- When a kernel panic occurs in Mac OS X 10.2 through 10.7, the computer displays a multilingual message informing the user that they need to reboot the system. Prior to 10.2, a more traditional Unix-style panic message was displayed; in 10.8 and later, the computer automatically reboots and displays a message after the restart.
- The current Mac operating system is macOS, originally named 'Mac OS X' until 2012 and then 'OS X' until 2016. Developed between 1997 and 2001 after Apple's purchase of NeXT, Mac OS X brought an entirely new architecture based on NeXTSTEP, a Unix system, that eliminated many of the technical challenges that the classic Mac OS faced.
- You can find crash and kernel panic logs Mac OS creates for the entire system (not just the current logged in user) in the main OS Library folder.
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How to solve Kernel Panic error
What is Kernel Panic?
Kernel Panic, though sounding scary, is simply an occurrence when your Mac keeps restarting for no obvious reason. Your Mac’s screen goes black, giving you various warning messages like “You need to restart your computer.” Note that the warning message's presence distinguishes Kernel Panic from usual Mac restarts and app crashes. In other words, Kernel Panic is just a Mac version of “blue screen of death” on Windows, but luckily, it can be fixed. So, let’s face the issue head-on.
What happens is your Mac encounters a critical error that it can’t handle, so it automatically shuts down. If it rarely happens enough (like once in a few weeks), that shouldn’t be a trouble. A basic restart should help it. It’s worse when Kernel Panic happens regularly, especially if your Mac crashes right on startup. It might be a sign of damaged hardware, which isn’t funny, given your Mac is almost unusable by that time.
What’s causing Kernel Panic on Mac
There are a million reasons. One user reported he had simply installed the iTunes folder on a different drive than a system one. But in 90% of cases, software conflicts are to blame. Here’s a list of main suspects:
- Not enough RAM and a lack of hard drive space
- Outdated drivers or plugins
- Broken disk permissions
- Conflicting apps
- Hardware issues and incompatible peripherals
The first step should be to isolate hardware issues from software-related ones. It may be a combination of both, like when your RAM has turned off, while two apps are conflicting for memory. Anyway, there’s a path laid out by great Mac experts which will now follow immediately.
Software solutions to fix Kernel Panic on Mac
1. Update all your software
Start by launching the App Store app through Spotlight or the Apple menu. Go to the App Store and click Updates to see the latest updates available for your Mac. If some tools haven’t been updated for long, it may well be the root of the Kernel Panic problem.
2. Find which apps are corrupted
If your Mac keeps crashing on a particular app, you know which one is to blame. That’s what you should do in this case:
- Try updating the problem app and then reboot your machine.
- If there are no updates or you cannot run them, delete and reinstall the entire app.
Alternatively, use CleanMyMac X's Uninstaller module, which lets your sort all your apps by size, see the unused apps and remove multiple programs at once. To delete software with CleanMymac X:
- Download CleanMyMac X — it has a free version.
- Install & launch the app.
- Go to Uninstaller and check the boxes next to the apps you want to remove.
- Press Uninstall to delete them.
If Kernel Panic occurs on random apps, you should look into deep-seated system drivers, specifically the ones that came with peripherals, like video cards, adapters, etc. Make sure you updated everything that deals with graphics, file systems, or networking. And, if it doesn’t help, here are more tricks.
3. Ensure you have enough free space on the drive
Apple recommends reserving at least 20% of free space on your startup drive. Your Mac needs enough room to breathe freely. But when there’s a lack of physical or virtual memory, your Mac’s performance drags down, and Kernel Panic is quite common.
- Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Switch to the Storage tab.
If your main volume is approaching full capacity, then you ought to make more room for it. The obvious solution would be to delete unused apps or whatever old junk is stored there. You can click Manage and try to free up some space using the built-in Apple tools.
4. Launch Disk Utility
Kernel Panic may happen due to corrupted files or issues with external devices. Fortunately, Apple partially took care of this with their built-in Disk Utility. Launching Disk Utility’s First Aid tool would detect any disk errors, and if it can solve them, you’re lucky again.
- Choose Apple menu > Restart.
- Hold down Command + R while you restart the computer.
- Go to Disk Utility > First Aid.
Follow the on-screen commands and expect to see something like “Operation successful” in the report. In the worst-case scenario, you might get “The underlying task reported failure,” which suggests a disk repair failed. At this point, you should start thinking about saving your data and reformatting the drive.
5. Disable startup items
There is a good chance login items are the reason your Mac randomly restarts. With dozens of apps launching on startup, they could be too many for your processor to handle. To troubleshoot Kernel Panic, now your tactics would be to disable these programs and check how your Mac behaves. To disable login items, follow this path:
- Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
- Select your username in the menu.
- Switch to the Login Items tab.
- Choose a startup item you want to disable and then click the “–” symbol.
- Restart your Mac to enable the changes.
