WoW: Forever Beta freezes entire Mac when entering the world — MacBook Air M4, macOS 26.6.2

Support Bug Report
1

Hello Blizzard Support,

The WoW: Forever beta client launches, but attempting to enter the game world causes my entire Mac to freeze.

The system becomes completely unresponsive. I have to hold down the power button to force the Mac to shut down, then turn it back on.

System specifications:

  • MacBook Air, 13-inch, 2025
  • Apple M4
  • 24 GB unified memory
  • macOS Tahoe 26.6.2

Steps to reproduce:

  1. Launch the WoW: Forever beta.
  2. Log in and reach the character selection screen.
  3. Select a character and click “Enter World”.
  4. The entire system freezes while attempting to load the world.

Expected result:
The character loads into the game world and macOS remains responsive.

Actual result:
The entire computer becomes unresponsive, requiring a forced shutdown using the power button.

Other Mac users reported similar symptoms in this forum thread, which now appears to be unavailable:
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/macos-beta-client-crashes-entire-system-upon-entering-world/2352624

Is this a known issue with the macOS beta client? Is there a confirmed workaround or a planned fix?

Please let me know which diagnostic logs or crash reports would help investigate this issue and how to submit them.

Thank you.

Update: macOS diagnostic report available

I obtained a macOS hang report with the following details:

  • WoW: Forever Beta version: 1.60.1 (build 69893), native arm64.

  • macOS: Tahoe 26.6.2 (build 25G83).

  • Report timestamp: September 17, 2026, 18:59:54–19:00:16 (UTC−3).

  • Event: hang, with a recorded duration of 22.41 seconds.

  • The main thread was blocked in __ulock_wait, waiting for another WoW thread: 0x20c1, named “ThreadPool Low 2”.

  • ThermalPressure was 0.

  • Display setup: built-in Retina display plus an external ARZOPA monitor.

This file is an application hang report, not a kernel panic report, so it does not establish the cause of the full-system freeze. It was captured approximately 48 seconds after boot; I cannot yet confirm whether it captures the original freeze or a subsequent hang after restarting.

I can provide the full diagnostic report through an appropriate support channel if needed.

182 Likes
Mac client crashing wow: forever
GPU command-queue deadlock in IOGPUFamily (Apple M5 Max, macOS 26.6.2)
[Mac] 7 different graphics bugs, each isolated to one setting — with repro steps for each
2

Same – M3 Pro Max

12 Likes
3

Same issue here. Mac Studio M4 Max. Still running Sequoia.

12 Likes
4

M5 Pro 48gb Ram here and same problem.

11 Likes
5

Same , M4 Pro , 32GB Ram Tahoe 26.6.2

7 Likes
6

M5 Max 48gb Tahoe 26.6.2

6 Likes
7

I’m having this issue as well on M2 Pro macbook pro. Putting most graphics settings to minimum allows you to enter the game, and then you can adjust your settings back in game.

6 Likes
8

I could get in at graphic settings set to 1. I could increase them to 2. It would crash at 3 or beyond.

6 Likes
9

I have the same issue, will try the minimum graphics adjustment and report back!

Apple M4 Mini
16 GB Ram
MacOS 26.5.2

3 Likes
10

Same issue. M4 pro MacBook Pro, 24 GB

1 Like
11

thanks this worked for me! <3

12

Same issue. M4 Mac Mini running Tahoe 26.5.1. 16GB Ram, wow installed on external SSD

13

Yeah, having the same issue, I get to enter world and it shows full load bar and then completely seizes my Mac mini M4 up and I’m forced to hard restart it to get it responding again.

6 Likes
14

Rolled the graphics down to nil, same issue - with skyborne, just loading screen. With human rogue, loading screen but the opening cinematic in the background.

m5 16gb Tahoe 26.5.1

5 Likes
15

same issue. mac studio M4 36gb ram. can’t get past loading screen after character selection. has frozen my mac to the point of restart 3 times. tried lowering graphics settings to 5 per discussion above and still froze.

2 Likes
16

Same here. Apple M1 Pro. OS 15.3.2 (24D81)

4 Likes
17

@Kaivax I have an update that may help the team investigate this issue.

On my MacBook Air M4 (24 GB RAM, macOS Tahoe 26.6.2), lowering the graphics settings to minimum allowed me to enter the world and play. However, after I increased the graphics settings, the game crashed again.

This suggests the issue is affected by graphics settings, although I have not isolated which specific option triggers it. Minimum settings allowed me to play during this attempt, but I cannot confirm long-term stability.

Other Mac users are adding similar reports to this thread. Could you please flag this to the WoW: Forever beta team and confirm whether it is being investigated?

I have a macOS diagnostic report available and can provide it if the team specifies how to submit it.

Thank you.

17 Likes
18

Same issues for me too as every one else, M4 2024 Mac Mini

2 Likes
19

Same 2023 M3 MAX 14" w/ studio display

1 Like
20

I was able to log in at minimum graphics. I then incrementally increased all settings from fair → high → ultra etc.

The only one that cause my game to immediately crash (and crash the entire system, not just WoW) was turning on Secondary Lighting. Otherwise everything else at max runs fine. Leaving it at Fair runs fine

Macbook Pro 16" M5 Pro

8 Likes
WoW Forever Beta Issue (Mac OS)