# macOS processing unable to start "we're off on the wrong foot"-Solved

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Created:** [December 17, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464 "2019-12-17T02:33:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![niuuin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/niuuin/32/7517_2.png) [@niuuin](https://discourse.processing.org/u/niuuin)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464/1 "2019-12-17T02:33:03Z")

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I have been using it normally before, but suddenly something went wrong yesterday. I checked a lot of previous topics, but still can’t solve this problem.I don’t understand deeper principles, but I haven’t found a solution for a long time. Hope you all help me, thank you very much.

 ![processing-error](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/4/4651ea2ce816f0f3e60d757c818c004cbd348fd6.png)  
**Environment**  
Processing 3.5.3  
macOS Catalina 10.15.2

**solved：**  
I found the solution!  
[Processing won’t start up(using OSX Mavericks](https://forum.processing.org/two/discussion/1218/processing-won-t-start-up-using-osx-mavericks),Many thanks to the author of this article.  
Solutions (macOS)

1. Open Finder and execute shift + cmd + G, type `~/Library/Application Support` ,click ok.
2. find the “processing” folder here and delete it.
3. finally download and start the latest processing

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**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 8:49am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464/2 "2019-12-17T08:49:58Z")

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thank you for reporting,  
may i ask back ( i do not have that hardware/OS )  
is?

```auto
~/Library/Application Support/Processing

```

the macOS folder what holds

```auto
preferences.txt

```

? so it would be comparable to ( what i call **processing system folder** )

```auto
c:\Users\ < User > \AppData\Roaming\Processing\

```

for windows?  
or

```auto
/home/pi/.processing

```

for Raspberry Pi.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![niuuin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/niuuin/32/7517_2.png) [@niuuin](https://discourse.processing.org/u/niuuin)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 8:59am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464/3 "2019-12-17T08:59:00Z")

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Sorry, I did n’t indicate macOS in the “solution”.  
At present, I only encountered a problem on macOS, so I do n’t know how to solve it on the window system.  
I think the core of the problem is the errors in the file `preferences.txt` .

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**Author:** ![PeterMc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eb9ed0/32.png) [@PeterMc](https://discourse.processing.org/u/PeterMc)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 3:41am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464/4 "2020-02-08T03:41:54Z")

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I just upgraded to Catalina OS X 10.15.3 and Processing Crashes. Followed instructions above and couldn’t find a folder called Processing in Application support. Tried installing Processing a few times (out of desperation) and crash crash crash. Any ideas?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![niuuin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/niuuin/32/7517_2.png) [@niuuin](https://discourse.processing.org/u/niuuin)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 5:35am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464/6 "2020-02-14T05:35:09Z")

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In this case, reinstallation really doesn’t work.

Try this:  
1.global search for “Processing” (there should be multiple files with the same name);  
2.turn it on and see if there is “preferences.txt” inside;  
3.locate preferences.txt, then delete;  
4.re-open processing (it should open normally at this time);

When you reopen processing, you automatically recreate preferents.txt in the installation directory.  
I hope I can solve your problem.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PeterMc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eb9ed0/32.png) [@PeterMc](https://discourse.processing.org/u/PeterMc)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/macos-processing-unable-to-start-were-off-on-the-wrong-foot-solved/16464/7 "2020-02-15T05:49:09Z")

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Niuuin

Thanks for your response (yes I do realise reinstallation shouldn’t work but …) anywayit started to work after several reboots of the os - this is weird behaviour.

Pic