Photo App is extremely lagging after Sequoia 15.2 upgrade

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Level 1

15 points

Photo App is extremely lagging after Sequoia 15.2 upgrade

I upgraded my M1 MacBook Pro from the initial Sequoia version to version 15.2. After the update, the Photo App is extremely lagging in loading photos in full resolution - it takes between 4 and 11 seconds for photos to be loaded in full resolution!

I tried various steps - complete reboot, ran the First Aid on disk, cleared all cached - nothing help. I also tried the reinstallation the OS - this also did not help.

I finally did a full factory reset (wiping the entire disk), a full installation of the OS, reinstalled all of the apps that I had. The Photo App is now back to normal - no lagging in loading photos in full resolution.

I did notice it is the Sonoma OS that got installed after the full reset. I am not going to upgrade OS to Sequoia until Apple fixes the problem.

Did anyone experience the same problem, and how was it resolved?

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Jan 1, 2025 2:44 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 5, 2025 10:48 AM in response to filo451

filo451 wrote: …shut down my Mac mini, wait a couple of minutes, then reboot.

Always the first thing to try! Re-booting clears out some caches and resets some processes.

Old Toad taught me that if that doesn't work, the next thing to try is to Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

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Answer 2

filo451

Level 1

9 points

Jan 5, 2025 10:28 AM in response to NJJLC

Same thing for me. The ONLY thing that worked for me (after trying all sorts of workarounds I read on the Net) was to shut down my Mac mini, wait a couple of minutes, then reboot. Suddenly Photos is behaving normally and I noticed 15.2 iphone mirroring and other annoying apps suddenly appeared in my dock. This same issue has happened often in the last couple of years where the interim OS upgrades don't actually fully upgrade unless I shut down the Mac completely and reboot. Seriously, Apple?

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Answer 3

NJJLC Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 5, 2025 7:22 PM in response to Old Toad

The library was located in the internal drive. At the time when the problem happened, there was around 100 GB of free space - so storage was not the contributing factor.

As for the apps that I had with the machine - I had the same amount of apps before and after the complete reset and OS reinstall. When it is back to Sonoma, everything is back to normal.

It *may* be some of the apps not compatible with the Sequoia 16.2 (it was fine with Sequoia 16.1)...

Since it is now back to Sonoma and everything is back to normal. I will not risk installing the 16.2 again...will wait for a newer version, and then perhaps try again.

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

214,548 points

Jan 2, 2025 9:51 AM in response to NJJLC

Where is your library located? If on an external drive how is the drive formatted and connected to your Mac? Also how much free space is on that drive?

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?

Are you using iCloud Library? If so do you have Optimize Mac Storage enabled?

How much free space do you have on your boot drive?

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Answer 5

Jan 2, 2025 8:45 AM in response to NJJLC

I'm using an M3pro MacBook with Sequoia, and things are very speedy. My M1 MacAir is still on Sonoma-- I just haven't gotten around to it. I've seen some reference to some Macs seeing a Photos slowdown, but it seems rare.

Is your Library on an external drive, or is it in the Pictures folder?

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Answer 6

NJJLC Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 5, 2025 7:23 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thanks for the suggestion!

I will try the safe mode if the problem happens again with the next OS upgrade. As of now, I am back to Sonoma and everything works normal. I don't think I will risk the Sequoia 16.2 again - I spent too much time in troubleshooting, complete erase, app installation and restoration all files...

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Photo App is extremely lagging after Sequoia 15.2 upgrade

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