Apple Releases iMac Graphics Update to Fix JPEG Freezing Issue on OS X Yosemite - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Releases iMac Graphics Update to Fix JPEG Freezing Issue on OS X Yosemite

Apple today released an iMac Graphics Update for users of the more recent iMacs, fixing an issue that caused the computers to freeze up after viewing very large JPEG Files.

Affected iMacs include the late 2014 27-inch Retina iMac, the late 2013 21.5-inch iMac, and the late 2013 27-inch iMac.

imacgraphicsupdate
Apple has also released an accompanying support document that describes the issue in more detail, suggesting the problem occurs when opening a large JPEG image in Finder or Preview on OS X Yosemite 10.10.3.

If you're using using OS X Yosemite v10.10.3 and one of the following iMac models, viewing certain very large JPEG (.jpg) images in the Finder or Preview can cause your iMac to briefly stop responding, display a black screen, and restart to a message that your computer restarted because of a problem.

People who own one of these three iMacs are encouraged to update their machines right away to fix the bug.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

Apple Says macOS 27 Won't Be Compatible With These Macs

Wednesday June 3, 2026 8:29 am PDT by
During WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe would be the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. macOS 27 will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, meaning that you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. Apple will unveil macOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote this Monday, June 8, and the...
MacBook Neo on Yellow Feature

MacBook Neo is So Popular That Apple Reportedly Doubled Production

Wednesday June 3, 2026 9:24 am PDT by
On an earnings call in late April, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said that customer response to the MacBook Neo was "off the charts," and the popularity of the laptop has reportedly led the company to significantly boost production. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week said he believes that MacBook Neo shipments to Apple were doubled from an initial target of 5 million units to 10...
iphone 18 pro blue%402x

iPhone 18 Pro: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, and Dark Gray Chassis Leaked [Update]

Thursday June 4, 2026 5:18 am PDT by
Update: Since publication, new information has come to light suggesting the images have been AI-manipulated and are not in fact iPhone 18 Pro chassis parts. The original article follows. The color options Apple is reportedly planning for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max have appeared online today in the form of images of chassis parts of unknown authenticity....

Top Rated Comments

145 months ago
Can a software engineer explain how viewing certain large JPEGs could cause a kernel panic?

It's the kernel process that tells the authorities which jpegs you're looking at. ;)

----------

Seriously though.. It would be good to know what apple includes in its regression tests.

We can work out that WiFi certainly isn't.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
145 months ago
I'm surprised Apple didn't just disable JPEG functionality. After all, they are pretty old and primitive.

The audacity of something as primitive as a JPEG to bring down such a noble and stable OS as Yosemite...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThunderSkunk Avatar
145 months ago
I look forward to maybe using Yosemite someday.

If they ever finish it...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
145 months ago
Can a software engineer explain how viewing certain large JPEGs could cause a kernel panic?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
145 months ago
Can a software engineer explain how viewing certain large JPEGs could cause a kernel panic?

My guess is that there was a bug in the hardware acceleration code that displayed it. That stuff is pretty low level, and if it gets screwed up, it could do stuff like that. Maybe the chips in those newer machines were more sensitive to errors than the older ones.

I had this happen to me a few times. It almost felt like I was using windows again...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
145 months ago
It happens to my 5k iMac, the genius changed the logic board two times.. but the problem still appear.... download this jpg to desktop and quick view or open it in preview, the iMac will freeze, black screen, trigger kernel panic and restart. Big image over 9000 with 4000 (http://40af8d963e39c6d7dafd-1483642509b9ae1e4ba0c984bc0efda5.r29.cf1.rackcdn.com/bigfiles.jpg)

Wow! That actually worked, as in it crashed my iMac :D

Install the update, now I can open it fine.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)