You were working on your Mac, the screen went black, it restarted, and a message said “Your computer restarted because of a problem.” That is a kernel panic: the core of macOS hit an error it couldn’t recover from and restarted to protect itself. One panic is not a disaster. Repeated panics are a warning, and the pattern usually tells you whether the cause is software, something plugged in, or the hardware itself.
First: protect your data
Before you troubleshoot, make sure your files are safe. If Time Machine is set up, check that the last backup finished recently. If not, copy your most important documents and photos to an external drive or to iCloud while the Mac is working. Some panics are caused by a failing internal SSD or logic board, and on modern Macs the storage is soldered to the board and encrypted. If the board fails completely, getting data off becomes much harder. Backing up is the step people most often skip, and the one they most regret skipping.
How often is it happening?
- Once, months ago: probably a one-off. Install any pending macOS updates and carry on.
- Every few days, often during the same task: usually software or a peripheral. Work through the steps below.
- Several times a day, or in a loop at startup: more likely hardware, or a damaged system. Back up if you can and get it looked at.
Read the panic report
After the restart, macOS offers to show a report. You can also find it later. Open Console (in Applications > Utilities), choose Crash Reports or Log Reports in the sidebar, and look for files with “panic” in the name. The report is technical, but a few clues are easy to spot:
- A named extension or driver. On Intel Macs, look for third-party kernel extensions (names that don’t start with com.apple) listed near the panic. Audio interfaces, VPNs, antivirus, virtualisation tools and older printer drivers are the usual suspects.
- Words like “watchdog”, “thermal”, “SMC” or “PMU”. These point to the Mac’s power and temperature management, which can be a hardware or sensor fault.
- Mentions of NVMe, APFS or storage. These can point to the internal SSD.
- The same app or process every time. That gives you a strong lead on a software cause.
Don’t worry if it means nothing to you. Save a copy, because it will help whoever diagnoses the Mac.
Common causes and what to try
Peripherals and adapters
USB-C hubs, docks, external drives and display adapters cause panics surprisingly often, especially cheap or damaged ones. Unplug everything except the power adapter and use the Mac for a day or two. If the panics stop, plug devices back in one at a time until you find the culprit.
Outdated software and drivers
Install all macOS updates from System Settings > General > Software Update, and update or remove older utilities that install drivers. Anything that hooks deep into the system, such as security software, screen recorders, audio routing tools or old hardware drivers, is worth checking. Remove apps you no longer use with their own uninstaller if they have one.
Testing in Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts the Mac with only essential software and checks the startup disk. On Apple silicon Macs, shut down, hold the power button until startup options appear, select your disk, then hold Shift and click “Continue in Safe Mode”. On Intel Macs, restart and hold Shift. If the Mac runs fine in Safe Mode but panics in normal use, the cause is probably software that loads at startup.
Low storage space
A nearly full startup disk causes all sorts of instability. Check System Settings > General > Storage. As a rule of thumb, keep at least 10 to 15% of the drive free.
Reinstalling macOS
If nothing else works and you have a backup, you can reinstall macOS from Recovery. This replaces the system files without erasing your data, though a backup is still essential in case something goes wrong. Don’t erase the disk unless you are sure your backup is complete.
When it is probably hardware
Some patterns point away from software:
- Panics continue after a clean reinstall, with nothing plugged in.
- Panics only happen when the Mac is warm or under load, or the fans behave oddly.
- The Mac panics during startup, before you can log in.
- The Mac has had liquid spilled on it, been dropped, or has a swollen battery (the trackpad may feel stiff or the case may not sit flat).
- Apple Diagnostics reports a fault. To run it, shut down, then on Apple silicon hold the power button until startup options appear and press Command-D. On Intel Macs, hold D while starting up.
Hardware causes include failing memory or storage, faults in the logic board’s power circuits, liquid damage, and failing batteries. On recent Macs, memory and storage are part of the logic board, so the fix is usually a board-level repair rather than swapping a part. A proper diagnosis matters because a “new logic board” is not always the only option.
What not to do
- Don’t keep forcing a Mac that is panicking in a loop to restart over and over. If the storage is failing, every attempt adds risk.
- Don’t install “cleaner” or “optimiser” apps that promise to fix crashes. They rarely help and sometimes cause problems of their own.
- Don’t erase the Mac as a first step unless you have a verified backup.
Get your Mac checked
If your Mac keeps restarting, our Apple Mac repair technicians can find the cause and tell you whether it is software, a peripheral or a hardware fault. If the Mac won’t stay on long enough to back up, ask about data recovery before anything else is done to it. Call Creative IT on 020 7237 4908, visit our Central London repair centre, or use our courier collection from anywhere in the UK. Evaluation is free, you get a fixed quote before work starts, and there is no fee if we can’t fix it.