Photolab doesn't start on Tahoe (26.0.1)

DxO PhotoLab macOS topics
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Hi all,
I’ve got a Mac with 64GB Ram and M2. I’ve installed Photolab but it doesn’t start. The Splash Screen appears, it seems to start and than the Splash disappears and nothing else happens. No error, no message, just nothing. Here is a video what happens:

I’ve reinstalled it several times, I even restarted the Mac, and I’ve also tested if the NIK collection and other software works but everything is normal and works as expected. The only software that doesn’t start is Photolab.

And has anybody an idea how to solve it? I’ve already informed the DXO support but it seems, that they are not able to help.

Thanks in advance
Items :slight_smile:

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I tried Tahoe and uninstalled it after less than an hour when it wouldn’t even show the information on a folder when right-clicking. Also, I absolutely detest the look and feel.

2 Likes
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Welcome to the forum @items

I had PL9 run on Tahoe and according to DxO’s support matrix, it should.

Whatever the issue is in your installation, I propose to do the following:

  1. Trash the PhotoLab app
  2. Re-download the installer from your account on shop.dxo.com
  3. Re-install PhotoLab by dragging it to the Applications folder
  4. Try again…and if it doesn’t work
  5. Check macOS security settings. Get back here if you don’t know how.
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Thanks playtypus! I did that again and have also opened the security settings. Nothing changed, do you have any hints, what to do in the settings? I’ve enabled “Full Disk Access” but that changed nothing.

I’ve just checked it on my Macbook with Tahoe running and got the same result. The splash starts but nothing else happens. So maybe I have to set a value in the settings but I have no idea what, because there is no hint.

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I have PL 9 running on Tahoe 26.0.1 and did nothing special to do it.

Sometimes preference files can get corrupted and cause odd behaviour. I’ve used the app AppCleaner for years to delete programs. It dives deep and deletes not only the program, but all of its files scattered around.

Maybe that would help?

1 Like
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Thanks Bob! I also use a tool like that (Pearcleaner, which does the same) and that doesn’ seem to cause the trouble. Normally I would expect it to be a local problem on my Mac Studio. But now I experience the same on my Macbook Pro (M3). So it seems to be a general problem. But it is difficult to explore, because no error or anything else pops up.

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It might be worth creating a new user account to see if the error also occurs under the new account.

I know you say that the problem occurs on both of your Macs. But it could be that you have made the same (error-causing) settings on both devices.

It would be useful to try this to find the cause.

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I tested again on M1 MacBook Air running Sequoia

  1. Added a volume
  2. Installed Sequoia on it and migrated content from the previous volume
  3. Updated to Tahoe 6.0.1
  4. Started PhotoLab 9.1.1 build 26, no issue
    Bildschirmfoto 2025-10-15 um 01.14.42
    Bildschirmfoto 2025-10-15 um 01.14.421920×1200 123 KB
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It works :slight_smile:
So thanks a lot for your patience and support!

I’ve followed Manfred’s advice :+1: created a new user and PL started up without trouble!

After that, I logged in with my standard account and Photolab refused to start again. After that I’ve closed all open programs but without success.

Then I’ve closed all helper apps like Bartender, Clean Shot etc. in the menubar and applause Photolab started.
So I went slowly though program after program (and I’ve got a lot of those apps) and figured out, that Swift Quit was the guilty one.
I have no idea why, but it seems that this little helper thought that Photolab has to be closed directly after the startup and after adding Photolab as an exception to Swift Quits list everything works fine and so far I’m very impressed.

So thanks again for your support (in particular playtypus for his effort) and have a nice day​:wave::slightly_smiling_face:

3 Likes
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Joanna, here is a link to restore previous look and feel of macOS.

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Hi there. Thanks but no thanks. There are still bits that look awful. What’s more, things like not being able to get information on some folders in Finder means there is something deeper at fault. I’ll leave upgrading until I really have to.

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@Joanna I did the same thing as you did. Though I tried to “like it” for a whole week instead of just an hour. In the end, it’s a buggy mess as well as ugly. I’ve never seen something like this come out of Apple before! Scared for their future…