Notes Quitting Unexpectedly

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Notes Quitting Unexpectedly

iMac 27" late 2014, macOS Big Sur 11.7.2. I always keep my system software and apps updated to the latest revision. Notes is version 4.8.1 (1872).

Recently, within the last couple of months, any time I have Notes open at the same time as I'm using Safari or Mail, it will always close suddenly after being open for a few minutes. I do have a large number of notes saved, many with photos embedded, but I've been using Notes in this way for quite a long time (years) without any difficulties. My iMac has plenty of RAM (32 GB) and storage is not full (> 50GB available).

Each time it displays the problem report and says that it will be sent to Apple immediately when I reopen Notes.

Notes is working fine other than this frequent application crash which does not seem to cause any loss of data.

I use Malwarebytes to check my system for Malware and have occasionally had it identify and quarantine malware that it finds, but since this problem with Notes has started occurring I've had a few Malwares identified and removed and it has not made a difference.

Any suggestions on what may be causing this and what I could do to troubleshoot or repair the problem?

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Dec 22, 2022 5:22 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

145,808 points

Dec 22, 2022 6:44 PM in response to Phil in Magnolia

Please determine if the same problems occur in "Safe Mode": How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support. Given the frequency with which the problem occurs it shouldn't take long to draw a conclusion.

Then, restart your Mac normally and determine if the problem persists.

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Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

90,889 points

Dec 23, 2022 3:28 AM in response to Phil in Magnolia

Suggest following the previous advise First.

But, and I quote " My iMac has plenty of RAM (32 GB) and storage is not full (> 50GB available)."

Generally RAM is not an issue but 50 GB of Space on the drive could be an aspect to explore

Generally suggest Empty Space on a drive should be keep between 15% to 20% of the Total Drive Capacity as Empty Space

Running below those suggested figures is getting into potentially dangerous territory.

Unexpected Application Closure, Slow overall Performance as the computer struggles to find Empty Space to save all the changes that do occur on a daily basis.

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac

What is “Other” storage on a Mac, and how can I clean it out?

Free up storage space on your Mac

OmniDiskSweeper Safe to use

GrandPerspective

How to delete Time Machine snapshots on your Mac

See used and available storage space on your Mac

Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Notation - If the user is using a cloning software like Carbon Copy Cloner - suggest tweaking the Safety Net Feature in this software. It may be making additional Snap Shots that are not being Cloned to the Eternal Drive. If this should be the case, these Snap Shot could be using additional space on the drive

The final word from Apple on Managing the " Other/ System Data “ Category

Other / System Data: Contains files that don’t fall into the categories listed here. This category primarily includes files and data used by the system, such as log files, caches, VM files, and other runtime system resources. Also included are temporary files, fonts, app support files, and plug-ins. You can't manage the contents of this category. The contents are managed by macOS, and the category varies in size depending on the current state of your Mac.

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Answer 3

Dec 26, 2022 11:10 AM in response to John Galt

Thanks for the help. I started my Mac in "Safe Mode" and the problem does still occur.

According to the Apple Support page, I should now "should reinstall macOS and make sure that your Apple software and third-party apps are up to date".

Since I do always keep all software up to date, the next step seems to reinstall macOS for my iMac, which in this case is macOS Big Sur 11.7.2 as mentioned in my original post. I'll do that now.

ADDED NOTE: interestingly, I am not able to start up my Mac into Recovery mode, either by using command-R, or option-command-R while restarting. That doesn't seem right, but since it wasn't working I'm now downloading macOS Big Sur and will install it that way.

(I also recognize the possibility that my limited storage space may be contributing to the problem, so in any event I plan to do some adjusting to how I'm using my hard drive, after I get the system software reinstalled).

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Answer 4

PRP_53

Level 10

90,889 points

Dec 26, 2022 1:31 PM in response to Phil in Magnolia

2 Cents here reading replacing machine.

Back in 2021 had an iMac late 2012.

Used the Apple Trade In process - maybe $250 was the value.

If the user wishes to explore the Apple Trading In option where the Value of the exiting machine could be used against the cost of a new Apple Computer

Or Shop Refurbished Apple computers at an Apple Reduced Cost

Have used both previously and have been satisfied each time.

