How to Fix macOS Kernel Panic Error: 9 Quick Solutions

Seeing a grey screen on your Mac saying, “You need to restart your computer…”? That’s a kernel panic error, and it happens when your Mac runs into a critical system issue. In this guide, I’m going to break down why these errors pop up and show you some practical ways to fix macOS kernel panic error on your Mac.

What Is Kernel Panic Mac?

A kernel panic error on Mac is a critical system error that occurs when the operating system kernel (the core component of an operating system) encounters a situation it cannot recover from.

This error can occur when the kernel receives an unexpected input, encounters a hardware or software issue, or cannot handle a particular system resource.

You’ll receive a warning to restart your Mac or it will automatically shut down and restart when a kernel panic macOS error occurs. After restarting, the system will display a message indicating a kernel panic has occurred. The message will also include a code you can use to identify the cause of the error.

How to Fix macOS Kernel Panic Error

If you experience kernel panics frequently, your best bet is to take your Mac to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or contact Apple Support for assistance. But before doing that, you can try a few solutions to fix the problem.

Here’s how you can fix macOS kernel panic error.

1. View Crash Reports

When an app or your Mac crashes, it creates a crash report. This detailed log tells you when and why the crash happened and what was running at that time. Checking these reports can be a big help in figuring out and fixing kernel panic errors on your Mac.

To access the Mac kernel panic log and read crash reports, follow these steps:

1. Open Finder, click Applications in the left sidebar, and navigate to the Utilities folder.

2. Open the Console app.

3. In the left sidebar of the Console app, select Crash Reports.

4. If there are any crash reports, click one. Look for terminated due to or reason: failed because to understand the cause of the crash. 

The first part of the report tells you which process made your Mac crash. After that, it’ll give you the crash’s exact date and time, plus what version of the operating system you were using.

The following section contains Exceptions details, specifically:

• EXC_BAD_ACCESS/KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS, caused by accessing unmapped memory
• EXC_BAD_ACCESS/KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE, resulting from writing to read-only memory

The final part of the report provides a backtrace, which pinpoints the specific thread that crashed and what happened right before the crash. Looking at this section can offer useful insights into what caused your Mac’s kernel panic, helping you fix the issue.

2. Restart in Safe Mode

Using Safe Mode can identify if your Mac is experiencing a software issue. When your Mac starts in Safe Mode, it only loads the drivers and necessary applications, making it easier to determine if third-party software is causing the kernel panic.

Here’s how to boot in Safe Mode on your Mac:

For Intel Macs

1. Turn off your Mac and wait for 10 seconds.
2. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key as you turn on your Mac.

3. Release the Shift ⇧ key when the login screen appears.
4. You may be asked to log in again.
5. You’ll see Safe Boot in the menu bar on your first or second login window.

For M1 Macs

1. Shut down your Mac and wait for 10 seconds.

2. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely, and press the Power/Touch ID button to turn it on.

3. Keep holding the Power button until you see the Loading startup options screen.

4. Select a volume from the options.

5. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key and click Continue in Safe Mode.

6. Your Mac will restart automatically, and you will see Safe Boot in the menu bar when the login screen appears.

If the kernel panic error stops when you use Safe Mode, the issue is likely caused by third-party software. You may need to troubleshoot further to identify the problematic software.

3. Remove Login Items

If your Mac experiences kernel panic errors, one possible culprit could be an application set to launch at startup. Removing login items you don’t need can free up system resources and prevent third-party apps from causing kernel panic errors.

Here’s how to remove login items on your Mac:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. Select General and click Login Items.

3. You will see a list of applications that launch during startup. To remove an application, select it and click the minus (–) button at the bottom of the list.

4. Once you have removed all unwanted login items, restart your Mac to see if the kernel panic error has been resolved.

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper to remove login items by following these steps:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Open MacKeeper and select Login Items.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select the files you want to remove and tap Remove Selected Items.

5. Click Remove to confirm the deletion.

6. This will remove your selected items, and you’ll see a notification saying Completed. Click Rescan if you want to run the scan again.

4. Check for Software Updates

One of the most common causes of kernel panic errors is outdated software. Checking for software updates on Mac ensures the operating system and its software are up-to-date and running with the latest bug fixes and security updates.

Updating your macOS to the latest version can fix macOS kernel panic errors. Here’s how to check for updates on Mac:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. Click General and select Software Update to check for any available updates.

3. If there are updates available, click Update Now to install them.

4. Tap Agree on the Software License Agreement after reading it.

5. Enter your MacBook password and tap OK.
6. Now, wait for the update to download and install. You’ll see the size and duration of the update under the progress bar.
7. If your Mac is up to date, you’ll see the following screen:

5. Reset NVRAM or PRAM

Resetting the NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) or PRAM (parameter random-access memory) on a Mac can fix macOS kernel panic errors by resetting certain settings that can affect the system’s performance. These settings include display resolution, startup disk selection, and speaker volume.

Here’s how to reset PRAM and NVRAM on Mac:

On Intel-Based Macs

1. Turn off your Mac.
2. Press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

3. Press and hold the Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + P + R keys simultaneously on your Mac’s keyboard before the gray screen appears.

4. Keep holding the keys until your Mac restarts, and you hear the startup chime twice. If you have a Mac with the T2 Security Chip, keep holding the keys until the Apple logo appears and disappears twice.
5. Release the keys and let your Mac start up normally.

