My Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro with macOS Sequoia 15.4 shuts down apps and logs out by itself

Question

My Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro with macOS Sequoia 15.4 shuts down apps and logs out by itself

Hello,

I am experiencing an ongoing problem with my Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro that is running MacOS Sequoia 15.4. The MacBook Pro regularly shuts down applications that are running (Apple Music is the one where this problem is made most evident) and logs itself, or something like that, and brings up the log in screen. All applications that have been open and/or running are shut down immediately when this occurs. When I look at the screen of the MacBook Pro it shows a screen of trees with the dialog boxes for user name and password. Also, it may be fully restarting because I cannot log in again via using the Touch ID button, I have to type the password into the log in dialog box. The MacBook Pro does not give any notice that this is going to occur. It does not make any sounds. It just summarily shuts all open and running apps down and brings up the log in screen.

This occurs most obviously with Apple Music: Apple Music is open and playing music from my library. At some point in time during Apple Music playing music it summarily shuts off. I notice this because all of a sudden the music stops. The timeframe for it turning off varies: it could be a few minutes or could be an hour or so after starting up Apple Music and playing music. However, this automatic summary shutting down of the applications occurs regularly and often. It may be that it now occurs all the time; however, that's hard to say because sometimes I shut down applications myself when down with them and sometimes shutdown the machine myself.

I have tried running software update to make sure the software is fully updated and current. I have tried shutting down the machine and restarting multiple times. Beyond these actions, I do not know what to do.

Does anyone else have this problem with an Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro running MacOS Sequoia 15.4?

Thank you,

Marc

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Apr 11, 2025 8:36 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

stauffermeister Author

Level 1

12 points

Apr 16, 2025 8:29 AM in response to den.thed

Hello den.thed;

Thanks for the recommendation on external drive(s). Makes good sense.

I'm starting with testing the Privacy & Security settings suggestion that leroydouglas offered up. I found the setting he describes. And found the computer was set to log out after a 60 minute period of "inactivity." I turned off that particular setting. And using the machine as I've done in the past to see if the issue remains or goes away. If making the Settings change doesn't resolve the issues, I'll move forward and try your suggestions.

Thank you,

Marc

Reply

Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

68,708 points

Apr 11, 2025 8:55 AM in response to stauffermeister

Run the third party app EtreCheck and post the complete report here so we can examine it for possible clues.

How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting an EtreCheck Report - Apple Community

Reply

Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

68,708 points

Apr 14, 2025 9:23 AM in response to stauffermeister

From stauffermeister's EtreCheck report :

2025-04-14 10:06:01 AdskLicensingService Crash (14979 times)

First occurrence: 2025-04-07 11:06:30

I would say this is a good place to start. I don't think I've ever seen anything crash into the thousands, much less over 10K. This appears to have something to do with Autodesk.

Reply

Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

91,012 points

Apr 14, 2025 8:59 AM in response to stauffermeister

Hmm.. I do not use MS produces on my Mac's, but I'm not seeing anything real bad going on there.

What are you using that older LaCie 1TB Porsche P'9221 Mobile Drive for...?

As a test, disconnect the LaCie from the MacBook Pro for a day or two.

If the shutdowns stop, then replace the LaCie drive with a new drive.

In addition to the LaCie drive, you could also be having a problem with the VIA Labs Hub.

Reply

Answer 5

Apr 22, 2025 6:16 AM in response to leroydouglas

Hello leroydouglas;

I changed the setting for log out automatically. Since doing so, the computer has not acted out with the same automatic log out / shut down apps behavior. So far so good.

Thank you for your suggestion and showing the steps in finding that setting.

Best,

Marc

Reply

Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

91,012 points

Apr 15, 2025 7:59 AM in response to stauffermeister

stauffermeister wrote:

I use the LaCie drive for storage of media (photos, movies, music) that are not on the hard drive.

I don't know what VIA Labs Hub is.

I'll try the test with LaCie drive you suggest. Makes sense. Thank you.

The best practice, is to use two external drives.

One drive for your photos, music, movie libraries and one to backup those libraries.

The VIA looked like a Hub in your report.

But it could just be the chip in the LaCie drive enclosure.

If you find that the LaCie external drive is causing the problem.

Then replace it with a new drive and copy everything to the new external drive.

Reply

Answer 7

Apr 14, 2025 9:00 AM in response to stauffermeister

Have you checked your Settings...

use the search feature

or >System Settings>Privacy&Security>Advanced make a change:

TouchID will not work if logged out— this is normal

There are a few instances where Touch ID will not be accepted by macOS:

• If you restarted your Mac, or if you're not logged into your user account.

• If you have not unlocked your Mac for 48 hours.

• If you are trying to unlock Security & Privacy

• If you are trying to unlock Users & Groups Settings (when FileVault is on)

• If 5 wrong fingerprint attempts

Use Touch ID on Mac

Use Touch ID on Mac - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 8

Apr 14, 2025 8:27 AM in response to HWTech

Hello HWtech,

A follow up note. Here is an EtreCheck report run with Full Disk Access selected. I had not figured out how to toggle that on for the previous report.

Thank you for your help.

Best, Marc

EtreCheck Report 2 - full disk access

Reply

Answer 9

Apr 15, 2025 7:23 AM in response to leroydouglas

Hello Leroy Douglas,

Thank you. I did not know about this setting.

Is the computer considered "inactivity" when apps that are open and operating - for instance the Music app is playing music then suddenly goes stops? I may not be at the keyboard doing any input into the computer while it is playing, but the computer is not "inactive."

Anyway, I'll try changing this Privacy & Security setting. Thanks for the insight and suggestion. And thanks for showing the way to find the setting!

Best,

Marc

Reply

Answer 10

Apr 15, 2025 7:27 AM in response to den.thed

Hello den.thed,

I use the LaCie drive for storage of media (photos, movies, music) that are not on the hard drive.

I don't know what VIA Labs Hub is.

I'll try the test with LaCie drive you suggest. Makes sense. Thank you.

Best,

Marc

Reply

Answer 11

Apr 15, 2025 7:30 AM in response to HWTech

Hello HWTech,

Thank you for your follow up as well.

I'm no longer using any Autodesk applications on this computer. I had used Autodesk applications on the BootCamp partition of the hard drive that runs Windows. I thought all the Autodesk stuff had been removed when those applications were removed.

Thank you,

Marc

Reply

Answer 12

Apr 22, 2025 7:09 AM in response to stauffermeister

stauffermeister wrote:

My Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro with macOS Sequoia 15.4 shuts down apps and logs out by itself

I changed the setting for log out automatically. Since doing so, the computer has not acted out with the same automatic log out / shut down apps behavior. So far so good.

Thank you for your suggestion and showing the steps in finding that setting.

Good computing stauffermeister ! Appreciate the feedback; this will help users searching the same issue.

Reply

Answer 13

Apr 14, 2025 7:01 AM in response to HWTech

Hello HWTech,

Thank you for your reponse and suggestion. I'll run EtreCheck and report back.

Best,

Marc

Reply

Answer 14