Random macOS Sequoia Restarts During Standby

[Piersandro]

Since installing macOS Sequoia, I’ve been experiencing significant stability issues on my 14” MacBook Pro M2 Pro. Initially, the system even attempted to restart while I was actively using it, prompting a message about ongoing apps being closed. After a series of updates, this “persistent” instability has gradually lessened but hasn’t disappeared entirely.

Often, when I leave my Mac in standby with applications open (such as a browser, VS Code, Slack, Outlook, Telegram, etc.) and step away for lunch, I come back to find everything reset. After logging in, I notice that the Mac has restarted with no error message on the screen. Sometimes, if I have an unsaved Excel sheet open or a UTM virtual machine running, I’ll find an alert saying the Mac couldn’t restart because a specific app couldn’t close. This, in a way, prevents the restart and saves my work.

I’ve tried everything I can think of, including maintenance with Onyx and, more recently, purchasing BuhoCleaner, hoping it might help, but nothing has worked. My Mac continues to restart randomly during standby—not always, but often enough to be frustrating.

I even attempted a system reinstallation in the past (with both macOS 15 and 15.1), though I restored my data using Time Machine afterward since I can’t start completely from scratch. Yesterday, I installed macOS 15.2 beta 2 in hopes of improvement, though I’m not optimistic.

Has anyone else encountered this issue? Could it be related to the kernel panics reported by users in the past?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Kernel panics will show a "Your Mac restarted because of a problem" on restart.

And the fact that you saw it attempting to close applications and were able to STOP the restart, reinforces that it's not a Kernel Panic (they don't do that).

Something is causing your Mac to do a commanded shutdown.

Any profiles or corporate apps?
Any Exchange accounts?
Open Terminal & type "pmset -g sched" - anything unusual come up? (some dates in the past are normal, future are.... not 😬)

 

[fisherking]

have you tried calling apple about this?

 

[Piersandro]

Kernel panics will show a "Your Mac restarted because of a problem" on restart.

And the fact that you saw it attempting to close applications and were able to STOP the restart, reinforces that it's not a Kernel Panic (they don't do that).

Something is causing your Mac to do a commanded shutdown.

Any profiles or corporate apps?
Any Exchange accounts?
Open Terminal & type "pmset -g sched" - anything unusual come up? (some dates in the past are normal, future are.... not 😬)

Scheduled power events:
 [0]  wake at 05/05/2247 03:16:18 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-4F0718E6-DB1A-4DF1-B254-6CE13D0BD718' User visible: true
 [1]  wake at 05/05/2247 03:16:18 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-009D519C-1645-45B9-B552-C3A3465B4C18' User visible: true
 [2]  wake at 05/05/2247 03:16:18 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-2AF18BA2-08B4-473F-A5EB-F4D014B61900' User visible: true
 [3]  wake at 05/05/2247 03:16:18 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-3BCEC0D3-E284-4E9A-A19B-E7F72AD90FD9' User visible: true
 [4]  wake at 05/05/2247 03:16:18 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-66216DD6-F4D2-4941-BA0C-23AA80F8D908' User visible: true
 [5]  wake at 05/05/2247 03:16:18 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-A3C274D0-9266-4E48-8F6C-211187D4D5B2' User visible: true
 [6]  wake at 05/05/2247 03:16:18 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-DF632591-5587-4F20-8998-05FE311F801B' User visible: true
 [7]  wake at 04/12/2262 01:47:16 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-com.apple.email.SendLaterDelivery' User visible: true
 [8]  wake at 04/12/2262 01:47:16 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-com.apple.email.SendLaterDelivery' User visible: true
 [9]  wake at 04/12/2262 01:47:16 by 'com.apple.alarm.user-visible-com.apple.email.SendLaterDelivery' User visible: true

Apparently up to 2247 and 2262 I should have no problem

I repeat, it is a very strange problem precisely because it is random.

On Reddit I found other users complaining of random reboots with Sequioa that started occurring with beta 4 this summer and reduced with the final 15.1 version (while still experiencing 1-2 reboots every 7-8 days).

 

[Piersandro]

have you tried calling apple about this?

I just saw that it is a problem reported by several users (as mentioned before on Reddit but also on the official forum). Using the feedback assistant, after a reboot, without any error it doesn't report anything abnormal.

 

[michael31986]

Mine keeps doing this too. Only after the update. Also my Touch Bar has a random blinking light next to the Touch ID. All this since the update.

 

[Piersandro]

Mine keeps doing this too. Only after the update. Also my Touch Bar has a random blinking light next to the Touch ID. All this since the update.

At least I am not crazy. I never thought macOS could become so unstable and I've been a Mac user since 2004.

 

[Salimer]

Same issue here on my MacBook Air m1. Started since upating to Sequoia 15.0. On 15.1 update got reduced a bit but still there

 

[Benz63amg]

At least I am not crazy. I never thought macOS could become so unstable and I've been a Mac user since 2004.

You didn’t have these restart issues on Sonoma?

 

[Piersandro]

You didn’t have these restart issues on Sonoma?

No, never.

With Sequoia 15.2 beta 3 the situation seems to have improved. Since the update two days ago I have not yet experienced a reboot and/or attempted reboot.

