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MacBook crashing every few minutes due to leftover Fitbit files

I have not been able to use my early 2016 MacBook for longer than 5 minutes without it crashing today


I traced the problem to a leftover (file, app, extension?? com.fitbit.galileo) from the Fitbit app. I can’t delete these leftover files because I don’t have permission. The app no longer exists in the App Store, I can’t download an uninstaller, and CleanMyMac can’t complete a scan before my laptop crashes and restarts again.


I am at a loss of what to do next and would appreciate any suggestions.




[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Jan 8, 2025 11:28 AM

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8 replies

Jan 8, 2025 11:59 AM in response to John Galt

As for the FitBit uninstallation, did you research its uninstallation instructions?


Having just done that, it seems FitBit now has Google's tentacles all over it, like some phaser-immune behavior-altering parasite from Star Trek that has intractably attached itself to your Mac.


Try starting your Mac in "Safe Mode" and see if you can pry the offending file off its back while in that mode:


Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Jan 8, 2025 12:46 PM in response to owl_tree

Thanks for that additional information. I understand the Mac is crashing, you determined the reason has something to do with a FitBit file, and although you were able to locate that file you're having trouble removing it.


I suspect one or more of the Kernel Extensions shown in that FAF report will turn out to be a factor. That could be bad news since the ones in that report might be on the order of eight or so years old, and it was during that time Apple "froze" (for lack of a better word) certain "legacy" Kernel Extensions before they locked it down for good. Nothing goes in... but the bad news is nothing comes out either, and without any help from the Goolag you're stuck.


Having said that I hope dislodging it will not prove to be an insurmountable task.


EtreCheck will gather copious information regarding that and other causal factors and generate a comprehensive report. The app does not affect a Mac in any way, and its report will be de-identified. Instructions for using it and posting its report in a reply are here: How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report - Apple Community.


I and any helpful others will be able to examine that report and hopefully come up with some meaningful suggestions.

Jan 8, 2025 12:29 PM in response to John Galt

I appreciate the help, I removed the Fitbit app a while ago after Google tanked it, but I must not have done a proper uninstall.


I have restarted in safe mode and I am still unable to remove the files. It keeps saying I don’t have permission to access it. I’ve just been doing this through Find Any File, is there any other recommended way of getting at these files?


EDIT: I’m admittedly not the most savvy when it comes to troubleshooting problems like this. I’m assuming it’s these files that are making it crash after looking at the reports in console (you can see how many log reports there are for today) I can’t do anything to make my MacBook think (searching the web, opening new apps, etc.) without it crashing. My Mac has for sure slowed down in the last year but the crashing problem is new to today.


Jan 8, 2025 1:42 PM in response to John Galt

I have tried to run EtreCheck 4 times and unfortunately the computer has crashed each time before the scan could be completed.


I do think you are correct about the Legacy Extension, looking at the problem report upon startup, and I don’t really know what I’m reading, but there is mention of kernel versions and loaded kexts

MacBook crashing every few minutes due to leftover Fitbit files

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