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Sharpenson
Sharpenson
Known Participant
December 12, 2023
Question

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

  • December 12, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 5553 views

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?

    3 replies

    Sharpenson
    SharpensonAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 23, 2024

    I never found a specific solution, however, at some point through system and/or Adobe updates this has resolved itself and is no longer happening.

    mbtassino
    mbtassino
    Participating Frequently
    March 12, 2024

    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?

      Sharpenson
      SharpensonAuthor
      Known Participant
      March 15, 2024

      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!!!

      Anshul_Saini
      Community Manager
      Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      March 15, 2024

      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

      Doug A Roberts
      Community Expert
      Doug A RobertsCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 12, 2023

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

      Sharpenson
      SharpensonAuthor
      Known Participant
      December 12, 2023

      It's an Apple Studio Display which is 5120x2880px

      Anshul_Saini
      Community Manager
      Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      December 21, 2023

      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

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