How to Fix macOS Application Crash

Edited 5 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Having an application crash on your macOS can be quite frustrating. It interrupts your workflow and can lead to the loss of important unsaved information. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the possible causes behind application crashes, and provides detailed steps to effectively troubleshoot and resolve these problems.

Understanding application crashes on macOS

First, it's important to understand why an application might crash. Applications on your macOS can crash for several reasons:

• Software bugs: Code errors or bugs within the application can cause the application to crash unexpectedly.
• Compatibility issues: The application may not be fully compatible with the macOS version you are using.
• Resource limitations: If an application requires more memory or processing power than your system can provide, it may crash.
• Corrupted application files: Sometimes, crashes occur because the application files are corrupted or incomplete.
• Security or permission issues: macOS may block the operation of an application due to security settings or permission issues.

Steps to fix app crashes

Here are some steps you can follow to fix an app crash on your macOS. Each step addresses different possible causes and should be attempted in sequence until your problem is resolved.

Step 1: Update the app

Application developers often release updates to fix known bugs and improve compatibility. Keeping your applications up to date can often resolve crashes caused by software bugs.

1. Open the App Store on your macOS.
2. Go to the Updates tab.
3. Locate the application that is crashing.
4. If an update is available, click Update.

If the application that is crashing is not from the App Store, check the developer's website or use the application's built-in update feature.

Step 2: Update macOS

Sometimes, app crashes are caused by compatibility issues with your version of macOS. Updating macOS may fix these problems.

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Preferences, then select Software Update.
3. If a software update is available, click Update now.

Be sure to back up your data before updating your operating system.

Step 3: Reinstall the app

Corrupted or incomplete files can cause an app to crash. Reinstalling the app may fix this problem.

1. If the application is open, close it.
2. Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
3. Find the application, right-click and select Move to Trash.
4. Empty the Trash to completely remove the app.
5. Reinstall the app from the App Store or original download source.

Step 4: Check resource usage

If your Mac is low on memory or CPU power, this can cause applications to crash. You can monitor this using Activity Monitor.

1. Open Finder, go to Applications, then Utilities.
2. Launch Activity Monitor.
3. Look at the CPU and Memory tabs to see if any processes are using disproportionate resources.
4. If you find any such processes, see if you can close other applications or processes that are no longer needed.

Consider upgrading your hardware if you frequently encounter resource limitations.

Step 5: Check app permissions

macOS has security settings that may prevent an application from working correctly.

1. Go to System Preferences by clicking the Apple menu.
2. Select Security & Privacy.
3. In the Privacy tab, check if the app has the necessary permissions enabled, such as access to files and folders, camera, microphone, etc.

If the app does not have the required permissions, unlock the settings using the lock icon at the bottom left and enable the required options.

Step 6: Safe mode

Running the application in Safe Mode can help determine if the problem is caused by conflicts with other software.

1. Shut down your Mac completely.
2. Turn it on and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
3. Release the keys when you see the login window.
4. Try running the application again in safe mode.

If it runs without crashing, then another application or process may be causing the problem.

Step 7: Review the console log

The console logs can provide detailed information about the cause of the crash.

1. Open the console from Applications > Utilities.
2. View crash reports related to the application.
3. Analyze the logs to see if they provide any clues.

If the logs indicate a specific problem, use that information for further troubleshooting, or contact the application's support team with the log details.

Best ways to avoid accidents in the future

Although the above steps will be helpful in resolving the current crashes, here are some best practices to avoid problems in the future:

• Regularly update your macOS and applications to the latest versions.
• Keep your system clean and manage startup items to ensure optimal performance.
• Don't overload your system resources by running too many applications at once.
• Back up your data regularly to avoid data loss caused by unexpected application crashes.

Application crashing, although inconvenient, often has a solution. By following the steps mentioned above, you will be able to solve most of the problems that cause applications to crash on your macOS. Frequent maintenance and understanding the behavior of your system can significantly reduce the incidence of such problems.

If you still can't resolve the issue, consider contacting the app's support team or visiting Apple Support for more personalized assistance.

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