2024 Mac mini Pro Finder and Dock problems

Question

2024 Mac mini Pro Finder and Dock problems

The finder wouldn’t launch applications this morning, and the dock was unresponsive despite being set to auto-hide and show. System settings were unresponsive, suggesting external control. Rebooting didn’t resolve the issue. Windows were open but unclosable, and clicking on the red dot in the upper left corner of any window didn’t work. Double-clicking the hard drive to open programs manually was slow and unresponsive. Finally, I managed to open Safari, but it displayed a black page.

I was about to call Apple Care and get some help when it suddenly clears up.

This is some very odd behavior for a brand new Mac and I am wondering what was going on with it.

Do any of these odd finder behaviors sound familiar to anyone?

Mac mini, macOS 12.7

Posted on Feb 22, 2025 10:27 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 22, 2025 01:25 PM in response to Vernon Alexander

Yes, you should be using a USB keyboard when trying to boot in safe mode. You can use a wired PC keyboard if you have one handy.

The Windows key will act as the Mac's Command key (⌘).

The Alt key will act in place of the Mac's Option key.

Please see: Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

❝Start up your Mac with Apple silicon in safe mode

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > Shut Down.
Wait for your Mac to shut down completely. A Mac is completely shut down when the screen is black and any lights (including in the Touch Bar) are off.
Press and hold the power button on your Mac until “Loading startup options” appears.
Select a volume.
Press and hold the Shift key, then click Continue in Safe Mode.
The computer restarts automatically. When the login window appears, you should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar.❞

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,032 points

Feb 22, 2025 04:11 PM in response to Vernon Alexander

You continue to hold dow the Shift Key until it boots into Safe Mode, you don't tap Shift and wait for it to boot into Safe, that just does not work. Also, a Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes so please be patient.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

88,750 points

Feb 22, 2025 10:36 AM in response to Vernon Alexander

Startup in Safe Mode followed by a normal Restart and test.

see > Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that doesn't help, get, run and give us an EtreCheckPro Report.

Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

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Answer 4

Feb 22, 2025 11:09 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I recently tried OnyX on a disk, but it did not work.

Otherwise, I do not have any third party software for any of those purposes.

The only thing I did different that when I usually boot up is that I plugged in a USB C four drive enclosure to see if it would work on the back ports instead of the front. But when I shut down and unplugged it, the Mac was still freaking out. This one: cheep from China, but it holds four hard drives and seems to work flawlessly. I am just not sure if it can be pluged into the back ports on the Mac, but I thought they were both USB C and Thunderbolt.

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Answer 5

Feb 22, 2025 01:10 PM in response to den.thed

I have tried and failed several time to get my Mac to boot in safe mode. I hold down the Shift key and nothing happens, it just boots normally. I am guessing that it is because of my generic Bluetooth keyboard. I am not sure I want to pay $$$ for a Mac keyboard just to be able to boot in safe mode, but I suppose I may have to.

I will try that software you supplied the link to and post back, thanks.

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Answer 6

Feb 24, 2025 10:33 AM in response to den.thed

I may have found the issue. Plugging in USB C adapters that are that are not specifically labeled as "Thunderbolt compatible" to the Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back cause the Mac to act erratically. And, no matter which adapter I use, there is a little SPARK right when I begin to plug into the back ports. That cannot be normal?

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