UI latency / lag with macOS 26.1

[sammcj]

After updating from macOS 15 - the UI in Tahoe 26.1 feels significantly more laggy / high latency.

It's a bit hard to explain but the whole OS feels like I'm using a web app, everything feels like there's some sort of additional time between input and reaction.

Even dragging windows around feels slightly choppy, not like the displays are at a lower refresh rate, more like the OS is rendering in software than hardware.

I've tried:

- Disabling transparency
- Ensuring there's no animations enabled
- Ensuring my external monitors (LG Ultrafine 4k x2) are indeed running at 60hz
- Checking for runaway background services
- Leaving the machine running for two days to settle post-"upgrade"
- Setting CHROME_HEADLESS to 1 for electron apps

I'm on a MacBook Pro M2 Max with 96GB so I really feel for those running lower spec machines or 5k displays.

 

[Technerd108]

It may be a good idea to back up your M2 MBP and wipe the drive and then reinstall MacOS.

Considering your specs you should not be having the issues you are having. I have a lower spec machine and have done what I am suggesting you do and Tahoe is mostly a performance improvement. There are some areas where it might be a few milliseconds slower booting up otherwise latency is good.

I hope the issues you are experiencing resolve. I know how frustrating it can be when your Mac behaves unexpectedly.

 

[chabig]

After updating from macOS 15 - the UI in Tahoe 26.1 feels significantly more laggy / high latency.

Always wait a few days after upgrading before making these assessments. No doubt your machine is doing some housekeeping related to the new OS.

 

[Starfia]

I'm on an M1 Mac mini. The one exception I can think of is opening and closing Quick Look previews from the Finder, which seem to use fewer frames – that kind of jumped out to me during the first day or two – but other than that, the performance seems to match that of Sequoia.

 

[alisalem]

I'm on an M1 Mac mini. The one exception I can think of is opening and closing Quick Look previews from the Finder, which seem to use fewer frames – that kind of jumped out to me during the first day or two – but other than that, the performance seems to match that of Sequoia.

Happens to me too on 60hz monitors. No problem on the MacBook Pro's Pro Motion display.

 

[SDAVE]

Same here on an Intel 2019 MP 28c / 192GB RAM / 6900XT.

 

[nmt1900]

Does this behavior appear immediately after startup before launching any apps? If not then it would be good idea to check which app initiates this.

 

[SDAVE]

Does this behavior appear immediately after startup before launching any apps? If not then it would be good idea to check which app initiates this.

It's overall for me personally. Even on a fresh boot. No doubt this still will be better by .3 in January 2026 or so

 

[hieubui]

in my experience, UI performance on Tohoe is significantly worse with an external display compared to Sequoia

 

[mr_bam]

Going to chime in on this as I've been suffering UI/keyboard lag and it's been bugging the hell out of me.

I yoinked the Thunderbolt to the 5K display and low and behold the MBP keyboard / display was fine.

But that's a red herring because I diagnosed it to be the Bluetooth causing it from the TouchID Keyboard... plug that in via USB to the 5K monitor and boom... lag all gone.

Anyone else using a wireless keyboard in the mix while suffering the macOS 26.1 lag issue?

 

[mr_bam]

Bet it’s this causing it…https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/18/apple-new-firmware-magic-keyboard-trackpad/