How do I fix "Pixelmator Pro Keeps Crashing or Quitting Unexpectedly"?

1. Restart and update: Choose Apple menu > Restart Open the App Store and install any Pixelmator Pro update Check Apple menu > About This Mac and update macOS if you're behind 2. Test with a fresh document: Choose File > New and pick Basic Square Post from the Basic templates Export it with File > Export as PNG and reopen it If that works, the original file is probably damaged. Get a fresh copy 3. Reset Pixelmator Pro: Quit Pixelmator Pro In Finder choose Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Containers Move every folder named Pixelmator Pro to the Trash, then relaunch 4. Reset presets and preferences (last resort): Export any custom brushes, shapes and presets first Go to ~/Library/Group Containers and delete the 4R6749AYRE.com.pixelmator folder Relaunch and re-import your presets 5. Rule out third-party software: Disconnect external devices except keyboard and mouse Create a new admin user account and try to reproduce the crash there If it doesn't crash there, remove recently added utilities or plug-ins from your main account 6. Reinstall and report: Drag Pixelmator Pro from Applications to the Trash and reinstall from the App Store If it still crashes, find the crash report in Console > Crash Reports (entries starting with 'Pixelmator Pro') and send it to Apple Support

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Pixelmator Pro Keeps Crashing or Quitting Unexpectedly

Workaround available macOS Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Crashes usually come from an outdated app or macOS, corrupted settings or cache, or a damaged file. Updating, then resetting the app by deleting its Containers folder, fixes most cases.

Most likely fix: Restart and update.

Symptoms

Pixelmator Pro quits without warning while you edit, freezes and has to be force-quit, or crashes as soon as it opens or loads a particular image.

Why it happens

Old Pixelmator Pro version with known crash bugs (several 3.x updates fixed crashes)
Corrupted tool settings, cache or document data
A damaged or unsupported source file
Incompatible third-party extensions, plug-ins or security software
Older Mac GPU or out-of-date macOS

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. Restart and update
1. Choose Apple menu > Restart
2. Open the App Store and install any Pixelmator Pro update
3. Check Apple menu > About This Mac and update macOS if you're behind
2. Test with a fresh document
1. Choose File > New and pick Basic Square Post from the Basic templates
2. Export it with File > Export as PNG and reopen it
3. If that works, the original file is probably damaged. Get a fresh copy
3. Reset Pixelmator Pro
1. Quit Pixelmator Pro
2. In Finder choose Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Containers
3. Move every folder named Pixelmator Pro to the Trash, then relaunch
4. Reset presets and preferences (last resort)
1. Export any custom brushes, shapes and presets first
2. Go to ~/Library/Group Containers and delete the 4R6749AYRE.com.pixelmator folder
3. Relaunch and re-import your presets
5. Rule out third-party software
1. Disconnect external devices except keyboard and mouse
2. Create a new admin user account and try to reproduce the crash there
3. If it doesn't crash there, remove recently added utilities or plug-ins from your main account
6. Reinstall and report
1. Drag Pixelmator Pro from Applications to the Trash and reinstall from the App Store
2. If it still crashes, find the crash report in Console > Crash Reports (entries starting with 'Pixelmator Pro') and send it to Apple Support

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