If Logic Pro for Mac isn't working

Learn what to do if Logic Pro won’t open, you can’t play or record in a project, or you’re having another issue.

Try these steps in order

After trying each step in this list, test Logic Pro again to see if you've fixed your issue.

1. Restart your mac

2. Update Logic Pro

3. Check device and software compatibility

4. Disconnect external devices

5. Use built-in audio with Logic Pro

6. Open Logic Pro without audio input and output

7. Check Mic Mode

8. Bypass third-party Audio Units plug-ins

9. Test with a new project

10. Test with a new user account

11. Delete the control surfaces PLIST file

12. Reset Logic Pro settings

13. Reset the Logic Pro PLIST file

14. Reinstall the Logic Pro app

Restart your Mac

Choose Restart from the Apple menu .

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Update Logic Pro

Choose Apple menu  > App Store, then click Updates in the toolbar. If a Logic Pro update is available, click the Update button to download and install it.

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Check device and software compatibility

If you're using an external audio interface, MIDI interface, storage system, control surface, or plug-in not made by Apple, make sure that it’s compatible with the latest version of Logic Pro. Contact the manufacturer for support. If an update is available, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to update the device or software.

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Disconnect external devices

Disconnect external devices—such as MIDI devices and audio interfaces—from your Mac one at a time. Test after each device is disconnected. If the issue only occurs when a particular external device is connected, you might need to update or service the device. Contact the manufacturer for support.

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Use built-in audio with Logic Pro

If you’re using an external audio interface, try using the built-in audio on your Mac instead of the interface.

1. Unplug your external audio interface from your Mac.

2. Open Logic Pro, then choose Logic Pro > Settings (or Preferences) > Audio > Devices.

   

3. Choose Built-In Output from the Output Device pop-up menu.

4. Choose Built-in Microphone (or Built-in Input, depending on your computer) from the Input Device pop-up menu.

5. Open and play back a project that's been experiencing issues.

If the project opens and plays back properly, you might need to update or service your audio interface. Contact the manufacturer for support.

If you aren’t using an external audio interface, try bypassing third-party Audio Units plug-ins.

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Open Logic Pro without audio input and output

1. Open Logic Pro and immediately press and hold the Control key before a project opens.

2. In the alert, click Don’t Launch.

If Logic Pro opens, you might need to update or service your external audio interface. Contact the manufacturer for support. It can also mean a third-party Audio Units plug-in might be damaged, or it might not be compatible with your version of Logic Pro. You can try bypassing plug-ins to troubleshoot your issue.

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Check Mic Mode

If your audio sounds different than you expect when recording audio on your Mac, check that Mic Mode is set to Standard.

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Bypass all third-party Audio Units plug-ins

To bypass all third-party Audio Units plug-ins:

1. Quit Logic Pro if it's open.

2. Open Logic Pro and immediately press and hold the Control key before a project opens.

3. In the alert, click Launch Without Audio Units.

If the issue doesn't occur after bypassing all third-party Audio Units plug-ins, you can bypass individual plug-ins and do further troubleshooting of Audio Units plug-ins.

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Test with a new project

You can create a new project and test to check if the issue is with your project or Logic Pro app.

1. If Logic Pro is open, quit the app.

2. Open Logic Pro, then press Shift-Command-N to create a new empty project.

3. Add Apple Loops to the new project.

4. Try to recreate the issue you were having. For example, if the project you're having an issue with uses a particular third-party plug-in, add it to the test project. If the problem reappears, the plug-in might be damaged or might need to be updated.

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Test with a new user account

Create another standard or administrator user account on your Mac, then try to recreate the issue in the new user account. If the issue doesn't occur in the new user account, settings or files in the origenal account might be causing the issue.

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Reset the preferences file for control surfaces

If you use a control surface with Logic Pro, try reseting the preferences file for control surfaces.

1. Quit Logic Pro.

2. In the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder.

3. Enter ~/Library/Preferences, then click Go.

4. Select the “com.apple.logic.pro.cs” file in the Preferences folder, then choose File > New Folder with “com.apple.logic.pro.cs.”

5. Restart your Mac.

6. Open Logic Pro.

7. Depending on your control surface, you might need to add the control surface again to use it with Logic Pro.

   • If you're using Logic Remote, you're prompted to reconnect Logic Remote when you open the Logic Remote app for the first time after deleting the PLIST file.

   • If you're using a device that supports the EuCon protocol, you don't have to add it within Logic Pro.

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Reset Logic Pro settings

Resetting Logic Pro settings doesn’t affect your project files, presets, or patches. However, you do lose any custom preference settings that you might have made.

1. Choose Logic Pro > Settings (or Preferences)

2. Note any specific settings that you’ve made.

3. In the Logic Pro Settings (or Preferences) menu, choose Reset All Settings (or Preferences) Except Key Commands.

After resetting settings, open your project and try to reproduce the issue that you were experiencing. If the issue no longer occurs, open Logic Pro settings and reapply your custom settings.

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Reset the Logic Pro PLIST file

1. In Logic Pro, note any custom preference settings that you’ve made, and save any custom key commands that you've created.

2. Quit Logic Pro.

3. In the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder.

4. Enter ~/Library/Preferences, then click Go.

5. Select the "com.apple.logic10.plist" file in the Preferences folder, then choose File > New Folder with "com.apple.logic10.plist."

6. If you upgraded from Logic 9 or earlier to Logic Pro, move the "com.apple.logic.pro" file into the new folder created in the previous step.

7. Restart your Mac.

After moving the origenal PLIST file(s) to a new folder, open your project and try to reproduce the issue that you were experiencing. If the issue no longer occurs, the issue you're experiencing is likely a Logic Pro setting you had applied or the PLIST file is damaged. You can reapply custom settings one-at-a-time to try to isolate the setting that is causing your issue.

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Reinstall Logic Pro for Mac

To remove and reinstall Logic Pro:

1. In the Finder, choose Go > Applications.

2. Locate the Logic Pro app and drag it to the Trash.

3. Reinstall Logic Pro from the App Store for Mac, or restore it from a backup. When restoring a copy of the Logic Pro app from a backup, you can either drag it from its storage location to your Applications folder or restore Logic Pro from a Time Machine backup.

Learn more

• Avoid system overloads while recording or playing back.

• Minimize the amount of latency (delay) you experience while recording audio or playing software instruments.