WindowsServer crashes on MacBook after macOS Tahoe update

Deecjay67 wrote:

Hi,

I've just updated to IOS Tahoe, my MacBook is now constantly crashing with a WindowsServer problem.

Any ideas what I can look at to fix this?

Thanks in advance.

Macbook Pro 2020

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: windowsserver

Not y much to go on here "crashing with a WindowsServer problem"

WindowServer - Window management, compositing, and event routing daemon

unplug all non-essential peripherals when testing

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS

Have you shut down and restarted more than once since your upgrade

>Shut Down

you can reinstall the macOS on top of the existing macOS to sort anomalies in the upgrade

How to reinstall macOS

Recovery (both M1/M2/M3/M4 and Intel) — How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

From what I've been able to figure out, this seems to be a problem with Electron apps which use Chrome for their UI (there are many: Spotify, Slack, VS Code, etc.) and having multiple monitors. It started happening in Tahoe for me, as well.

The one fix that I've seen that I've been able to get working (with mixed results) is to type:

launchctl setenv CHROME_HEADLESS 1

in your terminal and then restart ALL of your Electron/Chromium based apps, including Chrome, FF, Safari, etc.

You will have to do this between reboots as well.

Same thing happening on my M1 MacBook Air base model on Tahoe. I think it only happens when connected to an external monitor.

I've also had this same issue since Developer Beta 1 and it's very interesting to see that this still has persisted on the final build.

I have tried everything, uninstalling apps, fresh install and nothing. WindowServer still crashes no matter what.

Sequoia never had this issue.

I've been having this issue too on my 2020 MacBook Pro (Intel) since updating to Tahoe. I had hoped 26.0.1 would fix this, but it still persists.

This is very annoying I have to rearrange my windows in my extended displayes every time this is happening. Is this gonna be fixed soon in an update or there is any hack to it?