If Stremio 5.1.26 crashes every time it opens normally on an Intel Mac with an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M, start it hidden first and open the window after initialization. This is the only workaround reported to work reliably for this specific startup crash; reinstalling Stremio or choosing Reopen or Don't Reopen in macOS does not resolve the reported case.
What this Stremio crash looks like
The problem occurs before the Stremio interface appears and before playback starts. macOS displays a message similar to:
The last time you opened Stremio, it unexpectedly quit while reopening windows. Do you want to try to reopen its windows again?
Selecting either option leads to another crash. The affected report involved:
- Stremio 5.1.26 Intel build
- MacBookPro16,1, a 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro
- AMD Radeon Pro 5300M
- macOS 26.5.2
EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGSEGV)in the startup rendering path
Your hardware or macOS version may differ, so this diagnosis should not be treated as a universal explanation for every macOS crash.
1. Start Stremio hidden, then show its window
The reported workaround delays window and renderer initialization. It does not reinstall the app, delete your account, or remove addons.
- Close Stremio if it is still running.
- Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
- Paste the following commands:
open -na /Applications/Stremio.app --args --start-hidden
sleep 2
open -na /Applications/Stremio.app
- Press Return if Terminal does not run the pasted command automatically.
- Wait briefly for Stremio to finish initializing, then check whether its main window appears.
The sleep 2 delay is part of the reported workaround. If the window does not appear, wait a little longer before trying to open Stremio again rather than repeatedly launching it normally.
This workaround was reported as reliable for the affected Mac, but it is not confirmed as an official Stremio fix. If the application path on your Mac is different, do not guess at system commands; use the actual location of your Stremio application or ask for help in the Stremio issue tracker.
2. Avoid the macOS window-reopening choice
When macOS asks whether to reopen Stremio’s windows, Reopen and Don't Reopen are both safe choices, but neither fixes the rendering crash described here. The failure happens during application startup rather than because of one particular saved window.
After Stremio closes unexpectedly, use the hidden-start command above instead of repeatedly launching it from Finder or the Dock. Repeated normal launches can make the same crash dialog appear again without providing additional information.
3. Check whether the crash is the same rendering issue
Open Console on macOS and look under Crash Reports, or open the crash report offered by macOS after Stremio quits. Look for these indicators:
| Indicator | What it suggests |
|---|---|
EXC_BAD_ACCESS or SIGSEGV |
An invalid memory access caused the application to terminate |
macos_edr or query_screen_edr |
The crash occurred while Stremio queried or initialized display rendering features |
mpv-render or libmpv |
The media-rendering component was active during startup |
| AMD OpenGL/graphics-driver frames | The crash may involve the Mac’s AMD rendering path |
These entries help distinguish this report from a crash caused by an addon, stream, or playback format. A crash before the interface opens is not evidence that a particular community addon caused the problem. Community addons are independently operated and are separate from Stremio’s desktop application.
Do not remove personal data from the report if you are submitting it to Stremio support, but avoid publishing unrelated private information. The Stremio version, Mac model, macOS version, graphics hardware, exception type, and relevant stack frames are the most useful details.
4. Try the low-risk checks
Before changing application data, perform these non-destructive checks:
- Restart the Mac completely, then try the hidden-start workaround again.
- Disconnect a secondary display or dock temporarily if one is attached.
- If you use multiple displays, launch with only the built-in display active and test again.
- Make sure macOS has finished installing any pending system update, then restart.
- Confirm that you installed the Intel build appropriate for the reported Mac rather than assuming a different architecture will solve the issue.
These checks are diagnostic, not confirmed fixes for Stremio 5.1.26. The reported case continued after the saved window position was reset, so moving the window back to the primary display may not be enough.
5. Do not expect reinstalling or deleting preferences to fix this case
Reinstalling the same Stremio 5.1.26 Intel build did not resolve the reported crash. Deleting the com.westbridge.stremio5-mac preferences and resetting the saved window frame also did not resolve it. The report further indicated that the streaming-server data, account, library, and addons were not required to reproduce the failure.
You can still use preference removal as a diagnostic step if Stremio starts hidden but behaves incorrectly afterward. However, back up anything important first, and do not delete application data as a first response when the crash occurs before the UI loads. Removing data can sign you out or reset local settings without addressing a graphics initialization fault.
What worked for affected users
The affected GitHub report identified this sequence as a confirmed workaround for that machine:
open -na /Applications/Stremio.app --args --start-hidden
sleep 2
open -na /Applications/Stremio.app
Starting Stremio without its visible window allowed initialization to complete; opening the window afterward did not produce another reported crash. The reporter described this as reliable on the affected Mac, but it remains a community-reported workaround rather than a guarantee for all Intel Macs, Radeon GPUs, or macOS releases.
The crash metadata consistently pointed to the macos_edr/libmpv rendering path and AMD graphics-driver frames. That pattern suggests a startup ordering or renderer initialization problem, but the report does not prove the exact root cause. A future Stremio or macOS update may change the behavior, so test the normal launch again after updating and keep the workaround available if the crash returns.
If Stremio still crashes
If hidden startup does not help, record the following before trying destructive resets:
- Stremio version and whether it is the Intel build
- Mac model and graphics hardware
- macOS version
- Whether a secondary display, dock, or adapter is connected
- Whether the crash occurs before the Stremio window appears
- The exception type and the first Stremio rendering-related stack frames
Submit those details through Stremio’s official support or bug-report channel. Mention that you tested hidden startup, whether the delay was sufficient, and whether disconnecting external displays changed the result. Do not assume that reinstalling the same version will provide new diagnostic information.
FAQ
Can I fix this by selecting “Don't Reopen”?
Not according to the affected report. Both macOS choices led to another normal-launch crash.
Is this caused by a video, stream, or addon?
The reported crash happened before playback and before interacting with the UI. That makes a specific video or addon less likely in this case, although it does not diagnose every Stremio crash.
Is the hidden-start command permanent?
No. It is a launch workaround that must be repeated unless you create your own launcher. Do not create an automatic launcher until you have confirmed the command works safely on your Mac.
Last reviewed: August 17, 2026