Apple Acknowledges 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Freezing Issue, Recommends Updating OS X and Flash

[997440]

This bug does not only affect the MacBook Pro 13", but I've had the exact same issue occasionally for a year with my MacBook Air 13" as well:
- Most of the time when I watch a flash video in Safari, nothing goes wrong
- But once in a while, maybe once a month, after closing the video's tab in Safari, the whole computer freezes, cursor included.
- The freeze lasts for about a minute, then it resumes for a fraction of a second, then freezes again for about 30 seconds.
- After the second freeze the GUI starts working again, but the scrolling will be choppy in every app, and the whole experience will be bad.
- Nothing else helps but to restart the computer.
- Same issue remains even after installing every update immediately for the past 1 year for both OS X and Flash.

If you haven't tried this -- instead of restarting, open Activity Monitor (cpu pane or memory pane); select Flash Player so it's highlighted; click the small i at the top left side of the Activity Monitor window; that'll open a new window pertaining to Flash; bottom left side click quit.

 

[Verloc]

Had this problem, and I don't run Flash.

I seem to have fixed it by reinstalling the 10.11.5 combo update a couple of times. Very strange.

 

[leroypants]

"It Just Works" Apple

 

[Taz Mangus]

Do you even know how this damn OS works? Flash is already built-in, there's no question I'm manually installing a new package for Flash.

Apple has not included flash in OS X in a long time. Personally if I need to visit a website that requires flash I just use Chrome. A lot less hassle.
[doublepost=1465261785][/doublepost]I have read posts from people about Safari crashing even without flash installed. I have not experienced this issue on either of the two 2015 rMacBook Pro computers running 10.11.5. I wonder why some people are having the issue but others like myself don't. I don't have flash installed on any of my Mac computers.
[doublepost=1465261827][/doublepost]

"It Just Works" Apple

Well it does for me.
[doublepost=1465261942][/doublepost]

Had this problem, and I don't run Flash.

I seem to have fixed it by reinstalling the 10.11.5 combo update a couple of times. Very strange.

Could be why I don't have the issue, as I always install the combo update.

 

[Avenged110]

Flash hasn't been built in to OS X for years. Guess again.

Since late 2010, if I remember correctly.

 

[efktd]

i don't think this has anything to do with safari, and everything to do with OS X. El Capitan, more like El Crapitan!! Fix this please Apple.

 

[SaxPlayer]

Now I know why I didn't experience this issue: I uninstalled Flash some time ago on all my machines.

Yet another reason to dump it.

 

[n-evo]

Sorry if I came across patronising in any way, I didn't mean to imply you hadn't already tried those things. Just always best to check

I hope Apple will get this patched for you soon with 10.11.6. Out of interest, may it be worth signing up to the PB to see if that makes a positive impact? I suppose it can't get any worse

I'm not to keen on installing a beta OS on my daily system. I didn't pay €2200 to be a part of Apple's test team.

 

[n-evo]

Crashes or freezes? Those are not the same thing.

If it's crashing, it's likely a different issue. Check Console logs for specific details.

A freeze is caused by a system-wide crash.

 

[BlandUsername]

Corporate Apps using Flash?

Now that's a joke!

Its sad but true, flash, java and (shudder) silverlight.

 

[merkinmuffley]

This bug was discovered in the Beta testing 10.11.4? Not good that Apple pushed this one out the door.

 

[torontopete]

In recent months, 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro owners have been complaining of a bug that causes Safari to completely freeze up, requiring a full system restart. Apple addressed the problem in a new support document that was released on Friday.

Complaints about Safari freezing issue started popping up in March, following the launch of OS X 10.11.4, but the bug was also present during the beta testing period. 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro users appear to be primarily affected, but on the Apple Support Communities and the MacRumors forums, some users with other machines have experienced similar issues.

Luckily, Apple's solution is a simple one, instructing customers to update to the latest version of OS X and upgrade to the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player web plug-in. The newest version of OS X is OS X 10.11.5, which includes a fix for the bug. OS X 10.11.5 was released to the public on May 16.

On the MacRumors forums, a number of users have confirmed that the OS X 10.11.5 update fixes the freezing problem.

Article Link: Apple Acknowledges 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Freezing Issue, Recommends Updating OS X and Flash

Netflix tech guy told me to use Chrome! Apple is not the same company any more. Sorry but its Apps are dumbed down now.

