System Preferences Not Responding on Mac: Possible Causes and Solutions

The System Preferences Not Responding prevents users from gaining access to the app. However, there are multiple solutions to the issue. For starters, you can force quit System Preferences. Besides, you can also com.apple.systempreferences.plist file, reinstall macOS, etc.

System Preferences is an option that can be found in the Apple menu. It is available in all Mac models. With System Preferences, you can customize different system settings. These include Apple ID, network, passwords, users, security and privacy settings, etc.

Are you having trouble using System Preferences on your Mac? Mac users reported that the System Preferences not responding error occurs on their MacBook Pro/Air.

Suppose the same issue occurs on your Mac; you have come to the right place. This article will introduce 4 practical ways to fix the System Preferences not responding error:

Read on to learn detailed information to solve your Mac's System Preferences not responding issue.

Possible Causes of System Preferences Not Responding on Mac

You might encounter various error cases of System Preferences not responding on Mac: System Preferences is busy and can't be closed, could not load the Sound/Displays/Security & Privacy/Apple ID/Users & Groups preference pane, etc.

Various causes can lead to System Preferences not responding on Mac, including:

😰Plist files corrupted: A PLIST file refers to a text file that has data in a format known as the Property List format. It stores settings and critical data in an XML-based, key-value format. Corruption of these PLIST files can lead to this error.

💾Errors in the hard disk: Temporary glitches or errors within the hard disk can also render the System Preferences to function poorly. Repairing the disk might resolve the error.

📂Modification of essential files: Some files on Mac need to remain the same. Any formatting or changes to these files can lead to the System Preferences not responding error.

🎭Malware: Virus attacks have the potential to destroy the whole system. You can expect the occurrence of the System Preference not responding problem.

🍎Out-of-date macOS version: It is vital to keep macOS up-to-date. Otherwise, you can encounter System Preferences not responding issue.

How to Fix System Preferences Not Responding

Are you eager to know how to resolve the System Preferences not responding error? We have attached a video tutorial to help you out.

• 00:11 - Force Quit System Preferences
• 00:47 - Restart Mac
• 01:19 - Turn off Screen Time
• 04:30 - Reinstall macOS

There are multiple solutions you can apply to fix the error. Let's take a look:

Fix 1. Force Quit System Preferences

One of the most popular solutions to fix the System Preferences not responding error is to force quit on Mac. For that, you can follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to the Apple icon.

Step 2. Select the "Force Quit" option. You can also press the "Command + Option + Escape" to force quit Mac shortcuts.

Step 3. When the force quit applications window opens, choose "System Preferences".

Step 4. Clicking on it will say that it is not responding.

Step 5. Wait for another pop-up window to appear.

Step 6. It will ask for confirmation. Click on the "Force Quit" option for confirmation.

Share this article on social media to help others learn how to force quit System Preferences.

Fix 2. Delete com.apple.systempreferences.plist File

Did you know that the com.apple.systempreferences.plist files are responsible for saving the customizations of System Preferences? Deleting the PLIST file is an excellent solution for this error. Keep in mind that no harm will occur other than resetting the app.

To delete com.apple.systempreferences.plist files, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Select "Finder", and choose the "Go" option.

Step 2. Click on "Go to Folder".

Step 3. Enter ~/Library/Preferences.

Step 4. Find the com.apple.systempreferences.plist file.

Step 5. Move it to Mac Trash.

Step 6. Restart the system, and then click the "Empty Trash" option.

Now see if the error is resolved or not. Note that if you accidentally deleted essential files in the process, you can read the article below to get them back.

Fix 3. Restart Your Mac in Safe Mode

Restarting the device in Mac Safe Mode is a great way to resolve the System Preferences not responding issue.

Here are the steps you need to follow for Intel-based Macs:

Step 1. Turn off the device.

Step 2. Press the power button and "Shift" key and hold them.

Step 3. When you come across the login window, release the keys.

For Apple silicon Macs, take a look at these steps:

Step 1. Turn off the device.

Step 2. Press the power button and hold it.

Step 3. Release it when you see the startup options window.

Step 4. Choose the Mac startup disk (Macintosh HD).

Step 5. Press the "Shift" key.

Step 6. Choose "Continue in Safe Mode".

Step 7. Release the key.

Now, you must check if System Preferences works in Safe Mode. If it does, restart the system and start using it.

Fix 4. Reinstall macOS

Lastly, you can reinstall macOS to see if it resolves the problem. Check out these steps you must follow:

Step 1. Enter the macOS Recovery Mode.

Step 2. Wait for the macOS Utilities window to appear.

Step 3. Select "Reinstall macOS".

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

It is essential to understand that reinstalling macOS may cause data loss. You must opt for professional data recovery software to regain that data. In that case, check out EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

The EaseUS data recovery Mac is a reliable data recovery tool supporting data recovery after the macOS update; for example, it can recover lost files after Monterey update.

Additionally, it supports recovering files after factory reset Mac, including recovery of audio, video, emails, documents, etc. Besides, the user-friendly interface makes the software an absolute favorite.

To quickly get your lost/deleted data back, check out these steps:

Step 1. Select the disk where you lost data after updating to macOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey. Then, click "Search for lost files".

Step 2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane. Use the file type and file path to find wanted data on Mac.

Step 3. Select the target files that were unknowingly lost during or after the update and click the "Recover" button to get them all back.

Prevention Tips of System Preferences Not Responding

While you cannot control on the system level, here are some general tips that will help you avoid the System Preferences not responding:

• Keep your macOS up to date.
• Restart your Mac occasionally.
• Close unnecessary applications.
• Check for software compatibility before installing any software.
• Remove unnecessary third-party preference panes.

Conclusion

Are you worried about the System Preferences not responding error? Well, this Mac error is easily fixable and comes with multiple solutions. You can restart Mac in Safe Mode or reinstall macOS. You can also delete the com.apple.systempreferences.plist file or force quit System Preferences.

However, you also need to consider that data loss might occur. The best solution is to choose EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. It is an excellent, easy-to-use data recovery software. You can use it to restore different types of data with ease.

System Preferences Not Responding FAQs

To learn more about System Preferences not responding error, browse through the questions and answers listed below:

1. Why does my Mac say System Settings and not System Preferences?

Your Mac says System Settings instead of System Preferences because Mac has changed macOS Ventura. Here, System Settings has been given a new name - System Preferences.

2. How to force quit System Preferences on Mac?

Here are the steps to force quit System Preferences on Mac:

Step 1. Go to the Apple icon and select the "Force Quit" option. You can also press the "Command + Option + Escape" keys.

Step 2. When the Force Quit Applications window opens, choose "System Preferences". Clicking on it will say that it is not responding.

Step 3. Wait for another pop-up window to appear. It will ask for confirmation. Click on the "Force Quit" option for confirmation.

3. How do I reset System Preferences on Mac?

To reset System Preferences on Mac, go to the Apple menu and select "System Preferences". Now, click on the "Erase All Content and Settings" option.

4. Why are System Preferences not working on Mac?

Multiple reasons can lead to System Preferences not working on Mac. These could be damaged PLIST files, out-of-date operating systems, and malware attacks. Other reason includes disk error, changing essential files, etc.