Mac mini M4 boots into grey screen

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Level 1

18 points

Mac mini M4 boots into grey screen

Updated to 15.6.1 yesterday and all seemed fine. Today, was getting some permissions issues in AppleScript writing to a log (had been working). Rebooted as this sometimes fixes these glitches. After booting, took a very long time to get even to the grey screen. Doc is available but when I select finder, it tells me the application is not responding. I booted into repair and reinstalled the OS but the same thing happens. Tried to restore from Time Machine but it tells me it needs migration assistant, to reinstall the OS?? Ran disk utilities to repair the drive(s) as well. Nothing so far seems to get me out of this dang glitch.

Any idea's gang? Thanks in advance

Bill

Mac mini, macOS 15.6

Posted on Aug 22, 2025 05:30 PM

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Answer 1

wrcooke Author

Level 1

18 points

Aug 23, 2025 12:24 PM in response to kaz-k

Did try safe mode but still got the grey screen and the finder app saying Application not responding. Today I tried to boot from an external HD to copy my data off then format and start fresh. Could not copy the data oddly enough. Was telling me the user folder had to be downloaded? Very odd. Tried again to restore from time machine and it was telling me I have to install the OS to get migration assistant to transfer the files. This time when I reinstalled the OS it worked to the point where I am transferring the data from Time. Machine now. Will find out in a couple hrs if it works. Can say, after supporting Mac for 30 yrs, Sequoia is a very different beast! I previously had a 2012 Mac mini with an older os. Not even close to this baby! So much has changed behind the UI its a whole new learning curve. THX

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Answer 2

wrcooke Author

Level 1

18 points

Aug 23, 2025 06:32 PM in response to kaz-k

After trying to use time machine to upload the last backup and the system wanted the OS reinstalled then use migration assistant, this all seemed to work good. Took some time as one could imagine. Even on a 256G SSD it takes time restoring from a normal HD. Glad to say that the second time reinstalling the OS this time the system seemed to do what it was supposed to do. Would like to know what caused the issue however. Impossible to know.

THX

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