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.