AFNI and SUMA GUI are black after macOS Tahoe update

fmrihead · October 9, 2025, 1:49pm

Hello,

I'm facing the following issue - when I open AFNI and try to load anything for an overlay, everything blackens and the entire GUI is overlaid with black patches. Things and buttons still appear if you click the right place but only in a very limited fashion. I suspect that the issue has to do something with the latest Mac OS update to Tahoe 26.0.1 as it happens both on my computer and on a MacStudio and it worked perfectly fine just a couple days/weeks ago (before the update).

AFNI version info (afni -ver) are:

Precompiled binary macos_13_ARM: Apr 24 2025 (Version AFNI_25.1.04 'Maximinus')

and

Precompiled binary macos_10.12_local: Apr 26 2024 (Version AFNI_24.1.06 'Publius Septimius Geta')

with XQuartz 2.8.5.

I'm attaching a screenshot of how it looks

Similarly, I have an issue with SUMA. As it is the same issue yet again on both devices and it also looks the same - the SUMA window is completely dark, I believe it is a related issue. I'm getting the following errors:

oo     Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++     Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @16:37:20):
Trace At Xerr
      SUMA_XErrHandler
     SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
    SUMA_graphicsInit
   SUMA_X_SurfaceViewer_Create
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
xp_destroy_surface: assertion failed: s != NULL
xp_destroy_surface error: 3
oo     Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: GLXBadContext
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++     Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @16:37:20):
Trace At Xerr
      SUMA_XErrHandler
     SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
    SUMA_graphicsInit
   SUMA_X_SurfaceViewer_Create
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
--     Error SUMA_glXMakeCurrent (SUMA_display.c:345):
Failed in glXMakeCurrent.

SUMA_glXMakeCurrent (via SUMA_GL_ERRS): Looking for OpenGL errors ...
SUMA_glXMakeCurrent: No errors found.
--     Error SUMA_glXMakeCurrent (SUMA_display.c:347):
Called from SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
     SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
    SUMA_graphicsInit
   SUMA_X_SurfaceViewer_Create
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
Error SUMA_graphicsInit: Failed in SUMA_glXMakeCurrent.
 	Continuing ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #1/14(Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #8/14(Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #2/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #3/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #4/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #5/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #6/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #7/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #9/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #10/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #11/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #12/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #13/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvSurface #14/14 (mappable via Local Domain Parent), loading ...
SUMA_Engine: Starting to listen ...
oo     Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++     Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @16:37:22):
Trace At Xerr
     SUMA_XErrHandler
    SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
   SUMA_handleRedisplay
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
xp_destroy_surface: assertion failed: s != NULL
xp_destroy_surface error: 3
oo     Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: GLXBadContext
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++     Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @16:37:22):
Trace At Xerr
     SUMA_XErrHandler
    SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
   SUMA_handleRedisplay
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
--     Error SUMA_glXMakeCurrent (SUMA_display.c:345):
Failed in glXMakeCurrent.

SUMA_glXMakeCurrent (via SUMA_GL_ERRS): Looking for OpenGL errors ...
SUMA_glXMakeCurrent: No errors found.
--     Error SUMA_glXMakeCurrent (SUMA_display.c:347):
Called from SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
    SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
   SUMA_handleRedisplay
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
--     Error SUMA_handleRedisplay (SUMA_display.c:432):
Failed in SUMA_glXMakeCurrent.

oo     Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++     Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @16:37:22):
Trace At Xerr
     SUMA_XErrHandler
    SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
   SUMA_handleRedisplay
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
xp_destroy_surface: assertion failed: s != NULL
xp_destroy_surface error: 3
oo     Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: GLXBadContext
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++     Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @16:37:22):
Trace At Xerr
     SUMA_XErrHandler
    SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
   SUMA_handleRedisplay
  suma
 Bottom of Debug Stack
--     Error SUMA_glXMakeCurrent (SUMA_display.c:345):
Failed in glXMakeCurrent.
.
.
.

I would be happy to get any help or advice regarding this issue or how to fix it.

Best,
Jan

.

P.S. I know I might not get an answer right away, sorry.

fmrihead · November 13, 2025, 10:25am

Hello,

I hope that I might have more luck now.
Meanwhile, I have updated mac os again on both devices to Tahoe 26.1, but I'm still experiencing the same issue. AFNI opens alright but when I try to add overlay, I get this:

.