 

[JGRE]

JGRE, I completely agree with you. I really do.

However, it is what it is. It's the case right now, it was 10 years ago, and it may be the same a decade from now. If there's no alternative, there's nothing we can do about it right now. We can try to make a fuss, and that's pretty much all we can do.

There should be more pressure on the developers and companies to get rid of these technologies. The trouble is that developing in a new language or platform means development time. Development time = money. The fat boardroom cats don't know about technology, so they don't see the need to do it. They just see their employees as numbers on a spreadsheet, and their users as revenue. Some soak up more of their money. Others soak up less.

Yes, I know, but in the past Apple simply banded flash from iOS, why not do the same for OSX?

 

[Taz Mangus]

Netflix tech guy told me to use Chrome! Apple is not the same company any more. Sorry but its Apps are dumbed down now.

On my 2015 13" rMacBookPro and my 2011 27" iMac I use Netflix from Safari and I don't have flash installed on the computer running OS X 10.11.5. Works great, no issues. Not sure why you need to use Chrome browser.

 

[MrNomNoms]

Netflix tech guy told me to use Chrome! Apple is not the same company any more. Sorry but its Apps are dumbed down now.

Why is it surprising that he suggested to use Chrome? As a netflix employee is primary concern is getting you on the internet and watching videos - if that involves providing a work around then so be it. I'm not surprised that these bugs do appear because as they push more of their operating system and components to use the GPU the result are bugs appearing that once were never triggered except in rare situations. The same situation occurred when Microsoft developed Direct2D and DirectWrite with browser vendors embracing it but finding that, at least in the early days, that it was rather buggy and problematic. In the case of Apple, if they are taking advantage of Metal then I wouldn't be surprised that such a very new framework has some rough edges that'll be addressed with time and well written bug reports from those testing the software.

 

[kiwipeso1]

Wait, so they wanted to replace the SSD? Or the Mac itself? They said it was software related but couldn't tell you any more? And the original OS was Lion?! You must have the Mid-2012 15" rMBP. That's a 4 year old machine.

Hardware can suddenly fail. Again, correlation does not equal causation. Plenty of people's 2011 15/17" MBPs began to show signs of the GPU failing straight after upgrading to El Cap. This does not mean that 10.11 caused the graphics issue. It just made it apparent.

Furthermore, SSD technology in 2012 was comparatively in its infancy. The failure rate was much higher. They could support less lifetime writes. Plus your model has documented issues with the GPU failing.

Unless you can elaborate further on what exactly was said/done to make you think it was a software problem – or even provide the Genius Bar report, and why they couldn't just reinstall the OS, which is what would resolve a software issue – I'm afraid I'll have to take what you're saying with a pinch of salt.

EDIT: I appreciate you said that the problem reoccured after updating to the latest OS. But again, that doesn't mean the OS is to blame. 10.11 is much more graphics-heavy than 10.7, with all its animations and features. Also on your model, it uses Metal rather than OpenGL. It could just as well be the graphics card creating the issue. In fact, as I write this out, I'm more convinced that's probably what's causing it.

EDIT 2: Lemme grab an expert opinion! @Weaselboy, what do you think, if you'd be able to have a quick look over what they described? Graphics card or something else?

Upgrading without a fresh install on El Capitan can cause graphics driver issues (Which are solvable by direct fresh install of El Capitan.) [It has something to do with the different kext files not using the correct version.]

 

[SlinkyGin]

Fault couldn't be fixed at an Apple approved supplier and I'm not sure it is completely related to Safari. My Macbook Pro can freeze while in photos, excel and when I am doing nothing at all though tends to be on graphic heavy packages (or scrolling very quickly through excel/mail). All versions are up to date on El Capitan and the issue still persists.

 

[kiwipeso1]

Fault couldn't be fixed at an Apple approved supplier and I'm not sure it is completely related to Safari. My Macbook Pro can freeze while in photos, excel and when I am doing nothing at all though tends to be on graphic heavy packages (or scrolling very quickly through excel/mail). All versions are up to date on El Capitan and the issue still persists.

Those models have less GPU performance than standard compared to the retina screen and metal graphics in El Capitan.
Apparently this may have been fixed in Sierra. Ask a beta tester for confirmation.