Extremely slow after updating from 2023 to 2025 Illustrator

[alicia_6506]

I updated my Illustrator the other day to Adobe Illustrator 2025 and both new files and files I have been previously working on with the older version of Adobe are running significantly slower. 

What could be the issue here and a solution please. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @alicia_6506,

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing more details, like the OS/Illustrator version and if Illustrator behaves this way when working with a particular file or tool/feature so I can better assist you?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[alicia_6506]

It is Illustrator version 29.0 and I am using a MacBook Air with OS 14.6.1. 

On the day I updated I thought that the slow speed was due to my file possibly being too large but right now I am on a file that was working perfectly normal previously and issues are arising such as taking 3+ seconds to select different layers and changing lineweights. On other files I'm not sure if this is just due to the size but I have been having trouble moving elements of my work to other areas on an artboard where the spinning wheel stays on my screen for many minutes at a time sometimes I can't even move around my screen with nothing selected and it is still an issue.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @alicia_6506,

Thanks for confirming. Would you mind trying to run Illustrator after rebooting your computer in Safe Mode (macOS) and checking if it helps? Also, try disabling plug-ins (if any) and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[courageous_code9791]

Tried this as well, using an iMac Retina5K Late 2015 on MacOS Monterey 12.7.6. Experiencing lots of lag after using more than 7-8 files. I try ending the illustrator process but this seems to make no difference in lag. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @courageous_code9791,

Sorry to hear that. Could you try the suggestions shared in this help article (https://adobe.ly/4fk2V0E) and let us know if it helps?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[SecondGRFX]

That was the crucial clue! The Magnet app was the problem for me too... I would never have thought of that on my own. So thanks for the tip!

[amazing_Radiance157F]

Hi, I am also facing the same. The previous illustrator went missing with a question mark and I am being led to use the 2025 version just minutes ago. Somehow the normal action of selecting things and aligning and distributing them becomes super slow and the progress wheel keeps spinning. I thought I had too many programs running at the background. I re-start my system and it is still running v slowly. Gosh this will be a pain and affecting my workflow if not resolved. Hope to be able to resolve.

[Monika Gause]

Anubhav has already given some answers. Please try out what is in his links. 

[Logan_A_Ludwig]

Im experiencing this same problem in Windows 11 Business, have gone through all my performance settings and set illustrator to use the maximum graphics processor and I am still experiencing this workflow crippling lag when panning or zooming in and out.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Logan_A_Ludwig,

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing more details, like the version of Illustrator installed, and a screen recording of your workflow and the problem, so I can better assist you?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Logan_A_Ludwig]

Hello Anubhav,

I currently have updated to the latest version of Ai v29.0. Over the last couple of days I have noticed it being intermittent where sometimes It performs well, and other times it performs slowly. Im currently trying to observe when it does either to see where the problem might be coming from. If I experience it I may screen record it and respond again.

[aaronbuijse]

Hi, I am experiencing the same problem.
My computer is Apple M3 pro 2023. Before updating, the only issue was that the illustrator will shut off all of a sudden. But after updating, I am getting more issues as in:

- Very laggy when selecting objects

- Cannot propoerly set [Normal Character Style]. Event though my basic character formats show 'Arial', everytime I create a new text, it becomes Myriad Pro.

- Also, I can no longer double click to edit text.

[default18oupedbvojk]

I am having same exact issue. Have you had any luck fixing this? Thank you. 

[bfinn-psg · Accepted solution]

Not sure if this was resolved for you or not, but I found that the desktop app Magnet (even though telling it to ignore Illustrator 2025) is creating this problem. It affected the previous version of Illustrator, but resovled by setting Magnet to ignore it. Now, it appears that doesn't matter and quitting the Magnet app was the only way to correct major lagging issues.

[default18oupedbvojk]

Can confirm this as well. Hoping there is an update so that I can reuse the magnet app. Thank you for sharing. 

[duvik]

YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH

[aaronbuijse]

Can confim this too. Thanks a lot for your contribution!!!

[bCreativeBrenna]

I have never felt so mush relief - I was backlogged already, and this issue was causing so much stress! Thanks for the tip!!

[Dan Hendrickson]

Can also confirm. I had to quit the Magnet app too and all is well.

[gus117a]

when you mean Magnet app is that something on the OSX? or an app called that? because I don't have any app called magnet and my illustrator lags.

[Monika Gause]

when you mean Magnet app is that something on the OSX? or an app called that? because I don't have any app called magnet and my illustrator lags.

By @gus117a

Do you have Rectangle then?

Display Pilot?

[bfinn-psg]

Magnet is a 3rd part workspace organization application. It's just meant to contain application and browser windows in a grid format on your display. Maybe you have something similar? Since you don't have Magnet, try to quit other applications while Illustrator is running and see if that has an affect. 

[Rustar]

Opening from the app, wow it works.
My PC started running very laggy today. I tried everything I knew. Restart, clean up windows processes, update drivers, sacrifice a chicken. NOTHING would work. Then I read this. If someone would have walked up to me and said that was the solution. I would have one eyebrow rasied until I tried the app start. When I run the app through shortcut on desktop, the taskview showed illustrator process soaking up 15 to 20GB(or more) of ram choking out all other apps running. There wasnt any documents even open. Just the start screen. Weird problem, but thank you for catching this. *CHEERS*

[graceful_Eagle5FFE]

I am also having the same problem. It is simply not responding, very slow to do anything, copying shapes, duplicating...
I am wondering if downgrading to the previous version would be better.

Computer specs:

• Sequoia 15.1.1
• Apple M1 MAX
  
  
• Software update: Adobe Illustrator 2025 (version 29.1)