Similarly, if I want to open Suma, I get plenty of error messages and the window remains black:

Thanks in advance for advice regarding this issue.

dglen · November 13, 2025, 4:42pm

We are aware of this issue that has been posted in a few places generally for X11 applications on the Tahoe version of the MacOS.

github.com/XQuartz/XQuartz

Mesa/GLX issue - macOS Tahoe

opened 03:42AM - 16 Sep 25 UTC

marceljj

Hello! Upon upgrading my system to macOS Tahoe, mesa test applications (glxgears… and glxinfo) return the following output: name of display: /private/tmp/com.apple.launchd.fOZERDCUlQ/org.xquartz:0 X Error of failed request: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation) Major opcode of failed request: 129 (Apple-DRI) Minor opcode of failed request: 2 () Value in failed request: 0x600003 Serial number of failed request: 22 Current serial number in output stream: 22 My previous Sequoia install ran these executables fine. If there is anything I can do to fix this please let me know :)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256157657
https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/805567

We are hoping Apple will fix this problem, but in the meantime, you have a few choices:

Use an older version of the MacOS.
Use a virtual machine with UTM, Parallels Desktop or VirtualBox.
Use a Docker solution for AFNI.
1.3. Work with Docker/Containerized AFNI — AFNI, SUMA and FATCAT: v25.2.18

kellymacniven · January 14, 2026, 9:15pm

Hi! I'm having the same issue as fmrihead (and sounds like many other users). Has any progress been made on a fix? Thanks!
Best, Kelly

rwcox123 · January 19, 2026, 2:20am

Progress has been made. On my Tahoe laptop, there are now minor glitches that affect (mostly) the aesthetics, but not the substance. I'm referring to the AFNI GUI itself, not SUMA or other programs. Those require more inspection. That's why the updates we see haven't been released yet.

discoraj · January 20, 2026, 4:39pm

Hi,

If you minimize the window to the dock then restore it, the blacked out sections should be visible again. It is a pain, but it works for the moment.

Thanks, Justin

ptaylor · January 20, 2026, 4:47pm

Howdy-

That is good to know, and I think we are very near putting in the code-based fixes that @rwcox123 , @dglen and @rickr have been working on. We are hoping to do a new build today, even, and so hopefully this will help resolve a lot of the Tahoe pain.

thanks,
pt

rickr · January 21, 2026, 2:03pm

Hi @fmrihead and @kellymacniven,

The updates from Bob are in, mildly polluted by Daniel and myself. Whether you are building or using official binaries, please update now and see how it goes:

@update.afni.binaries -defaults

Daniel is starting to attack the suma side of things, please be patient with that. But hopefully the afni GUI will be much better. Please let us know if you run into surprises.

Thanks,

-rick

adam.steel · February 20, 2026, 6:21pm

Hi @rickr -- I've been forced to update my operating system to Tahoe, and I am now unable to open SUMA. I'm getting the following error.

oo Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++ Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @12:03:11):
Trace At Xerr
SUMA_XErrHandler
SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
SUMA_graphicsInit
SUMA_X_SurfaceViewer_Create
suma
Bottom of Debug Stack
xp_destroy_surface: assertion failed: s != NULL
xp_destroy_surface error: 3
oo Warning SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4189):
Intercepted X11 error: GLXBadContext
Will attempt to proceed but trouble might ensue.
++ Notice SUMA_XErrHandler (SUMA_display.c:4190 @12:03:11):
Trace At Xerr
SUMA_XErrHandler
SUMA_glXMakeCurrent
SUMA_graphicsInit
SUMA_X_SurfaceViewer_Create
suma
Bottom of Debug Stack

The controller opens but the surface fails to render and this error is repeated until I kill the process. The afni GUI works, but the SUMA viewer is completely non-functional.

I have updated AFNI binaries and Xquartz, restarted, etc. Do you have any ideas on how to fix the issue?

Thanks for your help!

dglen · February 20, 2026, 11:19pm

Sorry, still slogging through this macOS change. So far, that's only on a development branch. You can change from beta user for life to alpha by running this script to build with changes for the SUMA GUI.

build_afni.py -build_root ~/afni_build          \
                      -git_branch macos_x11_suma

When you run suma, add this or set the environment variable to your AFNI environment (~/.afnirc)

suma -DAFNI_DO_X11_REDRAW=REMANAGE

rickr · February 23, 2026, 10:20pm

Hi @adam.steel,

Yes, Daniel and I are still fighting with this when we can. Note that you could also set AFNI_DO_X11_REDRAW to REMANAGE in your ~/.afnirc file. At least then you would not need an alias, say. Sorry this is taking time.

-rick

adam.steel · February 24, 2026, 11:37pm

Hi @rickr and @dglen --

Thank you guys for the hard work on the problem. I ran the build afni script and added the remanage flag to my call to SUMA, but it did not change the behavior.

I see a suma window, but no brain (or homer simpson) is drawn in the window, and I see the same repeating error. I've started with a new terminal, but this doesn't seem to help.

Here's the output for afni -version:

(base) adamsteel % afni -version

Precompiled binary macos_10.12_local: Jan 30 2026 (Version AFNI_26.0.08 'Pupienus Maximus')

Thanks!

A