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

145,808 points

Jan 3, 2023 11:57 AM in response to Phil in Magnolia

We may never know the reason. The good news is that you can keep using your 27" iMac for now.

The appearance of the Guest User is also a consequence of using Find My Mac: Find My - Official Apple Support. It may have become turned off for various reasons, some of which are not obvious.

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Answer 6

Dec 26, 2022 11:27 AM in response to John Galt

ANOTHER ADDED NOTE: I've been anxious to replace this iMac for a couple of years now, to get a new computer with Apple Silicon and so that I can use the latest macOS software, have more storage space, and so forth. I've delayed doing that because the current iMac isn't quite what I want, with the smaller display, and I'm not ready to purchase a Mac Studio + display (although that might be what I eventually decide to get). Anyway, this latest problem simply reinforces my feeling that the time is fast approaching when I will decide to replace this 8-year old iMac, which has been a terrific computer in almost all respects.

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Answer 7

Dec 26, 2022 4:23 PM in response to PRP_53

Yes, I've done that once or twice myself, I agree it is worth doing. (However for my particular iMac, Apple kindly advised me that it is ready for recycle, so no trade-in value. Not sure why your 2012 iMac did have some value just a year or two ago, but that is what I'm finding now).

Back to the problem with Notes - after reinstalling macOS, resuming work normally, and Notes has just quit again.

The list of suggested actions provided separately will be my next step. Will take some time. Thanks in advance, and I'll return here after I work my way through the various steps.

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Answer 8

John Galt

Level 10

145,808 points

Dec 28, 2022 4:17 PM in response to Phil in Magnolia

Next time Notes crashes by all means send the crash report to Apple, but copy and paste its text in a reply here as well. Though it probably will not reveal any information you can act upon, there is a nonzero chance it might.

Your crash reports are not being summarily discarded, but whether a report gets addressed or not depends on two factors: whether it's something Apple can fix, and the time and effort it will take to fix it. We can expect at least one more incremental update to Big Sur before Apple retires it for good.

I have at least one identically equipped model iMac with just as much memory and Notes has never crashed, not even once, and I rely upon it for a lot of work. (Edit to add: I have well over a hundred individual Notes. They are all in iCloud. Most of my Notes are small but a few contain thousands of lines.)

As exhaustive a task as it might be, would it be possible for you to examine each one of your Notes in an effort to find one that happens to be malformed, or possibly contains something problematic? Also, is it possible that 32 GB memory is user-installed, and could it be a factor? Sometimes crash reports can be useful in suggesting faulty memory.

Are you using Notes in iCloud, or are they all exclusively "on my Mac"?

I've delayed doing that because the current iMac isn't quite what I want, with the smaller display, and I'm not ready to purchase a Mac Studio + display (although that might be what I eventually decide to get).

I understand completely. Even though the silicon iMac is great in all respects, once you get used to the 27" display it's hard to imagine going back to anything smaller.

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Answer 9

Jan 2, 2023 10:36 AM in response to John Galt

Well, here is an interesting development. The problem with Notes quitting has stopped occurring. It's been several days (at least) since Notes crashed, and without my doing anything (that I'm aware of) to my computer, it has gone away. I did try the earlier recommendations (starting in Safe mode, then re-installing the OS) several days ago and it did not make any difference, at least not immediately.

Strange. I don't believe there have been any software updates over the past few days.

I did go through all of my Notes a few days ago to see if any showed any kind of obvious problem. Many of my Notes have embedded photos and links, perhaps going through them caused those to be 'refreshed' in some way, that could have made a difference? The only other thing I have done is go through my downloads folder and file those documents into appropriate folders or trash. Somehow along the way my free space has increased to 92GB (as I mentioned in the OP it was just over 50GB previously). Perhaps this increase in free storage space is the most significant difference since it was pointed out earlier that my available space was lower than recommended.

The most recent restarts have also only displayed myself and my wife as users at the logon screen, the 'Guest User' option has strangely been absent. When I go to Users & Groups in System Preferences, I do still have Guest User available as a login option. I don't ever use that, but it still seems funny that it is no longer present.

In any event, I can now keep Notes open without issue, along with whatever other applications I'm typically running, and all is working fine!

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Notes Quitting Unexpectedly

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