Illustrator has suddenly become extremely laggy on my Mac (slow zoom, slow dragging, delayed movement). It was working perfectly until yesterday.Had installed 2024, 2025 and had been using 2026 for a few days/week. None is working properly at the moment I have already tried:updating macOSreinstalling Illustrator (29.8.3)removing all Illustrator preferences and cache foldersresetting Illustratorchecking "GPU Performance"confirming my GPU is active (AMD Radeon Pro 5300, Metal 3 supported)According to ChatGPT:Despite this, Illustrator stays in CPU mode and performance is very slow. Other apps work normally.How can I force Illustrator to use GPU acceleration again, or reset Illustrator’s GPU engine on macOS?System:• iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020, Intel)• AMD Radeon Pro 5300, 4 GB VRAM (Metal 3 supported)• macOS Ventura 13.7.8• 16 GB RAM (Memory Pressure = Green, normal)Thank you.

Participant

Answered

Illustrator EXTREMELY laggy. Both New v30 and past

Forum|Forum|2 months ago
November 18, 2025
6 replies
411 views

Illustrator has suddenly become extremely laggy on my Mac (slow zoom, slow dragging, delayed movement). It was working perfectly until yesterday.
Had installed 2024, 2025 and had been using 2026 for a few days/week. None is working properly at the moment

I have already tried:

updating macOS
reinstalling Illustrator (29.8.3)
removing all Illustrator preferences and cache folders
resetting Illustrator
checking "GPU Performance"
confirming my GPU is active (AMD Radeon Pro 5300, Metal 3 supported)

According to ChatGPT:

Despite this, Illustrator stays in CPU mode and performance is very slow. Other apps work normally.

How can I force Illustrator to use GPU acceleration again, or reset Illustrator’s GPU engine on macOS?

System:
• iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020, Intel)
• AMD Radeon Pro 5300, 4 GB VRAM (Metal 3 supported)
• macOS Ventura 13.7.8
• 16 GB RAM (Memory Pressure = Green, normal)

Thank you.

Screen_Recording_2025-11-18_at_2-42-23_PM.zip

Correct answer Ten A

Try this:

1. Quit Illustrator, then turn off your Mac's network connection. If possible, unplug the network cable too.
2. Launch Illustrator while the network is disconnected and check how it runs.
3. Once you confirm it's working normally, restore your network settings.

Does it still not work?

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

これを日本のフォーラムに移せば, Ten A さんの回答がもっと多くの人の役に立つと思います。

If this is moved to the Japanese forum, I believe the answer by Ten A san will help many more.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%A0/bd-p/illustrator-jp?page=1&sort=latest_replies&filter=all

Ten A

Community Expert

I don't think that's necessary.
There's been a huge uproar in Japan, with so many related posts that it's impossible to keep track of them.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

Ah, I see, Ten A; and thank you for sharing.

monokano

Community Expert

I notice your screen recording is in Japanese - are you located in Japan?
Currently, this issue is believed to occur only on “Mac version + Japan region.”
---
画面収録が日本語版ですが、日本在住ですか？
現在、この問題は「Mac版＋日本地域」でのみ発生すると考えられています。

M

Manu_989

Participant

Thank you. I am also in Japan and facing the same issue. The answer by Ten A worked for me. Thank you very much.

Ten A

Community Expert

One very important thing to add: NEVER log out of your CC application.

Ten A

Correct answer

Community Expert

Try this:

1. Quit Illustrator, then turn off your Mac's network connection. If possible, unplug the network cable too.
2. Launch Illustrator while the network is disconnected and check how it runs.
3. Once you confirm it's working normally, restore your network settings.

Does it still not work?