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 (Neutral)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Five Things to Expect From Apple's 'Awe Dropping' September 9 Event

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today announced its "Awe Dropping" iPhone-centric event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a long list of products that are coming, but we thought we'd pull out five feature highlights to look forward to. That Super Thin iPhone - Apple's September 9 event will see the unveiling of the first redesigned iPhone we've had in years, ...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Apple Event Logo Hints at Two iPhone 17 Pro Features

Wednesday August 27, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
Apple's logo for its upcoming September 9 event hints at two rumored iPhone 17 Pro features, including new color options and a vapor chamber cooling system. Of course, this is all just speculation for fun, as we count down the final days until the event. New Colors Last month, Macworld's Filipe Espósito reported that orange and dark blue would be two out of the five color options...
Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Antenna Design

Two All-New iPhone 17 Colors Seemingly Confirmed

Monday August 25, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple will offer the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in a new orange color, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman made the claim in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, adding that the new iPhone 17 Air – replacing the iPhone 16 Plus – will come in a new light blue color. We've heard multiple rumors about a new iPhone 17 Pro color being a shade of orange. The ...
crossbody strap

iPhone 17's 'Crossbody Strap' Accessory to Feature Magnetic Design

Thursday August 28, 2025 7:49 am PDT by
Apple's cases for the iPhone 17 lineup will be accompanied by a new Crossbody Strap accessory with a unique magnetic design, according to the leaker known as "Majin Bu." Apple's Crossbody Strap reportedly features an unusual magnetic design; it likely has a "flexible metal core" that makes it magnetic along its entire length. At the ends, "rings polarized oppositely to the strap close the...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3: Four Key Design Changes Anticipated

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:05 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022 other than a shift from Lightning to USB-C, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will launch AirPods Pro 3 later this year, and apart from new features like heart rate monitoring, we're also expecting a few design changes. The fourth‑generation AirPods offer useful clues to Apple's design cues for ...

Top Rated Comments

terencedriver Avatar
135 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)
AnsonX10 Avatar
135 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
135 months ago
I look forward to maybe using Yosemite someday.

If they ever finish it...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goodcow Avatar
135 months ago
Can a software engineer explain how viewing certain large JPEGs could cause a kernel panic?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
estorstenson Avatar
135 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)
Sunday Ironfoot Avatar
135 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)