Now, it’s time to put on your detective’s hat as we’ll be investigating which login item has been causing Kernel Panic. This time, we’ll go in the opposite direction and will be turning on the login items — one at a time. If your Mac crashes after the particular login app is enabled, congrats, you’ve hit right on the nail. Note that you’ll have to reboot after each step, but finding the root of the problem is intriguing, right?
BTW, if you’re uncomfortable messing with system settings, there’s an easy alternative. CleanMyMac X, the app we’ve mentioned above, has a lot of tools for deep-level Mac maintenance. And there is a feature to disable/enable Login Items and quit hung applications that may affect your Mac performance.
- Download CleanMyMac for free.
- Launch it.
- Click on the Optimization module.
- Go to Login Items.
Disable startup apps one by one and click Perform.
Hardware fixes to Kernel Panic
All the connected hardware could be responsible for the crash fever on your Mac — it happens quite often, actually. So, let’s walk through the hardware solutions to Kernel Panics. And be prepared to restart your Mac a few more times when you follow the next tips.
1. Turn off peripheral devices
Just as we did with startup items, we have to figure out which exactly device is conflicting with your system. Now, you need to plug off everything connected to your Mac: printers, external video cards, network adapters, etc. Restart your Mac and connect one device at a time — if nothing happens, restart again with the new device plugged in. This trial-and-repeat approach should isolate the reason for Kernel Panic. Found which peripheral is corrupted? Well done, now reinstall it and update the software that came with it.
2. Run Apple Diagnostics
Depending on your OS, this built-in tool may be called Apple Diagnostics or Apple Hardware Test. These advanced Apple’s utilities shouldn’t be reserved for geeks only — in fact, they really save lives (okay, Macs).
For Intel processor-based Macs:
- Choose Apple menu > Restart.
- Press and hold the D key while you restart the computer.
For Apple silicon-based Macs:
- Restart your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button as your Mac starts up.
- Release the button when startup options appear.
- Press Command (⌘)-D on your keyboard.
Apple Diagnostics would launch automatically and test your hardware condition. If any problems are detected, you’ll get a detailed report which is now your official invitation to pay a visit to Apple Support.
The last-ditch solution to Kernel Panic
So, here we are. Nothing of the above helped, and now you are desperately scrolling this on your friend’s computer (as your Mac keeps on crashing, obviously). In no way should you panic. Now, you can try a way that most definitely will save your Mac — reinstall your OS from scratch. It’s like starting a new life — and there’s nothing difficult to it.
If you’re running macOS Big Sur, check out this article on how to clean install macOS Big Sur.
To reinstall macOS Catalina, follow these steps.
If you wish to reinstall macOS Mojave, click here.
Hope these tricks helped you eliminate Kernel Panic. Mac should maintain its reputation as the best computer in the world, so let’s keep it healthy. Share this article if you liked it, and thanks for reading.
Have you been using the older versions of Mac for a while now? Are you on an outlook to upgrade Mac operating system and switch to an effective, smoother Mac system? Just read through the post to know the details of the latest version - macOS 10.15 Catalina, including what ‘s new in this version, whether you should update and the right ways to install it. Let’s keep reading!
Frequently Asked Questions About macOS 10.15 Catalina
Before you find out the ways on how to update Mac, we would like to share with you some bits and pieces regarding the latest version i.e. the macOS 10.15 Catalina. It is the latest Mac operating system that functions on the Mac devices. The new version is name after the Santa Catalina Island, majorly called as Catalina and one of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California, which is apparently, is the inspiration behind the systems.
Q1: What ‘s New in macOS 10.15 Catalina
The macOS Catalina has a range of novel, more appealing features than of those we have experienced in the previous upgrades of the macOS. There is a multitude of latest applications and some other apps with key new aspects and UI modifications. The performance of Mac has been boosted exceptionally, and an increase in the usability has been reported.
Below we present a quick list of the points that would give some insights regarding the latest applications and features found in the mac OS x latest version.
- Three new features in Apple Mail: mute a thread, block a sender, and unsubscribe.
- Photos app has been redesigned with new user interface.
- Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV apps that replace the iTunes app.
- A new Find My app that combines the features of Find My iPhone and Find Friends.
- Sidecar allows you to use an iPad as an external monitor.
- Screen Time for Mac.
- Enhancements to the Notes app.
- Safari updates.
- A restyled Reminders app.
- Enhancements to the Photos app.
Q2: Should I Update to macOS Catalina or Not
In order to assist you to make a choice on whether to install it or not, we would like to make you mindful of one of the key modifications that have been done in the macOS Catalina. The key change that this version includes is that it will support apps that are of 64-bits. Hence, apps consisting of 32-bits would not work on macOS Catalina.
To see if the most important apps on your disk are 64-bit or not, do as follows:
- Hit the Apple menu, click and hold the key Option and select System Information.
- On the left end of the display, select Software and Click on Applications.
