Persistent Final Cut Pro Application Memory Error

Even after emptying the three Library caches on my computer, clearing all Final Cut Pro preferences, keeping all media files in their original locations (rather than copying them) and starting with a fresh, new library with no other libraries open, I still am getting the dreaded "Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory" message. The message says that Final Cut is using over 50 GB of memory, but my activity monitor shows that Final Cut is using only 2.41 GB.



[Edited by Moderator]

Mac mini, macOS 14.2

Posted on Sep 4, 2025 7:27 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 4, 2025 12:04 PM

The only thing I notice is that Google's keystone autoupdating software/malware was installed at one point, but is not currently loaded now. A new autoupdater is running instead. The keystone software was notorious for breaking FCP and the system video toolbox. It's possible the new autoupdater is also bad. The advice was to remove all Google software following the instructions at https://chromeisbad.com Simply deleting Chrome was not enough. Sometimes a reinstall of FCP from the AppStore was necessary. I do not allow Chrome on any of our production machines.


You could try creating a new admin user to see if the problem is specific to your user space.


Others may find additional items.


[Loaded] com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake.plist (Google LLC - installed 2025-09-02)
    Command: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/Current/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater --wake-all --enable-logging --vmodule=*/components/update_client/*=2,*/chrome/enterprise_companion/*=2,*/chrome/updater/*=2

  [Not Loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Not signed - installed 2023-12-07)
    <Empty>

  [Not Loaded] com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist (Not signed - installed 2023-12-07)


23 replies

Sep 5, 2025 11:23 AM in response to terryb

I think I installed fresh versions of the apps to the new Mac, but I can't swear to it. I'm now downloading Mac OS and installing it to an external hard drive, per your suggestion. Then I'll install only FCP to it and we'll see if that solves the problem.


I did get a few months problem-free with my new computer; it's only recently that the issue resurfaced.


I'll report back later today. Thanks again for your help!

Sep 7, 2025 9:55 AM in response to BenB

Thanks, BenB. Yes, I'll move more of my media files off the system disk and onto external drives.


At the suggestion of others on this thread, I've now installed both Mac OS and Final Cut Pro on an external drive with 700 GB free, and am booting up from there when I edit. I haven't yet done enough testing to see if that solves my issues (I need to finish up the short video project I'm working on now even if I have to use CapCut before I do more Final Cut Pro troubleshooting.) But I should have more info tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

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Persistent Final Cut Pro Application Memory Error

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