (2.0.0 - 2017-01-25) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDeviceUP (2.0.0 - 2017-01-25) [Support]    [loaded]    com.symantec.kext.internetSecurity (1.3.2 - 2017-01-25) [Support]        /System/Library/Extensions/OlympusDSCDriver.kext/Contents/PlugIns    [not loaded]    com.olympus.CamFWSerialBusProtocolTransport (2.0.0 - 2006-11-30) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.olympus.CamUSBMassStorageClass (2.0.0 - 2006-11-30) [Support]System Launch Agents: ⓘ    [not loaded]    6 Apple tasks    [loaded]    145 Apple tasks    [running]    32 Apple tasksSystem Launch Daemons: ⓘ    [not loaded]    48 Apple tasks    [loaded]    139 Apple tasks    [running]    62 Apple tasksLaunch Agents: ⓘ    [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-09-04) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist (2010-09-24) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist (2010-10-26) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-sdcust-login-drone-1399318373.plist (2014-05-05) [Support] - /Users/[redacted]/bomgar-scc-20140505-153252.app/Contents/MacOS/sdcust: Executable not found!    [loaded]    com.citrix.AuthManager_Mac.plist (2015-08-28) [Support]    [running]    com.citrix.ReceiverHelper.plist (2015-08-28) [Support]    [running]    com.citrix.ServiceRecords.plist (2015-08-28) [Support]    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2017-01-13) [Support]    [loaded]    com.intego.backupassistant.agent.plist (2014-01-27) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Support]    [running]    com.symantec.uiagent.application.plist (2010-09-24) [Support]    [failed]    jp.co.canon.LIPS.BG.plist (2011-03-11) [Support] - /Library/Printers/Canon/LIPS2/Utilities/LIPS BackGrounder.app/Contents/MacOS/LIPS BackGrounder: Executable not found!Launch Daemons: ⓘ    [loaded]    com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2014-09-04) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-12-16) [Support]    [loaded]    com.apple.aelwriter.plist (2010-09-15)    [loaded]    com.bomgar.bomgar-scc-1399318373.plist (2014-05-10)    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2017-01-25) [Support]    [running]    com.intego.BackupAssistant.daemon.plist (2013-06-04) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Support]    [loaded]    com.skype.skypeinstaller.plist (2015-09-27) [Support]    [failed]    com.symantec.MissedTasks.plist (2009-11-10) [Support] - /Library/Application Support/Symantec/Scheduler/SymSecondaryLaunch.app/Contents/NortonMissedTasks: Executable not found!    [loaded]    com.symantec.Sched501-1.plist (2010-09-24) [Support] - /Library/Application Support/Symantec/Scheduler/SymSecondaryLaunch.app/Contents/schedLauncher: Executable not found!    [loaded]    com.symantec.Sched501-5.plist (2014-04-17) [Support] - /Library/Application Support/Symantec/Scheduler/SymSecondaryLaunch.app/Contents/schedLauncher: Executable not found!    [loaded]    com.symantec.Sched501-6.plist (2014-04-17) [Support] - /Library/Application Support/Symantec/Scheduler/SymSecondaryLaunch.app/Contents/schedLauncher: Executable not found!    [loaded]    com.symantec.avscandaemon.plist (2009-10-10) [Support]    [running]    com.symantec.diskMountNotify.plist (2010-09-24) [Support]    [loaded]    com.symantec.navapd.plist (2010-10-07) [Support]    [running]    com.symantec.navapdaemonsl.plist (2010-10-07) [Support]    [running]    com.symantec.sharedsettings.plist (2009-07-22) [Support]    [failed]    com.symantec.symSchedDaemon.plist (2009-11-10) [Support] - /Library/Application Support/Symantec/Scheduler/SymSecondaryLaunch.app/Contents/SymSchedulerDaemon: Executable not found!    [running]    com.symantec.symdaemon.plist (2009-08-10) [Support]User Launch Agents: ⓘ    [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-07-30) [Support]    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-07-17) [Support]    [failed]    com.jdibackup.ZipCloud.autostart.plist (2014-11-05) Adware!  [Remove]        /usr/bin/openUser Login Items: ⓘ    iTunesHelper    Application   (2017-01-25)        (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)    Launch Nikon Message Center 2    Application          (/Applications/Nikon Software/Nikon Message Center 2/Nikon Message Center 2.app/Contents/SharedSupport/Launch Nikon Message Center 2.app)    Dropbox    Application          (/Applications/Dropbox.app)    AdobeResourceSynchronizer    Application Hidden         (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)    Photo Stream URL    SMLoginItem   (2014-05-10)        (/Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/PhotoStreamAgent.app)    com.adobe.SwitchBoard.monitor.plist    MachInit          (/etc/mach_init_per_user.d/com.adobe.SwitchBoard.monitor.plist)    Mach Init items are deprecatedInternet Plug-ins: ⓘ    Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2016-03-19) [Support]    Default Browser: 537 - SDK 10.9 (2014-09-18)    OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-08-07) [Support]    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 (2014-07-31) [Support]    FlashPlayer-10.6: 24.0.0.194 - SDK 10.9 (2017-01-10) [Support]    Silverlight: 5.1.50709.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-09-21) [Support]    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-08-15)    Flash Player: 24.0.0.194 - SDK 10.9 (2017-01-10) [Support]    CitrixICAClientPlugIn: 12.0.0 - SDK 10.9 (2015-06-22) [Support]    iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2010-09-21)    AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 (2014-07-31) [Support]    CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: 3.1.0.2 (2009-09-09) [Support]    GarminGpsControl: 4.2.0.0 - SDK 10.8 (2014-03-31) [Support]3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ    Flash Player (2016-12-16) [Support]    FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) (2013-06-15) [Support]    Growl (2010-10-26) [Support]    Norton
QuickMenu (2010-09-24) [Support]Time Machine: ⓘ    Auto backup: YES    Volumes being backed up:        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 404.94 GB Disk used: 264.32 GB    Destinations:        G-DRIVE [Local]         Total size: 2.00 TB         Total number of backups: 66         Oldest backup: 4/6/15, 5:34 PM         Last backup: 2/6/17, 4:42 PM         Size of backup disk: Excellent            Backup size 2.00 TB &gt; (Disk size 404.94 GB X 3)Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ         5%       WindowServer         4%       fontd         2%       plugin-container         1%       kernel_task         0%       DropboxTop Processes by Memory: ⓘ    2.19 GB       CalendarAgent    892 MB        kernel_task    737 MB        firefox    705 MB        plugin-container    541 MB        FinderVirtual Memory Information: ⓘ    9.14 GB       Available RAM    7.05 GB       Free RAM    6.86 GB       Used RAM    2.09 GB       Cached files    31 MB         Swap UsedDiagnostics Information: ⓘ    Feb 7, 2017, 10:42:31 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/EtreCheck_2017-02-07-104231_[redacted].crash        com.etresoft.EtreCheck - /Users/[redacted]/Downloads/EtreCheck.app/Contents/MacOS/EtreCheck    Feb 7, 2017, 09:54:31 AM    Self test - passed    Feb 7, 2017, 09:54:12 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/firefox_2017-02-07-095412_[redacted].hang        /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox    Feb 7, 2017, 09:54:12 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-07-095412_[redacted]. crash        org.mozilla.plugincontainer - /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/plugin-container.app/Contents/MacOS/pl ugin-container    Feb 7, 2017, 09:54:09 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Calendar_2017-02-07-095409_[redacted].hang        /Applications/Calendar.app/Contents/MacOS/Calendar    Feb 7, 2017, 09:53:25 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-07-095325_[redacted]. crash    Feb 7, 2017, 09:53:24 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-07-095324_[redacted]. crash    Feb 7, 2017, 03:10:33 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-07-031033_[redacted]. crash    Feb 7, 2017, 03:08:58 AM    ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/plugin-container_2017-02-07-030858_[redacted]. crash    Feb 6, 2017, 03:20:08 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/AdobeReader_2017-02-06-152008_[redacted].hang        /Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/MacOS/AdobeReader