Anybody getting spinning wheels?

[flowave]

I am getting more and more spinning wheels lately using the M1 Macbook Air 16GB /1TB.

It happens to Finder, illustrator, FCPX or chrome so far. I do use them heavily all together.

It usually happens when the app opened and not used for a while.

I had to force quit 10 times last few days and I think it's getting worse.

I know it does not get hot, but I am curious if the fanless design is to do with it.

I think it is more of Big Sur and Rosetta 2 / M1 issue.

To set up the Macbook Air, I used migration over the air. Maybe I need fresh install?

 

[shenfrey]

I am getting more and more spinning wheels lately using the M1 Macbook Air 16GB /1TB.

It happens to Finder, illustrator, FCPX or chrome so far. I do use them heavily all together.

It usually happens when the app opened and not used for a while.

I had to force quit 10 times last few days and I think it's getting worse.

I know it does not get hot, but I am curious if the fanless design is to do with it.

I think it is more of Big Sur and Rosetta 2 / M1 issue.

To set up the Macbook Air, I used migration over the air. Maybe I need fresh install?

This isn't going to help, but if I had to rely on Chrome for my work or personal life I would never get a Mac. I am not sure why but Chrome just doesn't play well with Macs, high ram usage, battery draining and performance problems are just a few of things that have been reported with Chrome on Macs.

Try switching to a different browser temporally to see if it helps to reduce the amount of beachballs you get.

 

[flowave]

I think I found the problem. Too many screenshots on my desktop. I moved them to other drives and I think it solved the problem.

 

[edhchoe]

No spinning wheels on mine.
It has been a dream machine.

 

[circatee]

My personal opinion would be to restore to factory and then setup manually (versus a migration).

See the update here, about the Migration app, for Big Sur...

Windows Migration Assistant Updated for macOS Big Sur

Apple overnight updated its Windows Migration Assistant software to include compatibility with macOS Big Sur. As spotted by iMore, version 2.3.0.0...

www.macrumors.com

UPDATE:
As a test, I would place the same quantity of actual photos on your desktop (not screenshots), and see if the issue occurs again. Rather odd that 'loads' of screenshots would cause that issue...

 

[mikethebigo]

No spinning wheels at all here. Think I've seen it once for a moment in the last 24 hours.

 

[flowave]

Yeah, I think it was just the 4000 screenshots on my desktop. It happened similarly with my previous 15" Macbook Pro. I think it is software limitation. It's been stellar so far.

 

[xboxbml]

I think I found the problem. Too many screenshots on my desktop. I moved them to other drives and I think it solved the problem.

By default, your desktop is synced with iCloud. If it has to keep doing a lot of that maybe it's too much and it hangs. I keep NOTHING on my desktop. I like it clean

 

[circatee]

Yeah, I think it was just the 4000 screenshots on my desktop. It happened similarly with my previous 15" Macbook Pro. I think it is software limitation. It's been stellar so far.

Whoa, 4000 items on your desktop? That would drive me insane.
We have a user at work, she has lots, and lots of icons on her desktop. I ask her all the time, how on earth do you find anything...LOL

PS: Glad you figured it out...

 

[flowave]

By default, your desktop is synced with iCloud. If it has to keep doing a lot of that maybe it's too much and it hangs. I keep NOTHING on my desktop. I like it clean

I think it's other than the syncing. I actually moved the 4000 files to a Document folder which is also synced to iCloud. I think just files in desktop rags the system.

Whoa, 4000 items on your desktop? That would drive me insane.
We have a user at work, she has lots, and lots of icons on her desktop. I ask her all the time, how on earth do you find anything...LOL

PS: Glad you figured it out...

I use Stack so they are actually one category.

 

[Tudy]

I just bought my M1 a month ago (base model) and have noticed I get the spinning wheel a lot. I have not been able to narrow down when it happens. The last time (moments ago) I had taken 2 screen shots and messaged them to my sister. I accidentally opened one of the screen shots up in Preview. I don't use the red button to close apps- I use the menu bar and select EXIT. I have nothing on my desktop. Most everything is in the cloud so I am confused why this is happening as well. I will keep following this thread ( and try some resets etc) and log my steps that may have generated the spinning wheel.

 

[JLH81]

No spinning wheels for me!