Level 1

22 points

My Mac mini M2 running macOS Sequoia is constantly freezing

I have an m2 Mac Mini with 16g of RAM and sufficient free hard drive space.

It now frequently freezes for a couple of seconds or the cursor freezes in place for a couple of seconds.

What can be the problem?

Are there any freeware apps that can run a diagnostic that can tell me what the problem is or, if no freeware, the best for-pay apps?

Is there a utility in macOS 15 that I can run that would identify the problem?

The problems just started the last week or so.

TIA

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Mac M2 Mini Constantly Freezing

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Jun 30, 2025 2:52 AM

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

102,397 points

Posted on Jul 1, 2025 7:04 AM

Thank you very much for obliging us all with a new report 👍

What will follow is just a personal perspective

Others are more than welcome to offer alternative which may or may not resolve these issues .

After you have struggled to get the Sophos AV software removed, the appearance of CleanMyMac aka BrickMyMac in the current report plus the need to make additional Empty Space on the Internal Drive

The quickest and least painful way to put things right again

Start Over from Scratch

Heavy Handed - Yes ?

You can spend hours or days hunting down all the bits and pieces of these softwares and never really get it all off the computer

For Apple Silicon computer which the M2 Mac Mini is >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

Always make a Time Machine Backup before proceeding

Would suggest Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.

Emphasis on User Account Only

Reinstall all the Needed Applications from the Apple Apps Store and / or directly from the Developers

Leaving Off CleanMyMac, Sophos Av Software and any other Third Party useless applications of similar type

View in context

40 replies

Owl-53

Level 10

102,397 points

Jun 30, 2025 5:15 AM in response to M Senft

You are welcome and yes we do see the report

Personally have a certain set self imposed protocols which I try to adhere to

One of them, is to not take over another's good work or suggestions

That said, better for @Luis S to take the lead on this question

Owl-53

Level 10

102,397 points

Jun 30, 2025 7:55 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

No problem with you jumping in the help, Owl_53!

I completely concur with your assessment.

The more eyes / experience you bring to this type of issue is invaluable

Like I wrote to @ M Senft

This is only a Quick Look and may have missed some crucial elements

M Senft Author

Level 1

22 points

Jul 4, 2025 3:03 AM in response to Owl-53

Now for a dumber question:

In addition to the Time Machine backup, I want to do a second separate back up to an external disk. Have searched online without a clear enough answer so now I'm asking: How to do it or should I just be content with the latest Time Machine backup?

Tanks and happy 4th.

Jul 4, 2025 3:16 AM in response to M Senft

M Senft wrote:

Report's too big for cut+paste, dunno how to use that additional text thing.

I saved the report as a PDF but can't figure out how to upload it.

I'm sure there's a way...

TIA again.

There is a button that looks like a small page. You may have to first click on … and this shows you extra buttons. Click that button and you get a separate window for “additional text”. Paste the report there.

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Jun 30, 2025 4:29 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

M Senft Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 30, 2025 4:54 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Report's too big for cut+paste, dunno how to use that additional text thing.

I saved the report as a PDF but can't figure out how to upload it.

I'm sure there's a way...

TIA again.

Owl-53

Level 10

102,397 points

Jun 30, 2025 5:00 AM in response to M Senft

From within the Etrecheck Application

Copy Report puts the full report on the Clipboard of the computer

Use the Additional text icon

Paste using (cmd ) + v

M Senft Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 30, 2025 5:05 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

report

Thanks, Owl-53!

Jun 30, 2025 7:31 AM in response to Owl-53

No problem with you jumping in the help, Owl_53!

I completely concur with your assessment.

Owl-53

Level 10

102,397 points

Jun 30, 2025 8:49 AM in response to BDAqua

👍

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Jun 30, 2025 9:00 AM in response to Owl-53

Took me awhile to get out of bed & to my computer, as such a reply would be impossle for Mr to do on an iPad.

M Senft Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 30, 2025 9:37 AM in response to Owl-53

Should I delete the antivirus apps?

Didn't point out that all this started just the last week or two FWIW.

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Jun 30, 2025 10:19 AM in response to M Senft

Yes, for certain.

M Senft Author

Level 1

22 points

Jun 30, 2025 10:43 AM in response to BDAqua

Followed your advice.

Haven't been on the Mac since and doubt I will till Tuesday morning.

If fail to get back to you, presume your advice worked and I’m happy.

Thanks.

Old Toad

Level 10

215,286 points

Jun 30, 2025 10:43 AM in response to Old Toad

Addendum: Also getting rid of those other apps is very important!

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My Mac mini M2 running macOS Sequoia is constantly freezing