Is Apple planning on fixing the M1 MacBooks crashing multiple times a day?

[Macbor]

I picked up a new MBA M1 a few weeks ago and noticed about 2-3 times a day it'll randomly freeze, briefly show a pink screen then reboot itself.

I have the same exact problem. I expected it was a software issue, but it still happens. It always happen when using it with an external monitor, but I use it that way 95% of the time. I haven’t seen a pattern of apps yet.
Maybe it’s time to go to the Apple Store…

 

[quickmac]

I have the same exact problem. I expected it was a software issue, but it still happens. It always happen when using it with an external monitor, but I use it that way 95% of the time. I haven’t seen a pattern of apps yet.
Maybe it’s time to go to the Apple Store…

Knock on wood I did a re-install of Big Sur OS (didn't format or wipe drive so kept my settings and files) and haven't had any issues in past few days. Not sure if a fluke or a fix. If it happens again more my next step would be Apple store. So I'd say try reinstalling the OS and updating it.

 

[Tingola]

I picked up a new MBA M1 a few weeks ago and noticed about 2-3 times a day it'll randomly freeze, briefly show a pink screen then reboot itself. I googled it and noticed a lot of people having this issue. I'm a bit surprised Apple hasn't addressed or pushed an update to try to fix it. I don't have any peripherals connected and overall it seems to be running ok other than these random freeze up then crash moments.

Is it a hardware or software issue? Seems to happen most when using Safari. Anyone else find a fix to this, it's quite disruptive to workflow and also pretty unacceptable given the cost and general build quality of these laptops.

Same problem here! exactly the same... we bought a MB Pro two weeks ago and start to freeze, reboot itself and briefly show a pink screen .... and the apple representation says that does not happen to them, and surprise! they don't know what is going on and they return the money with 10% per cent less because is open... incredible. We work in photoshop mostly and it is where always happens. Anybody knows what is going on? the store propose to buy an intel old one.... Any idea?

 

[anshuvorty]

My wife’s week old M1 MBA doesn’t have these issues. In fact, it ran from Tuesday evening until Saturday morning on one battery charge, and was in sleep mode while not in use.

Same here. I have a perfectly usable and reliable M1 MBA. No issues whatsoever. Day 1 MBA, by the way.

 

[Tagbert]

Same problem here! exactly the same... we bought a MB Pro two weeks ago and start to freeze, reboot itself and briefly show a pink screen .... and the apple representation says that does not happen to them, and surprise! they don't know what is going on and they return the money with 10% per cent less because is open... incredible. We work in photoshop mostly and it is where always happens. Anybody knows what is going on? the store propose to buy an intel old one.... Any idea?

Not sure where you got that MBA, but I would not expect to pay an open box charge on a return for the device failing. They should test the device and potentially replace it with another one of the same kind. This is not typical of MBA-M1s. You should be able to get a replacement and not have to go back to the inferior Intel MBA.

 

[James_C]

I have had my M1 MacBook Air since launch day last year, have not seen any freezes or kernel panics. Have been running Monterey since the first public beta, no MacOS freezes or crashes. As others have said likely to be something you have installed.

 

[southerndoc]

I have a few spontaneous reboots when I first purchased, but this must have been fixed with a software update (11.5 or maybe 11.4). Haven't had one in a while. In the past, I would occasionally open my lid to awaken my MBA from sleep and find it had completely restarted.

 

[Tagbert]

I have a few spontaneous reboots when I first purchased, but this must have been fixed with a software update (11.5 or maybe 11.4). Haven't had one in a while. In the past, I would occasionally open my lid to awaken my MBA from sleep and find it had completely restarted.

For most of us, the kernel panics ended with 11.3. If someone is still having panics, they should definitely take the MBA into Apple for diagnosis.

 

[pmbooks]

I've been experiencing the same issue, random shutdowns with flash of pink screen just prior (preceded by about a minute of screen freeze), then a reboot. 2-3 times a day for a few weeks now. I'm in the beta program and was hoping yesterday's update was going to address it. No such luck. I suspect it's a hardware problem.

 

[Zazoh]

Ordered in first batch, only shutdown for security patches. Heavy user daily with Zoom Xcode, VM Ware Horizon heavy apps no problems. Sounds like a few of you got a bad batch. Send it back while under warranty.

 

[paulhummerman]

My macair m1 has started to suddenly crash too, several times a day, after 2 months when it was fine. It often reboots itself, and even relaunches obs, but it interrupts the livestreams I'm doing. I do have various inputs connected (ethernet, power, hdmi, external mike) and I have not yet checked to see if it also crashes with no external inputs. I did drop it shortly after purchase and the screen immediately cracked of course, so I'm using an external monitor. I assume that even though the crashing issue is completely separate from the screen cracking issue, but the fact that I dropped it would prevent fixing the crashing issue under warranty.
By the way I've dropped many macs over the years and the screens have never cracked.

 

[Dr. MMM]

Exact same problem om an M1 Mac mini. Frequent crashes, typically on Zoom and Teams video calls. Useless. Diligently sending crash reports to Apple every time...

 

[pmbooks]

My macair m1 has started to suddenly crash too, several times a day, after 2 months when it was fine. It often reboots itself, and even relaunches obs, but it interrupts the livestreams I'm doing. I do have various inputs connected (ethernet, power, hdmi, external mike) and I have not yet checked to see if it also crashes with no external inputs. I did drop it shortly after purchase and the screen immediately cracked of course, so I'm using an external monitor. I assume that even though the crashing issue is completely separate from the screen cracking issue, but the fact that I dropped it would prevent fixing the crashing issue under warranty.
By the way I've dropped many macs over the years and the screens have never cracked.

For me, these crashes and reboots occur with or without externals, and whether or not I have the computer open or not, awake or asleep.

 

[jlc1978]

Having the same issue running 11.5.2 Chrome or Safari stops responding, have to Force Quit. A few reboots briefly flash a pink screen, but not always.

 

[Mike Boreham]

M1 Macs don't have SMCs.

I was going to comment on this fact as well. Although there is no SMC, you can achieve the effect of resetting the parameters it controlled in Intel Macs by shutting down, disconnecting power and peripherals for a minute and rebooting.

The best explanation I have seen is by Howard Oakley in this article. Quote:-

"Last year all changed again, as there’s no SMC at all in an M1 Mac. Instead most of its functions are performed within Apple’s new SoC, by a part known as the Always On Processor (AOP). This is a cut-down basic ARM core with its own firmware which remains powered-up and active even when the main cores are sound asleep. It runs the Apple Silicon version of power management software too, according to the settings in your Energy Saver pane, and the pmsetcommand tool.

The theory goes that M1 Macs not only can’t reset their non-existent SMCs, but you wouldn’t want them to if they could. Now if you suspect a problem with features previously associated with the SMC, you should be able to check and correct its settings manually without the need to reset anything. If it still seems wonky, what you should do is shut your Mac down, disconnect all non-essential third-party peripherals and the mains power lead, wait a minute or so, then start your Mac up again. The AOP should be re-initialised soon after startup, load its firmware, and be ready to work normally again."