In Mac OS X, what can I do if my application keeps crashing?
In Mac OS X, repeated crashes in a particular application could have several possible causes, such as corrupted files or corrupted applications.
Corrupted files and documents
If the application crashes only when opening a certain file, try opening the file on another computer, or in a different OS X account on your computer. (For instructions on how to create another OS X account, see In Mac OS X, how do I create and delete users?) If it opens without problems on the other computer or in the other account, the file is probably fine, and you should proceed to the next section of this document for further troubleshooting.
If the file does crash on the other computer or in the other account, it is probably corrupted. To repair a damaged file, you need to recreate the file or save it in a different format.
Most applications will allow you to save the file in different
formats. This can sometimes strip out the damaged sections. While in
the document, from the File menu, choose Save As...
or Export. A format section in the Save dialog
box has a pull-down menu of all the different file format options.
Try saving and opening the file in each of these formats to see if it
corrects the problem. Also, you can try opening the file with another
application.
Look for application updates
Check to make sure that you have the latest version of the software. You can often find update options in the application menus, or you can visit the developer's web site to look for updates. Updates often fix bugs that could prevent your files from opening properly.
Ensure application compatibility
Before updating an application, check the developer's or vendor's web site to be sure that the version of the application you are attempting to run is compatible with the version of OS X you have on your computer. If you are running an older version of OS X, you may have difficulty with some newer versions of applications.
Repair permissions
Mac OS X assigns specific access privileges, known as permissions, to each of your programs, folders, and documents, which are associated with a particular owner, a group, or groups. When an error in your permissions settings occurs, it may cause significant problems. For help, see Using Mac OS X, how do I repair permissions, and what does that do?
A corrupted application
Your application or its associated files may be corrupted. Try running the application in another OS X account on your computer. If it doesn't work in any OS X accounts on your computer, skip ahead and try reinstalling the application. However, if the application does work in the other account, first try removing the application's preferences in your own account:
- Quit the application.
- From your home folder, open the
Libraryfolder and then open thePreferencesfolder.
- Remove the application's preference files from the
Preferencesfolder. These files will usually have a name similar to that of the application. Occasionally, the preferences are all contained in a separate folder. If this is the case, remove the entire folder.
Note: If you are having trouble locating the the correct preferences files, you can use the Finder's built-in search option. In the upper-right corner of the Finder window, begin typing your search terms in the field that contains the magnifying glass.
Try using the program again. If it still won't function correctly, reinstall the software. Before you begin, if you have installed or copied any files into the application's folder, make a backup of this folder, and then follow the instructions below:
- Remove all files associated with the application. If you have
special files that you do not want to lose, such as macros or templates,
move the application and its files to another folder. For help,
see In Mac OS X, what steps should I use to remove an application?
- Install the software again, and restart your computer if the
software installer requests it.
- Try using the application.
Last modified on May 13, 2009.