 

[Benz63amg]

No, never.

With Sequoia 15.2 beta 3 the situation seems to have improved. Since the update two days ago I have not yet experienced a reboot and/or attempted reboot.

So perhaps the final version of 15.2 will fix the issue fully.

 

[Piersandro]

So perhaps the final version of 15.2 will fix the issue fully.

I hope so. 😄

 

[IvyKing]

I just had a restart with 14.7.1 on an M1 Mini, got the ran out of application memory error just before with the keyboard and trackpad not responding. This may not be related to the 15.1 restart, but the timing seemed suspicious as it was the first time this computer locked up like that in 3 1/2 years.

 

[Piersandro]

So perhaps the final version of 15.2 will fix the issue fully.

It happened tonight. Computer on standby with Outlook, Telegram and Microsoft Edge open. I stood at my workstation today and was waiting for the Apple Watch to unlock but it didn't work, I logged in manually and all apps were closed (including the ones in the menu bar).
This is not acceptable.

 

[Benz63amg]

It happened tonight. Computer on standby with Outlook, Telegram and Microsoft Edge open. I stood at my workstation today and was waiting for the Apple Watch to unlock but it didn't work, I logged in manually and all apps were closed (including the ones in the menu bar).
This is not acceptable.

That’s crazy. I’m still on Sonoma so I definitely won’t be upgrading until I hear this major issue has been resolved. Have you tried the latest 15.2 beta to see if it resolves the issue?

 

[Piersandro]

That’s crazy. I’m still on Sonoma so I definitely won’t be upgrading until I hear this major issue has been resolved. Have you tried the latest 15.2 beta to see if it resolves the issue?

Yes, I am in beta 3 and, as I wrote before, everything seemed to be fine... until last night.
It really is a nightmare.

 

[Benz63amg]

Yes, I am in beta 3 and, as I wrote before, everything seemed to be fine... until last night.
It really is a nightmare.

Hoping the final build of 15.2 fixes it 🤞

 

[Piersandro]

I would like to add some details after further tests over the last 24 hours. The problem occurs about 40-60 minutes after the screensaver is activated and the screen goes blank, with the computer theoretically active.
I have tried changing screensavers: nothing.
I tried deleting additional screensavers: nothing.
The problem is that by testing carefully I became certain that the problem always occurs, there are no cases where it does not happen.
After the screensaver, black screen, 40-60 minutes.... reboot. Always.
If the computer is in use, this does not happen.

 

[Benz63amg]

I would like to add some details after further tests over the last 24 hours. The problem occurs about 40-60 minutes after the screensaver is activated and the screen goes blank, with the computer theoretically active.
I have tried changing screensavers: nothing.
I tried deleting additional screensavers: nothing.
The problem is that by testing carefully I became certain that the problem always occurs, there are no cases where it does not happen.
After the screensaver, black screen, 40-60 minutes.... reboot. Always.
If the computer is in use, this does not happen.

What if one doesn't have a screensaver or has the lockscreen setings set as such that the display turns off before the screensaver comes on? These are my lockscreen settings on sonoma (see screenshot). Can you perform the test again with the lockscreen setings set as such? Does the mac still freeze?

 

[thebart]

What if you just don't use screensavers. Have the display sleep after, say, 5 mins.

Maybe the screensavers have a panic and that's causing the reboots

 

[Benz63amg]

What if you just don't use screensavers. Have the display sleep after, say, 5 mins.

Maybe the screensavers have a panic and that's causing the reboots

Thats exactly what i proposed above in the post right before you. I'm really curious to hear if that indeed solves the issue as this is the only reason i haven't upgraded to Sequia yet from Sonoma. i personally don't use a screensaver anyway so if this issue that this thread is about is caused by the screensaver coming up then i wont have it affect me as my macbook pro's 2 display goes to sleep before the screensaver kicks on.

 

[thebart]

Thats exactly what i proposed above in the post right before you. I'm really curious to hear if that indeed solves the issue as this is the only reason i haven't upgraded to Sequia yet from Sonoma. i personally don't use a screensaver anyway so if this issue that this thread is about is caused by the screensaver coming up then i wont have it affect me as my macbook pro's 2 display goes to sleep before the screensaver kicks on.

Fwiw I never use a screen saver and I don't have this on 15.1. M1 mini

 

[Piersandro]

What if one doesn't have a screensaver or has the lockscreen setings set as such that the display turns off before the screensaver comes on? These are my lockscreen settings on sonoma (see screenshot). Can you perform the test again with the lockscreen setings set as such? Does the mac still freeze?

I think it will but I'll try. The reboot occurs approximately 40-50 minutes after the display has turned off the screen, not during the screensaver.

These are my settings:

What if you just don't use screensavers. Have the display sleep after, say, 5 mins.

Maybe the screensavers have a panic and that's causing the reboots

I tried to use the default screensaver but, as I wrote, the reboot occurs during a lot of time from the display power off.

 

[Piersandro]

I left the computer for about an hour and a half and the result was to find it rebooted.

I tried to reinstall macOS from recovery this afternoon but the problem is still here.

 

[thebart]

I think you need Apple's intervention on this. Or roll back to Sonoma if you can