Apple Silicon Macs

Both M1 and M2 Macs have NVRAM, but it automatically resets when you restart your Mac. Unlike other Mac models, there is no key combination to start NVRAM reset on an M1 Mac during startup. To check the NVRAM on an M1 Mac, just power it off for a few seconds before powering it back on.

6. Run Disk Utility

Faulty hardware, such as a failing hard drive, can cause kernel panic errors. Running Disk Utility on your Mac can fix macOS kernel panic error by identifying and repairing issues with your system’s hard drive.

Here’s how to repair your Mac startup disk with Disk Utility:

1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities window.

2. Click your system disk from the left sidebar and tap the First Aid button in the top bar.

3. Click Run to start the scan.

4. Click Continue to confirm.

5. Wait for the scan to complete.

If any errors are found, the Disk Utility will attempt to fix them. Once the scan is complete, restart your computer, and it should fix macOS kernel panic error.

7. Check Your Disk Space

When your hard drive is low on space, it can cause performance issues and instability problems, leading to kernel panic errors. Checking your disk space can fix macOS kernel panic errors by ensuring your system has enough free space to operate efficiently.

Here’s how to check storage space on your Mac:

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select About This Mac.

2. Click More Info.

3. Choose Storage Settings.

4. Check the amount of free storage space available on your Mac.

8. Run Apple Diagnostics

Apple Diagnostics is a built-in diagnostic tool. Running Apple Diagnostics can help fix macOS kernel panic error by identifying hardware issues causing the error. At the end of the test, it generates a report that can help diagnose the cause of the problem.

Here are the steps to run Apple Diagnostics on your Mac:

On Intel Mac

1. Turn off your Mac after disconnecting all external devices except the keyboard, mouse, Ethernet, display, and power cable.
2. Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the D key along with the Power button.

3. Release the D key when you see a progress bar or are prompted to select a language.

4. When the checking process completes, you’ll see a report listing any issues detected. If you see an error message or reference code, note it and contact Apple Support or an authorized Apple service provider for further assistance.

5. To re-run the test, click Run the Test Again or press Command ⌘ + R.

6. If you don’t want to repeat the test, click Restart or Shut Down.

On M1 Mac

1. Disconnect all peripheral devices except the keyboard, mouse, Ethernet, display, and power cable. Then, power off your Mac.
2. Press and hold the Power button on your Mac.

3. Release the Power button when the startup options appear.

4. Press Command ⌘ + D on your keyboard.

Apple Diagnostics will perform hardware checks on your Mac, and you’ll see a progress bar during this time. Once complete, you’ll receive a report with reference codes. To understand these codes, refer to the Apple Diagnostics reference codes.

9. Reinstall macOS

If none of the above steps have resolved the kernel panic error, you may need to reinstall macOS as a last resort. Reinstalling the operating system can fix macOS kernel panic error by replacing the OS files with a fresh copy. This can resolve issues caused by corrupt or damaged system files, which can cause kernel panic errors.

Here’s how to reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off your Mac and turn it back on while holding down the Command ⌘ + R keys on your keyboard. Keep holding the keys until the Apple logo appears.

2. This will boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. Once it loads, select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to select your startup disk and begin the reinstallation process.
4. After the installation, your Mac will restart and display the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Mac, including selecting your language, creating a user account, and configuring settings.
5. Once you’ve completed the setup process, you should have a fresh macOS installation.

What Causes the macOS Kernel Panic Error?

Dealing with a kernel panic on a Mac can be a lot like facing the blue screen of death on Windows, but with the right know-how, it’s fixable. From my experience, these are some usual suspects:

1. 🔧 Faulty Hardware: Faulty hardware, like a failing hard drive or a bad RAM module, can cause a kernel panic error. It happens when the faulty hardware sends incorrect data to the kernel or disrupts the hardware’s normal functioning.
2. 💻 Outdated or Incompatible Software: When software isn’t up to date or doesn’t match your macOS version, it can confuse the operating system. This mismatch can lead to unexpected errors and cause your Mac to have a kernel panic.
3. 🦠 Malware: Yes, your Mac can get viruses. Malware can take over system resources, modify system settings, disrupt the normal functioning of the operating system, and create instability in the system, leading to kernel panic.
4. 🔄 Driver Conflicts: A kernel panic can occur due to conflicts between drivers or when a driver is incompatible with the hardware. In my case, two drivers were trying to control the same hardware device, causing a kernel panic error.
5. 🌡️ Overheating: If your Mac gets too hot, it can cause the CPU or GPU to stop working properly, leading to a kernel panic. Things like poor ventilation, blocked air vents, and running the system at high temperatures for extended periods can overheat your Mac, causing kernel panic.

Fix Kernel Panic on Mac

Kernel panic error is just one of the many errors you might see on your Mac. It’s important to take steps to prevent or fix other errors, too. Here are some tips to help you fix common errors on your Mac:

• If you see “This Mac Can’t Connect to iCloud Because of a Problem With Email” Error on your Mac, verify your Apple ID credentials, disable and enable iCloud, and restart your Mac.
• Fix WindowServer Mac high CPU usage issue by restarting your Mac, closing unnecessary programs, updating apps, and deleting the cache.
• Remove Windows Defender Security Warning on Mac by running a virus scan, removing browser extensions, and resetting your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions