MacBook Air, 13-in, 2024
Apple M3
Memory 16 GB / 1 TB (588 GB available)
macOS Sequoia 15.4 (production)
I’m running NordVPN and point it at US servers (usually Seattle)
So far, I have:
deleted all associated files in ~/Library/Application Support and ~/Library/Preferences
Re-installed Sketchup 2025 from scratch
Rebooted my system in safe mode and performed steps 1 and 2
Created a new user on my system and repeated steps 1, 2, and 3.
When I launch a fresh install of SketchUp 2025, my OS verifies it and confirms I want to run it. Then it just hangs and requires force quitting it. I’ve let it sit for over an hour hoping it might sort itself out but it doesn’t.
Can anyone offer assistance in getting 2025 running?
Did you have a previous version of Sketchup that worked or is this the first time you’ve used Sketchup on this Macbook?
There are plenty of tech minded people that will probably offer better advice or let you know of theres an issue with Sequoia or the M3 but my first thought would be to disable Nord and see what happens?.
Yes, my 2023 app worked fine. Unfortunately, in doing all the steps to troubleshoot the 2025 issue, I deleted 2023 and no a fresh install won’t work either.
I turn off NordVPN but get the same results. I’m hesitant to uninstall it entirely. I use it extensively since I work from home in the Netherlands with my US clients.
Fixed my problem with 2023 by selecting “Open with Rosetta” in the get info window. Got 2025 working by changing my external monitor’s refresh rate from 120Hz to 60Hz. I’m not a griper but it has been a long time since I have encountered an app that doesn’t check this stuff upon launch and sort it out with the user with a warning. Just freezing is not a good outcome.
Thanks for laying out your setup and steps so clearly — super helpful! Based on what you’ve described, you’ve already covered many of the usual suspects for resolving SketchUp launch issues. Since it’s still hanging on launch even after a fresh install and user account, we’re likely dealing with a deeper compatibility or networking issue, especially with your macOS Sequoia 15.4 and VPN setup in the mix.
Let’s walk through a few next-level steps to troubleshoot this:
Check Console Logs During Launch
To pinpoint where it’s hanging:
Open Console.app (Applications > Utilities).
In the search bar, type SketchUp right before launching the app.
Try launching SketchUp, then watch for any errors, crashes, or “code signature” issues.
If you see any red errors or crash reports related to SketchUp, copy and share the first few lines, or let me know what you find.
Test Without VPN
Sometimes SketchUp does a license/authentication handshake on first launch that can hang behind VPN firewalls.
Quit NordVPN entirely (not just disconnect, but quit the app).
Reboot SketchUp.
If it launches now, we can whitelist it or use split tunneling for future use.
Try Terminal Launch (Get Crash Feedback)
Run SketchUp from Terminal to capture crash output:
Press Enter and see if anything appears when it tries to launch — this may give us direct error output (e.g., missing framework, denied permissions, etc.).
Reset Full Disk Access and Permissions
macOS may be silently denying a resource SketchUp needs.
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access
Add:
SketchUp
SketchUpWebHelper
Trimble Connect
Terminal (for testing)
Also go to Accessibility, Files & Folders, and Automation — and check all SketchUp-related items.
Then try launching again.
Rosetta 2 & Architecture Mismatch
SketchUp 2025 should be Apple Silicon native, but some dependencies might trigger Rosetta or fail if not properly linked.
Yes, I solved this by changing my monitor refresh from 120Hz to 60Hz. It seems silly that the app wouldn’t check for this sort of thing when it’s launched and throw up an error message. Just freezing isn’t really acceptable.
I found a Dell monitor at the office that does 120 Hz, and 144 Hz. I tried different settings, including matching the values for the U2724DE, and still no problem running SketchUp 2025.
