Escape key not working due to issue with Siri.app on Monterey

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Level 1

6 points

Escape key not working due to issue with Siri.app on Monterey

Summary: Just as described in this topic Escape key not working | MacOS Monterrey … - Apple Community the Escape key does not work if the Siri.app process crashes in the background (noticeable because Siri cannot be started neither via shortcut nor via icon in menu bar).

Steps to reproduce:

Press ⌘+SPACE to launch Spotlight Search
Press ESC to close it

Expected Result: Spotlight Search closes

Actual Result: Nothing happens

Workaround: Launch Activity Monitor, search for 'siri', select the Process called 'Siri', click the Stop icon and choose Force Quit. Result: Siri relaunches automatically (and works again), also the ESC key starts working again.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.5

Posted on Sep 12, 2022 12:32 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

210,615 points

Sep 12, 2022 2:48 PM in response to retteghy

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following;

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

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Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

91,819 points

Sep 13, 2022 2:02 AM in response to retteghy

For Siri to " Crash " would be an indication that something is not correct on the computer.

It would be in the best interest of the user to explore the why this is happening, even if it happens once a week.

The " Safe Boot " suggested by @Old Toad is one of the first and basic steps in attempting to Trouble Shoot this issue.

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

2 - Does the issue present in this mode ?

3 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

4 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.

5 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.

6 - If after performing each of the above steps in the order that have been presents and still have issues - please advise for possible further assistance.

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Answer 3

retteghy Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 13, 2022 12:09 AM in response to Old Toad

@Old Toad, not sure if you saw, I mentioned this only happens if Siri crashes. I cannot possibly know why the Siri app crashes especially because: 1) I only use Siri once in a week, 2) me using Siri is not what causes Siri to crash, it randomly crashes in the background and 3) I cannot intentionally reproduce the crash, neither in safe mode nor in normal mode.

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