Extreme Lag in Adobe Illustrator 2022 26.4.1 - Running on MacBook Pro 2021 16" - macOS Monterey 12.5

[m-wolowicz]

I am experiencing extreme lagging issues when using Adobe Illustrator 2022 Version 26.4.1.

It was happening before the update as well, with multiple previous versions of Adobe Illustrator. Therefore, the issue is not exclusively new to version 26.4.1. I thought the update would help, but it didn't. I am unable to do any work since the lag is just insufferable. I do not use Adobe Illustrator every day, but when I do, the issue persists.

When I open Illustrator it works fine, but as I start working on the file it starts lagging. This happens on a large file, but also on a very small file like a simple Material Design 24px by 24px icon with only one shape in it. Even opening or closing a Panel, and moving it from one side to the other makes Illustrator lag, even clicking on the top menu bar, or just selecting a simple shape.

What I have tried so far has not worked:

• Restart Adobe Illustrator
• Restart the computer
• Close everything except for Illustrator
• Update Illustrator
• Update macOS
• Downgrade to an older version of Illustrator
• Update Creative Cloud
• Delete all Adobe files from Application Support folders, Cache folders, and Preference folders. (From BOTH library and ~library folders)
• Validate all fonts and remove problem fonts
• Downloaded the Creative Cloud Cleaner application and deleted all Adobe files from Mac.
• Re-installed all applications on Mac again from Adobe Creative Cloud. 

I found an old post in this community a while back that suggested changing some settings in the Adobe Illustrator preferences, and that had somewhat helped before. However, I cannot seem to find that post and I don't remember what preferences I had to change in order to fix the issue. 

Any help would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

For reference, this is what I am working with:

• Adobe Creative Cloud Version 5.8.0.592
• Adobe Illustrator Version 26.4.1

• MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021)
• Apple M1 Max Chip
• 64 GB Memory (RAM)

• Total Number of Cores: 10 (8 performance and 2 efficiency)

• macOS Monterey Version 12.5

• 8 TB SSD

As you can see I have a very powerful Mac, I do not think it's a memory issue.

[m-wolowicz]

I do not know how to edit or update the original post. But here's an update. I was playing with views and preferences. 

Hiding the grid significantly improved performance. 

I had the grid turned on because I am always working on pixel-perfect icons, so I have a pixel-by-pixel grid I need to be turned on at all times. 

I also tried showing the grid in the back setting. Having the "Grids in Back" option NOT selected under Preferences > Guides & Grid > Grid also works, but that is not my preferred mode of working. I prefer the grid in the back. 

[Alfredo30617162fped]

Were you ever able to find a solution? I'm experiencing this exact issue.

[laurenb59588843]

Same here!!  Any help would be appreciated.  I have tried seemingly everything recommended online to no avail

[Monika Gause]

Someone today reported that they could solve it by deactivating the Live Preview option in the Preferences.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @laurenb59588843, @Alfredo30617162fped,

We understand how frustrating it can be to experience performance issues in Illustrator, especially in the middle of work. I hope the suggestions shared by Monika helped resolve the problem. If not, kindly try the suggestions shared in this help article (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/optimize-illustrator-performance.html) and check if it helps.

Also, if you're using a Windows computer, kindly try performing a clean reinstallation of the GPU drivers (Intel / NVIDIA / AMD) and set the Graphics Preference to High-Performance for Illustrator (https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/gpu-110) and sharing your observations.

If you're on a Mac, kindly try manually resetting Illustrator's preferences and check if it helps:

• Close all Adobe applications.

• Go to the following locations

• ~/Library/Caches

• ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe

• ~/Library/Preferences

• Rename Adobe Illustrator, com.adobe.illustrator and Adobe Illustrator 27 Settings folders to Adobe Illustrator.old, com.adobe.illustrator.old and Adobe Illustrator 27 Settings.old

• Launch Illustrator from the Creative Cloud.

Note: Location starting with this "~" sign indicates the User Library, which is hidden. So, you need to copy & paste the exact path in spotlight search or from Finder Menu > Go > Go to Folder > Paste the location in the dialog box like this:

Disclaimer: Please note that renaming preferences folders will remove all the custom settings, and Illustrator will launch with default settings. You can also save a backup of the folders in case you want to. The location is mentioned above.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[m-wolowicz]

Just as an FYI, for the recent commenters still looking for an answer. 

I was never able to resolve the issue myself.

However, it eventually resolved itself after some updates. For reference this is my current setup aside from the rest of the setup specs stated above, which haven't changed:

• Adobe Creative Cloud Version 5.11.0.522.1
• Adobe Illustrator Version 27.6.1
• macOS Ventura Version 13.4.1

[Spinbutton]

Hi, I've had this same problem for several years and it has been driving me batty. I would see significant lag (10 seconds or so) when I'd ungroup and object. I'd also experience another significant lag when moving the cursor from the built in monitor of my desktop device to the external monitor. 

• I've tried clearing the cache, updating, uninstalling and re-installing, etc. 
• I tried using different cable configurations between the computer and the external monitor
• I tried rebooting the device 
• I tried having all apps closed except for Illustrator (annoying since I'm often moving content from Illustrator to Photoshop)

In Illustrator Preference I turned off:

• GPU Performance (did not help)
• Changed the frequency of auto save for recovery (didn't help)
• Changed the number of Recent Files to Display (didn't help)
• Turned off Display Bitmaps as Anti-Alisaed images (didn't help)
• Real-Time Drawing and Editing (yes! this helped)

The only thing that makes a noticeable differences was changing to the real-time drawing and editing option. Zooming in and out is a little less smooth, but happily I can ungroup or move complicated selected objects without a looooong lag. Whew!

I tend to work with large, complicated files and I have a lot of fonts loaded, 550+. This probably exacerbates the problem, but I have a pretty robust system (even if it is getting a little old)

FYI my system:

Mac OS Sonoma 14.6.1

Processor: 3GHz 10-core Intel Xenon W

Graphics Radeon Pro Vega 64 16 GB

Memory 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Spinbutton,

We understand that technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind confirming if you've tried the suggestions shared earlier in this post? Also, try running Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps?

If the problem persists, kindly share a public link to a sample file after uploading it to Dropbox/Google Drive/etc., the folder location where your files are stored, and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/4dwnPcv), so we can investigate this further?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Anubhav