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Level 1

17 points

Messages App hangs or crashes after Mojave upgrade

I've been all over the forums trying everybody's fix for this, but after upgrading to Mojave yesterday, my Messages app constantly hangs and/or crashes. If I am able to get it to run and stay open, it's constantly drawing on the resources of my Macbook Pro 2015

✅ Restarted into SafeMode and had the same problem

✅ Restarted and reset memory (COM + OPTION + P + R)

✅ Signed out of iMessages account, restarted and signed back in

✅ Changed setting to delete messages older than 1 year

I can't find any other solutions online, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 20, 2018 7:34 AM

74 replies

Chadburns Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 11, 2019 3:50 PM in response to WordWeaver777

I'm trying your suggested steps now. After giving it a few months, I was hoping that one of the recent software updates would have resolved the problem, so I updated to Mojave again this afternoon which started the same issue with iMessages freezing and crashing.

Your first 2 commands worked, but the 3rd one returned:

rm -rf ~/Library/Messages "operation not permitted"

I'm going to restart my machine and open iMessages now. I did delete every conversation prior to running the commands as you suggested.

Apr 11, 2019 3:56 PM in response to Chadburns

You might try prefixing it with the sudo command, or even trying to do it from Safe Mode, Recovery Mode or with SIP temporarily disabled. Sometimes one of those will do the trick.

In fact, I am wondering if you might have to individually delete what is in that folder.

Let me know how it goes.

Chadburns Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 11, 2019 4:38 PM in response to WordWeaver777

So, after going through Messages on my Mac, iPad Pro, and iPhone X and deleting every single iMessage thread and restarting all 3 devices, it appears to have solved the problem.

I think it does have something to do with syncing older messages via iCloud. Maybe it's draining resources in an effort to do so, but locks up.

Thanks for your help!

Apr 11, 2019 4:41 PM in response to Chadburns

So are you saying that you did not have to delete any of the databases?

In either case, I am glad that you got it working again. I know how frustrating these issues can be. I have had my share of them as well. But, we eventually pull through . . . after a few more hairs turn gray. :)

Chadburns Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 11, 2019 4:44 PM in response to WordWeaver777

I just deleted everything, restarted all 3 devices, and it seems to be better. Who knows though... I could end up reporting back tomorrow saying it's still freezing, which would force me to try using my iPad as my primary device for work rather than my Mac

Chadburns Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 17, 2019 6:50 PM in response to Chadburns

I was excited for a minute, but found out after a day that the same problem exists. I don't know of any other workaround than to wipe everything out and reload it again to an older version like I did 6 months ago!

neosolyt

Level 1

8 points

Feb 24, 2019 5:07 PM in response to BartJaimie

Bump!

Same Problem. Did a clean install Mac OSX 10.14.3. on my Mac mini 2018. There is always a 5sec. freeze of my hole system. I've made a console - screenshot after the freeze.

Chadburns Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 11, 2019 4:08 PM in response to WordWeaver777

I'll individually delete these files which appear to be database and archived messages

Oct 21, 2018 2:41 PM in response to Joseph_S.

I called Apple Support and they had me try this to no avail, they said they're working on a fix ???

msohio83

Level 1

4 points

Nov 12, 2018 6:36 PM in response to Chadburns

Curious what your findings here were. I'm having the exact same problem.

Dec 29, 2018 12:27 PM in response to northeleven

This happens all the time to me, too. Messages app is now 100% useless

Wojcieh

Level 1

4 points

Jan 3, 2019 12:52 PM in response to Chadburns

Same problem. Apple should update Mojave to resolve it

Jan 15, 2019 1:45 PM in response to WhozCraig

Messages is hanging up/crashing on me about twice per day. Never happened until I bought new MacBook Air running 10.14.2. (Or maybe it came with 10.14.1 and I installed the update.)

gprewitt

Level 1

4 points

Jan 18, 2019 5:50 AM in response to northeleven

I've had the same problem over and over again.

Feb 1, 2019 3:38 AM in response to Albador

Same issue here since Mojave - Apple, please fix, it is pretty obvious this is a common issue and arising from Mojave. Thanks

Messages App hangs or crashes after Mojave upgrade