I have the same problem. Here is what I did. Context: - launchctl limit maxfiles --> maxfiles 256 unlimited 256 is by far not enough for my application Actions: - more /Library/LaunchDaemons/limit.maxfiles.plist to examine the /Library/LaunchDaemons/limit.maxfiles.plist file, there the limits were 20000 20000 - reboot with <CMD>+R (recovery mode) - launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/limit.maxfiles.plist to modify permanently the 2 limits - reboot normally At that point, my problem was solved. But - I did not re-enable crsutil (I'll try when I'll have made up for the time lost on this Apple bug, but as I am the sole user of this machine and that type of modification can only be done in recovery mode, I feel quite safe to stay this way...) - there is a curious discrepancy: ulimit -> unlimited ulimit -Sn 20000 ulimit -Hn 20000 I hope this can help.