Re: Unable to save Pd files on macOS 13, options exhausted.

Which version of macOS specifically and which version of Pd?

You could try clearing the preferences in Terminal, in case a bad path etc is the issue:

1. If you want to keep a copy, you can export the current values to plist files in the current dir

defaults export org.puredata.pd pd-preferences-bck.plist
defaults export org.puredata.pd.pd-gui pd-gui-preferences-bak.plist

2. Delete current preferences

defaults delete org.puredata.pd
defaults delete org.puredata.pd.pd-gui

3. Try opening Pd, see what happens

4. Import backups, if you decided to make them

defaults import org.puredata.pd pd-preferences-bck.plist
defaults import org.puredata.pd.pd-gui pd-gui-preferences-bak.plist

If clearing the preferences fixies the issue, if you have time, try importing the old preferences one at a time and see which one causes the issue. Making sure to clear both domains between each step. 

> On Mar 24, 2026, at 10:36 PM, nadalefadli--- via Pd-list <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> hi, using pd for a MIDI composition course, and i'm having some serious issues. not very knowledgeable about coding in general so forgive any bad terminology. 
> i downloaded Pd for macOS in fall 2025, have been using it fine(had some trouble finding where the files/app itself were stored), but today something went wrong. i opened a new patch, followed a tutorial, and tried to save so i could refer to it later, and when the save window comes up, the app completely froze. I could only force quit and try again. And again. Same problem. 
> screenshot attached here. Not only could i not hit save, the i couldn't exit, cancel, change destinations, etc. 
> https://drive.proton.me/urls/356YFS65NC#6TKmpWaRFZpN
> 
> so far i have tried: 
> – changing the permissions for both the dmg drive, and the app itself. permissions were locked, and i can't figure out why. 
> – going into the terminal and entering commands as recommended by a reddit comment from 5 years ago. this changed nothing, so i assume they are out of date or for a different version. also very possible that i screwed it up.
> – moving the application to the documents folder(where i'd previously saved pd files), then ejecting the dmg. no luck. 
> – finally, i deleted the app(and the duplicate i had somewhere for some reason), and redownloaded it from the website. still had the same exact issue. 
> 
> my creative solution for now is to duplicate existing files and erase the patch. please let me know if i am missing anything here. Thanks.
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--------
Dan Wilcox
danomatika.com <http://danomatika.com/>
robotcowboy.com <http://robotcowboy.com/>

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