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“Preferences error. Could not load Security & Privacy pane”

when I click on system preferences and click on security & privacy, I get an error message saying:

“Preferences error. Could not load Security & Privacy pane”


I have searched other posts, and I have tried booting into safe mode, using multiple admin accounts, as well as restoring my preferences folder from a backup from before error occurred, all to no avail. I checked the console and got this message when I try to open the security pane:

### _currentPrefPaneInstance.mainView is NOT NSView com.apple.preference.security


this issue started after I downloaded a security update. I manually tested and all other panes in system preferences are working. I am running Sierra 10.12.6


Mac mini, macOS 10.12

Posted on Jun 18, 2019 7:37 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 19, 2019 7:56 AM

Do a backup, preferable 2 separate ones on 2 drives. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart). Run Disk Utility and select First Aid. Then re-install the OS.


Reinstall from macOS Recovery


OS X Recovery

1 reply

“Preferences error. Could not load Security & Privacy pane”

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