macOS: Sunshine crashes when a client starts a stream if system tray is enabled

[cjscld]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Is your issue described in the documentation?

• I have read the documentation

Is your issue present in the latest beta/pre-release?

This issue is present in the latest pre-release

Describe the Bug

Summary

On macOS, Sunshine 2026.619.155209 crashes as soon as a Moonlight client starts a streaming session when the system tray is enabled.

The crash happens during the RTSP announce/start-session path while updating the tray icon/notification from the RTSP handler thread. Disabling the system tray with system_tray = disabled avoids the crash and streaming starts normally.

Reproduction steps

1. Install and run Sunshine 2026.619.155209 on macOS.
2. Leave the default system_tray = enabled setting.
3. Pair/connect from a Moonlight client.
4. Start the Desktop app/session from the client.

Actual behavior

Sunshine sometimes crashes immediately when the client connects/starts the session. Crash reports consistently show SIGTRAP in AppKit while tray_update is called from the RTSP handler thread.

Observed crash stack excerpt:

Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Faulting thread: rtsp::handler
-[BSServiceMainRunLoopQueue assertBarrierOnQueue]
-[FBSScene _updateClientSettings:]
-[NSSceneStatusItem _updateSupportsExpandedInterfaceSession]
-[NSStatusItem setMenu:]
tray_update
system_tray::update_tray_playing(std::string)
stream::session::start(...)
rtsp_stream::cmd_announce(...)
rtsp_stream::socket_t::handle_read_encrypted_message(...)

Workaround

Adding the following to sunshine.conf and restarting Sunshine prevents the crash:

system_tray = disabled

After this workaround, the same client connects successfully.

Expected Behavior

Sunshine should not crash when a client starts a stream with the macOS system tray enabled. Tray icon/menu/notification updates should be marshalled to the appropriate macOS main/UI thread or otherwise performed safely.

Additional Context

This appears to be a macOS UI-thread issue rather than an encoder or network issue. The crash only occurs when the tray is enabled; after setting system_tray = disabled, streaming starts immediately.

Local source reference from the current master/pre-release code:

• stream::session::start calls system_tray::update_tray_playing(...) when the first session starts.
• system_tray::update_tray_playing calls tray_update(&tray) directly.
• The crash report shows this happens on the rtsp::handler thread.

Host Operating System

macOS

Operating System Version

macOS 27.0 (26A5368g)

Architecture

arm64/aarch64

Package

macOS - dmg

GPU Type

Apple Silicon

GPU Model

Apple M2 (10-core GPU)

GPU Driver/Mesa Version

Apple Metal / macOS 27.0 (26A5368g)

Capture Method

AVCaptureScreen (macOS)

Apps

Log output

[2026-06-23 13:10:31.779]: Info: Sunshine version: 2026.619.155209 commit: 1fce18d99a1dfc925b501a6a9b8bc280b6675fc5
[2026-06-23 13:10:32.583]: Info: Found H.264 encoder: h264_videotoolbox [videotoolbox]
[2026-06-23 13:10:32.583]: Info: Found HEVC encoder: hevc_videotoolbox [videotoolbox]
[2026-06-23 13:10:32.583]: Info: Starting system tray
[2026-06-23 13:10:32.586]: Info: Configuration UI available at [https://localhost:47990]
[2026-06-23 13:10:32.628]: Info: System tray created
[2026-06-23 13:10:33.313]: Info: Successfully registered DNS service

Crash report excerpt:
Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Faulting thread: rtsp::handler
-[BSServiceMainRunLoopQueue assertBarrierOnQueue]
-[NSStatusItem setMenu:]
tray_update
system_tray::update_tray_playing(std::string)
stream::session::start(...)
rtsp_stream::cmd_announce(...)

After workaround:
[2026-06-23 13:15:56.445]: Info: config: 'system_tray' = disabled
[2026-06-23 13:15:57.199]: Info: Found H.264 encoder: h264_videotoolbox [videotoolbox]
[2026-06-23 13:15:57.199]: Info: Found HEVC encoder: hevc_videotoolbox [videotoolbox]
Streaming then starts successfully from the client.

Online logs

No response

[ReenigneArcher]

@andygrundman any ideas? Something maybe wrong with packaging the icon files in the dmg?

[MrMingFang]

I also recently upgraded to macOS 27 beta, and Sunshine kept crashing every time I tried to connect. Following your suggestion to modify the config with system_tray = disabled, I can now successfully stream. Much appreciated!

[andygrundman]

I've already fixed this locally while working on Mac, I will submit a PR on the tray repo.