Kernel panics on a 2018 Intel MacBook Pro. I've got an i9, 32gb RAM, 2TB storage MacBook that is having some kernel panics. It will sometimes take 3-4 boots before she actually boots up. Once booted it will run normally for hours.
I ran an etreckcheck. Attached. Anyone have any ideas?
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 15.7
Kernel Panic Reports are stored in the Folder at:
/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports
If you copy and paste that string into:
Finder > Go menu > Go to Folder
it will take you to the Folder where those reports are stored.
Kernel panic reports are named with Date&Time and start or end in ‘panic’
If you find one, please post as much as you can here, by using the “additional text” Icon in the reply footer (looks like a paper with writing). (Once the report devolves into incessant software-names or incessant Base-64 dumps with lots of AAAAAA lines, you are done.)
Please don’t post more about 20 lines of any other types of reports — they are interminable, and any information useful for this purpose is on the first screenful.
If you post your kernel panic here in its entirety, using the additional text icon in the reply footer, we do have some Readers (typically with developer background) who can attempt to interpret those panic reports. Even if no clear symptom emerges, this can still save a step if you DO need to contact Apple support later, because Apple Support specialists can read the panic reports you posted here, if you tell them what discussion or what Avatar.
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>>> Please find the latest Kernel panic or exactly the one shown in your EtreCheck report:
Diagnostics Information (past 60 days):
2025-11-29 15:04:23 Kernel Panic (72 times)
First occurrence: 2025-11-21 20:05:29
Details:
panic(cpu 1 caller 0xfffffff023cc286c): macOS panic detected
Panicked task 0xffffffe28a012c88: 0 pages, 229 threads: pid 0: kernel_
task
I’ve seen some apparently-faulty Intel x86-64 processors (or mainboards?) crash like that, in everything, randomly. Including crashing in a fresh macOS install with nothing added.
For tests, I’d remove the Dropbox client, and would also disconnect all externally-connected devices, and see if the crashes persist.
Have you done any troubleshooting?
I don't see any hardware causes such as failed hardware so the best guess is that you have some very out-of-date third party apps installed.
find and remove this item:
Unsigned Files:
Running app: /Library/DropboxHelperTools/Dropbox_u501/dbkextd
Details: Domain name invalid - possibly malware
also these:
[Not Loaded] com.dropbox.dropboxmacupdate.agent.plist (Not signed - installed 2025-07-01)
<Empty>
[Not Loaded] com.dropbox.dropboxmacupdate.xpcservice.plist (Not signed - installed 2025-05-03)
<Empty>
if you need help navigating to these, just ask, and readers can provide more explicit instructions.
your Time Machine backup on a different disk may be five days old.
Backup:
Time Machine information is limited without Full Disk Access
Destinations:
T*****a [Local] (Last used)
5 local snapshots
Oldest local snapshot: 2025-11-24 17:29:01
Last local snapshot: 2025-11-29 14:47:14
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>>> Please connect your external drive and allow it to make a Physical backup (rather than just a local snapshot) You may need that physical backup soon.
2018 Intel MacBook Pro experiencing kernel panics
