iTunes loses its app menu bar in non-fullscreen mode

Originator:richardwatt
Number:rdar://22212588 Date Originated:10-Aug-2015
Status:Open Resolved:
Product:OS X Product Version:
Classification: Reproducible:Yes
 
Summary:
The app which had previously been in focus before iTunes will display its name (e.g., Chrome) in the menu bar with menus that do not drop down. iTunes will not display its menu bar.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open iTunes.
2. Use the app.
3. Make another application have focus, such as Safari or Chrome.
4. Go back to iTunes.
5. Usually the iTunes app menu bar will show the app name (e.g., Chrome) of the previously used app. If I try to click a menu item nothing drops down.
6. Quit iTunes and re-open it to get its app menu bar back.

Expected Results:
Beginning at step 4 I expect to be able to see the iTunes app menu bar at the top of the screen.

Actual Results:
The app which had previously been in focus before iTunes will display its name (e.g., Chrome) in the menu bar with menus that do not drop down.

Version:
OS X 10.10.4 (14E46)

Notes:
This has been happening to me going back to previous OS X versions (Mavericks, Mountain Lion) across multiple versions of iTunes. It's not always reproducible, but it finally got on my nerves enough to submit a bug report.

I've attached a video showing it in action. If it doesn't come through, you can view it here:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1156878/itunes_loses_menu.mov

Configuration:
Running a standard OS X 10.10.4 (14E46) build on a MacBookPro9,1. Current iTunes version I experience this on is 12.2.1.

Attachments:
'itunes_loses_menu.mov' was successfully uploaded.

Comments

Richard Watt 30-Sep-2015 11:52 AM

I've found a way to recreate the problem. By the way, I'm now running OS X 10.11 GM (15A282a) on the same computer and it still has the problem.

If I quickly launch iTunes and then the Mac App Store together, by clicking on their dock icons, I can force iTunes to lose its menu. I can only get it back by either quitting the Mac App Store or quitting iTunes and re-launching it.

Steps to Reproduce: 1. Launch iTunes from dock icon with mouse click. 2. Quickly launch the Mac App Store from the dock with a mouse click. 3. Go to iTunes and notice menu will not show, but rather shows the Mac App Store name.

By richardwatt at April 4, 2016, 2:06 a.m. (reply...)

Richard Watt 28-Aug-2015 02:40 PM

I wish I could have a better explanation of what causes it, but I can never seem to recreate it on command. However, it has happened twice in the past 24 hours and I ran sysdiagnose immediately after noticing it both times. Hopefully it can shed some light.

First occurrence happened before running sysdiagnose_2015.08.27_18-05-49-0500.tar.gz. I had brought iTunes back into focus, performed a USB iPhone 6+ sync, then performed an iTunes backup. While the backup ran, I browsed in Google Chrome and opened Mail.app. When I went back to iTunes, the problem was there. I quit iTunes and tried performing the same steps that I just listed, but couldn't get the problem to come back.

Second occurrence happened before running sysdiagnose_2015.08.28_10-09-35-0500.tar.gz. I had just woken my MacBook Pro after arriving at work. I opened iTunes and the App Store. I switched spaces to use an already open full-screen app (Reeder) and switched back to my main desktop. That's when I noticed the problem was happening. Once again, I quit iTunes and tried performing the similar set of steps, but could not get the problem to return.

'sysdiagnose_2015.08.27_18-05-49-0500.tar.gz' and 'sysdiagnose_2015.08.28_10-09-35-0500.tar.gz' were successfully uploaded.

By richardwatt at April 4, 2016, 2:06 a.m. (reply...)

Apple Developer Relations19-Aug-2015 10:56 AM

Please provide sysdiagnose output from the affected system(s). Please collect this either while the issue is occurring, or as soon after as possible (for example, take it after a reboot if necessary).

Please let us know what you were doing that caused the issue, so we can correlate your actions with the diagnostic output in sysdiagnose. Please try to focus on one or two actions that cause an issue. If you perform many different actions, it will be difficult for us to determine which action caused the sysdiagnose output.

More on running sysdiagnose:

  1. Launch Terminal.app
  2. Enter this command: sudo sysdiagnose
  3. Enter your admin password
  4. When sysdiagnose has completed (may take several minutes), locate the new sysdiagnose file in /var/tmp or /private/var/tmp. Upload that file.

An alternative approach uses a key command:

  1. Press Shift-Control-Option-Command-Period when the issue reproduces
  2. Wait for a few minutes (you can release the keys).
  3. When sysdiagnose has completed (may take several minutes), locate the new sysdiagnose file in /var/tmp or /private/var/tmp. Upload that file.
By richardwatt at April 4, 2016, 2:05 a.m. (reply...)

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