MacBook Pro 14, M2 Max, Illustrator lags badly on Apple monitor when Laptop is Open

[Sharpenson]

I have a super fast M2 Max 14" and when I have the laptop open and I'm working in Illustrator on my Apple monitor it lags really really badly (and has done since I got it a few months ago). Just selecting items, moving, recolouring etc and Illustrator appears to freeze for a second or two. The moment I close the laptop it works smoothly on my main monitor. It's infurating because I like to use my laptop monitor for reference docs/Zoom etc etc while working in Illustrator. Is anyone else experiencing this and or know of a solution?

[Doug A Roberts]

What's the resolution of the non-laptop monitor?

[Sharpenson]

It's an Apple Studio Display which is 5120x2880px

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @Sharpenson,

I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing performance issues with Adobe Illustrator on your MacBook Pro 14 with M2 Max when using an Apple Studio Display. The fact that Illustrator lags significantly when your MacBook Pro 14 is open, it might be worthwhile to explore a few possibilities:

• Graphics Configuration: Check the graphics configuration settings in Illustrator. Under "Edit" > "Preferences" > "Performance," you can adjust settings related to GPU performance. Experiment with disabling GPU settings to see if it has any impact.

• Bluetooth Interference: If you're using Bluetooth peripherals (like a mouse or keyboard), there could be interference causing lag. Try temporarily using wired peripherals to check if the lag persists.

• Mac Safe Mode: Boot your MacBook Pro into Safe Mode to isolate potential software conflicts. Safe Mode loads only essential macOS components, and this can help identify if any third-party applications or drivers are causing the lag.

• macOS Update: Ensure that your macOS is up to date. Apple releases updates that may address performance-related issues. You can check for updates in "System Preferences" > "Software Update."

• External Display Settings: In "System Preferences" > "Displays," check the arrangement and color profiles for your Apple Studio Display. Adjusting these settings may have an impact.

These details will help in narrowing down the possible causes of the lag you're experiencing. If the issue persists, providing more details about your macOS version and any specific Illustrator versions you've observed this behavior on would be helpful. Your cooperation is appreciated, and we're here to assist you further.

Best regards,

Anshul

[androsey]

Nah. None of these work. You have people out here that need to work, Anshul. Let's get a stable build out. Too much focus on making every release filled with new novelties to satisfy the TikTok feed for cool AI tricks with Illustrator. Trying to pin this on bluetooth interference or on display settings or graphics configurations isn't going to cut it. This has been a problem for way too long. People have to work, we have overhead and real commercial damage that occurs when we can't operate. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @androsey,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing some more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator, system config (CPU/GPU/Memory), details about your workflow, and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/3TM0VGL), so we can investigate this further?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[Sharpenson]

Illustrator 28.1

Workflow is simply working in Adobe Illustrator. I'll do a screen record when I get the chance.

[Monika Gause]

Does it help when you turn off "Displays have separate spaces"?

[Sharpenson]

That is already turned off, thanks.

[Monika Gause]

Do you run the Magnet app?

It is causing issues with other things, but maybe those are not its only issues.

[androsey]

Yep...Magnet app was the issue. Bizarre. Thank you!!! We all use it too. Problem solved.

[Dave363695300xaz]

Confirmed. Closing Magnet.app immediately fixed the lag issue. So weird

[mbtassino]

I don’t use magnet so at least in ny case is not that, but thank you

[Monika Gause]

---

@mbtassino  schrieb:
I don’t use magnet so at least in ny case is not that, but thank you

---

There are other apps that do the same.

So maybe check out all the processes running on the machine.

[mbtassino]

It’s a brand new machinne, so I haven’t installed more than a couole of
apps, most from Adobe, but will take a look, thanks

[jjungkook35]

Okay yeah definitely Magnet app stalling/lagging Illustratorat lest for me. If you still want to keep Magnet on and without issue, in Magnets' settings I diabled, "Show green button menu" as I noticed that seems to set a lag time for the program of 100ms, so disabling it and Illustrator works fine. Plus we get to keep Magnet on! Hopefully that helps!

[samuelkobe]

Same issue for me. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @samuelkobe,

We understand that encountering technical issues can be frustrating. Would you mind trying the suggestions shared in this help article (https://adobe.ly/3yKuRLk) and letting us know if they help? Also, try running Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[samuelkobe]

Hi Anubhav, I was saying I had the same issue, but the culprit was the Magnet app on Mac OSX. It seems to give Illustrator a laggy fit. Once Magnet is closed it runs smoothly and its all good. Thanks.

[Sharpenson]

No, I don't.

[mbtassino]

Same Here. I'm with a brand new Macbook Pro M2 Max, 64gb, 12-Core CPU/30-Core GPU and it is impossible to work with, incredible slow... is there any solution? were you able to fix it?

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @mbtassino,

I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing slowness on your brand-new MacBook Pro. That sounds frustrating, especially with such powerful hardware.

To better assist you, could you please provide more details about the specific issues you're encountering? For example:

• Are you experiencing lag only when performing certain actions, such as moving objects or using specific tools/features?
• Does the slowness occur consistently across all files you're working with, or is it specific to certain files?
• Are there any particular features or tools within Illustrator that seem to exacerbate the issue?
• Have you noticed any patterns or commonalities when the slowness occurs?

By understanding more about your workflow and the circumstances surrounding the slowness, we'll be better equipped to offer you targeted assistance and solutions.

Looking forward to hearing back from you so we can help resolve this issue!

Best regards,

Anshul Saini

[Sharpenson]

No - it's still the same. I get all sorts of display/render glitches too (pink surround, flickering colour, blank blocks). If I switch to "View using CPU" it's ok but I find it hard to work without the GPU zoom so I ususally just close my laptop monitor. Then I work away in Figma, InDesign, Photoshop and other apps and everything is fine and come back to Illustrator and then click and 2-3 seconds later the click action happens. Ahgr!!!

[Mar��a Bel��n36103203lt2g]

I've been told that downgrading to Ventura may help. Was about to do that. Are you using Sonoma?

[Anshul_Saini]

Thank you for providing more details about the issue you're facing with Illustrator on your MacBook Pro, @Sharpenson. It sounds like a frustrating experience, especially considering the powerful hardware you have.

Given the persistence of the issue despite troubleshooting attempts, it would be helpful if you could share a screen recording of the problem. This will allow us to visualize the glitches and display/render issues you're encountering and share them with our product team for further investigation.

Additionally, could you try creating a new user admin account on your MacBook Pro and installing a fresh copy of Illustrator there? This will help us determine if the issue is related to your specific user account or if it's a more widespread problem.

Lastly, please let us know if you're using any window management applications like BetterSnapTool, Rectangle, Spectacle, or LayAuto for Mac. These apps can sometimes interfere with Illustrator's performance, so it's worth checking if they might be contributing to the issue.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to resolve this issue for you.

Best regards,

Anshul Saini