Hi,

When macOS update and CapCut update land at the exact same time, it frequently triggers a conflict between CapCut’s playback engine and the newly updated Mac graphics drivers.

Because it's happening to both new and old projects across local and cloud files, the issue isn't your footage and it's CapCut's rendering interface glitching out under the new update.

Here are the exact troubleshooting steps to get your timeline moving again, mentioned below from easiest to most effective for this specific bug:

1. Disable GPU Interface Rendering

A mismatch between the new macOS update and CapCut's hardware acceleration can cause the media player to freeze or go entirely black.

• Open CapCut and stay on the main project selection screen (don't open a project yet).

• Click CapCut in the top menu bar and select Settings.

• Go to the Performance tab.

• Look for Render interface with GPU (or Hardware Acceleration) and uncheck/turn it off.

• Save changes, close CapCut entirely, relaunch it, and test a project.

2. Clear CapCut’s App Cache

Corrupted temporary files from the pre-update version can block the new version from rendering video tracks properly.

• In CapCut's Settings menu, look at the bottom of the window for the Cache section.

• Click the Trash/Clear icon to wipe out temporary cache files.

• Don't worry, this will not delete your actual project timelines or media.

• Restart the app.

3. Verify macOS File Permissions

Sometimes, a major macOS update resets privacy permissions, causing apps to lose the ability to read local media files even if they look like they imported correctly.

• Click the Apple logo in the top left of your Mac screen and open System Settings.

• Navigate to Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.

• Locate CapCut in the list. If the toggle is off, turn it on. If it's already on, toggle it off and back on again to force macOS to refresh the permission.

4. The Clean Reinstall as a fallback

If CapCut's latest patch has a deep conflict with your specific Mac model after yesterday's update, the cleanest path forward is a fresh installation.

• Close the app, go to your Mac's Applications folder, and drag CapCut to the Trash.

• Empty the Trash.

• Re-download it from the Mac App Store or the official CapCut website. A fresh install forces the app to correctly re-index with your Mac’s updated hardware.

Are you seeing a completely black screen where the preview should be, or is the playhead physically refusing to move when you press the spacebar?