- On the right end of the page, the application name, version, development, last changed day, will be shown. It will also show whether your app version is 64-bits or not.
- Thus, if you want to run any 32-bit application, do not update Mac operating system to macOS Catalina. On the contrary, if those 32-bit applications are of no use to you anymore or the key applications on your Mac are of 64-bits, you can just update the device directly.
Q3: If I Want to Update to macOS 10.15 Catalina, Will Catalina Work on My Mac
To answer your question, we have listed down the Macs that are compatible with macOS Catalina. These include the:
- MacBook (2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (2012 or newer)
- iMac (2012 or newer)
- iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
- Mac Pro (2013 or newer)
If you can find the model of your Mac on this list, you may proceed to macOS 10.15 Catalina.
What Do You Need to Do Before Installing macOS 10.15 Catalina
If you plan to upgrade your Mac with the latest macOS version, we suggest you first follow the following steps just to double check:
1. Create A Backup for Your Mac
Before downloading and installing any vast macOS upgrade on your Mac, you need to get a thorough, updated backup of all the information and folders on your hard drive. If something goes wrong after the installation, there is a backup in hand. You can use Time Machine app to backup your Mac, which is the most common way for Mac users.
2. Check Your Free Space on Mac
Installing the macOS Catalina requires space big time! It occupies nearly 6.5 GB of your Mac. Apple suggests you have a minimum of 20 GB of vacant disk storage in order to launch and run the macOS 10.15 Catalina. In order to upgrade to macOS Catalina, you need to have at least 20GB of hard drive space free. If your Mac does not have the required space, we suggest you clean up your device or achieve the storage through any effective Mac cleaning application. If you are unaware of any such app to clean your Mac but still want to do so, I would recommend the Umate Mac Cleaner, a popular Mac cleaning tool currently in the market. It is an ideal choice for cleaning up your Mac and getting more available space.
Some of the reasons why this app is the ideal choice to clean your Mac are that:
- Runs efficiently to clean up more than 40 types of junk files, duplicate, unused and large files from your hard drive, which eventually generates more disk space.
- Fast-speed and easy process of cleaning in just one click!
- Safe to use, for it will never reach out to your essential folders on Mac.
The most important point is that Umate Mac Cleaner can help you to get 4X free space back for your Mac after using it!
Then, below is a step-by-step guide on how to use the app. It is very easy to use with simple operations.
- Download, install and launch Umate Mac Cleaner on your Mac.
- Select the appropriate feature for cleaning and releasing space on your Mac, and then hit the 'Scan' button for scanning.
- After scanning, then follow the on-screen instructions to operate accordingly.
3. Update Your Apps on Mac
With launching macOS Catalina, Apple closes the doors for any 32-bit app that could possibly be there on your device. This means that in case your device has an older application, for instance the Microsoft 11 for Mac, you will have to make sure you have a 64-bit version of that prior to launching the latest Mac operating system. In case you are not able to install the 64-bit version of that application, you could either catch an alternative to your current macOS, thus you can continue using the software.
Here We Go! Download and Install macOS 10.15 Catalina Now!
There are three main ways to get the latest version. If you are using macOS Mojave, the previous version before macOS Catalina, then you can get the update via this way:
Way 1: Apple menu → System Preferences → Software Update
Mac Os Download
- Choose Apple menu on your Mac, then choose System Preferences.
- Then click Software Update and Hit on the Update Now button next to the macOS 10.15 Update.
- After you do this, an installer will appear in span of a few seconds. Select Continue to keep on going and obey the instructions being given on screen.
Way 2: Download and Install macOS Catalina from App Store
- Open the App Store on your Mac, then search for macOS Catalina.
- Click the button to install, and then a window will appears, hit 'Continue' button to begin the installing process.
Way 3: Visit The macOS Catalina Website
The third way to download the macOS Catalina is to visit its official website, which comes with a download link for those compatible devices. When you click the link and it will download the software into your Applications folder on your Mac. And then you can follow the onscreen instructions to install macOS Catalina on your Mac.
Then, How to Delete The Old Software Update Files on Mac
On top of telling you how to update Mac, we also support you to learn to delete the old iOS software updates from your Mac. Below are the steps to get it done:
- Open 'Finder' and hit on the 'Go' option via the Menu bar.
- Click and hold the Option key and click the Library option.
- Check for it under the Go menu and select it.
- Search the iTunes file in the search bar and open it.
- Now open the file 'iPhone Software Updates” and delete the folders whose title begin with “Restore.ipsw”.
And it’s done! This is how you can delete the existing software updates on your Mac. However, there is a one-click solution to do the same thing, that is Umate Mac Cleaner. The app can also delete old software update on your Mac with just one click.
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Conclusion:
Mac Os Catalina
Now that you have reached the final part, we hope the article has been resourceful enough to clear out your qualm on whether to update your Mac or not, and further how the Umate Mac Cleaner plays its part as a great helper for cleaning your Mac.