Mac Messages app now silently quitting in the background

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Mac Messages app now silently quitting in the background

I have noticed in the past few weeks that the Mac Messages app is silently quitting in the background. It is not throwing any exceptions or notifications. I'm running an M1 MBP (2020) with macOS 15.4 (24E248). I use multiple desktops on two displays and this frequently happens when Messages is in a background desktop. I ran a systems diagnostic and while it generate vast volumes of reports, nothing stands out that indicates there is a problem.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 13, 2025 6:36 AM

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Answer 1

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dralison3 Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 14, 2025 5:18 AM in response to monsieurmatthieu

Thanks - this pulled me down a rabbit hole. I asked ChatGPT for assistance and it told me the following:

Got it, David — this actually lines up with what others have been experiencing in Sonoma and Sequoia (macOS 14 & 15) — particularly on M1 Macs. You’re not alone, and the fact that it only happens when Messages is tucked away in a background desktop (especially on multi-display setups) is a key clue. Let’s unpack what might be happening and how to tackle it.

Likely Cause

macOS has a system-level behavior called automatic termination and App Nap, both designed to conserve system resources. When an app is:

-not in focus

-not playing media,

-not being actively interacted with

-on a background desktop or screen…

…it can be flagged for automatic termination, especially if memory pressure increases.

Messages is normally persistent, but in Sequoia, some background termination bugs have surfaced. In particular:

-The app silently quits, doesn’t show crash logs

-No user-facing errors appear

-The relaunch only happens when you return to its Space or try to send a message.

Apple’s automatic termination system doesn’t treat Messages as sacred anymore in some cases — especially with multiple monitors/desktops — and your config (two displays, multiple desktops, M1) matches that pattern.

ChatGPT (4o) recommendation was to disable app sleep for that application:

defaults write ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

Hope this helps others having this issue. I'll post an update here if it actually works.

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Answer 2

dralison3 Author

Level 1

18 points

May 18, 2025 4:22 AM in response to dralison3

The upgrade to 15.5 resolved this for me.

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Answer 3

Apr 14, 2025 4:40 AM in response to dralison3

I have two external screens in addition to my Macbook Pro M3 Pro. I have 6 active Desktops. Message and Tapbots Ivory leave silently too. Any time the Mac goes to sleep, but also when I'm in another Desktop, never in front of me.

I've just enabled this to see if that solves anything :

defaults write -g NSDisableAutomaticTermination -bool yes

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Answer 4

FdeFelix

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2025 7:30 AM in response to dralison3

I think the plist file is wrong. Better use this command:

defaults write ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Messages.plist NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

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Answer 5

May 13, 2025 5:14 AM in response to monsieurmatthieu

I updated in 15.5 and since this morning Messages haven't quit 🙌

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Answer 6

astoutj

Level 1

9 points

Apr 23, 2025 1:28 PM in response to dralison3

I'm experiencing this too. I did just enter the command as discovered by dralison3,

defaults write ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

but haven't had any time with it to observe how effective that setting is. I am in macOS beta, currently at 15.4 (24E247) and there is an update available for 15.5 that I will install later today. If I continue to experience this after the 15.5 update, I will submit feedback via Feedback Assistant.

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Answer 7

dralison3 Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 15, 2025 4:24 AM in response to dralison3

Welp, it sort of worked. After adding this setting in the terminal, Messages didn't quit for the remainder of the day, which was unlike the past few weeks. However when I woke up my Mac this morning Messages had quit in the background without error again. This happens with no other application.

Hoping Apple is able to figure this out.

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Answer 8

Apr 16, 2025 2:22 AM in response to dralison3

No, both with my command and yours. It didn't work with mine yesterday, so I put it back on default. And last night I tried with yours, but this morning Message had left. And again several times during the day.

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