Level 1

33 points

After upgrade to Sonoma, opening of PAGES docs is VERY slow

On two MacBook Air M2, 2022, after upgrade from Ventura to Sonoma opening of PAGES docs is slow, up to a minute for a simple two pager text doc. Opening of PDF happens instantly.

What could cause this?

Pages version 14.2 (7041.0.109), Sonoma 14.6.1

I reassigned that PAGES documents will be open with PAGES as a default in Finder, although it was already correctly assigned.
I reindexed Spotlight
I reinstalled the entire macOS Sonoma from Recovery.
I put a test file into a folder, rather than keeping it on the desktop.

The exact observation is, after a restart and waiting for two mins before I tried anything:

Double click on PAGES document
PAGES loads at acceptable speed
The document opens over a minute later.

Working in a document is normal, a new unrelated doc from PAGES template chooser opens normal.

MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

Posted on Nov 14, 2024 4:08 PM

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,248 points

Posted on Nov 21, 2024 10:40 AM

One last straw… press and hold the shift key while launching Pages. Then open any document and observe the document opening time. The shift key approach prevents Pages from using its last execution state, and maybe a miracle will happen by sidestepping it.

Creating a new user is simple but migrating your existing user data to the new user is H*LL owing to specific current permissions and ownership. I would avoid that at all costs as it will be prohibitively expensive in time and profanity.

Another approach, assuming you have backed up any custom Pages templates from that com.apple.iWork.Pages container location, would be quit Pages, and then move the preceding Pages container folder to the Desktop, and let Pages recreate that container hierarchy the next time Pages is launched. I usually recommend this as the very last approach paying attention to ensuring you have a backup of any custom (My Templates) templates.

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60 replies

Mar 21, 2025 2:02 PM in response to Mike.Minh

Thank you very much! I'm on an iMac 14.7.4 and have several .pages file that say they are corrupted when I tried to open them. Holding the shift key while launching Pages allowed me to open the files.

Mike.Minh Author

Level 1

33 points

Nov 18, 2024 10:49 AM in response to VikingOSX

14.7.1 is installed, I might have made a typo when I said 14.6.1 (which did exist in the past).

Still the same problem.

Nov 19, 2024 11:45 PM in response to Mike.Minh

Correction on my last post. Has anyone heard of Pages documents opening slowly on macOS 15.1 or macOS 15.1.1 ?

Dec 4, 2024 6:04 AM in response to Mike.Minh

So are people just waiting for the Sonoma update and/or creating new user admin accounts? Or has anyone found another solution?

Dec 5, 2024 12:52 AM in response to Mike.Minh

I have this problem too (upgraded from the latest Ventura to 14.7.1 a few days ago), and am kind of desperate, so I'll be happy to beta-test any fix by Apple (in case they are reading this)

Dec 5, 2024 10:38 AM in response to bdimitrov

so do I - Pages 14.2, but now with Sonoma 14.7.1 so still no fix.

Anyone reading this thread found a way to make this version of Pages work properly yet?

Dec 6, 2024 7:08 PM in response to citroenDS

Nope. Also Numbers, Preview, Text Edit and others so far are BROKEN. Who authorized this???

Dec 7, 2024 4:33 AM in response to Mike.Minh

Rahmaomera

Dec 11, 2024 11:15 AM in response to VikingOSX

Sadly, no fix at all with 14.7.2 as far as I can see. All the same problems. Very disappointing.

Dec 15, 2024 6:19 PM in response to Fraxis2007

Too little too late. What about those of us who relied on you to provide quality professional products? YOU FAILED US.

Lt. Kije

Level 1

6 points

Jan 29, 2025 5:29 AM in response to Mike.Minh

The simple upgrade to 14.7.3 on my M1 MacBook Pro fixed the issue for me also - whew!

Lt. Kije

Level 1

6 points

Jan 29, 2025 9:18 AM in response to hinachobi

I did also and it solved the problem.

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,248 points

Feb 13, 2025 9:29 AM in response to Mike.Minh

I was going to ask you about installing 14.7.4 and you have answered that question.

Gordo42

Level 1

18 points

Mar 21, 2025 2:24 PM in response to Mike.Minh

Oops, yes 14.7.3.

Nov 20, 2024 8:52 PM in response to Mike.Minh

I have the same problem with a Mac Mini M1 running Sonoma 14.7.1. Pages and Numbers (14.2 for each) are slow to open and both of them do not show recent documents like they did before this OS upgrade. I have followed all suggestions here to re-populate recent documents in both progs and still get the same results. This problem even occurs when I boot in Safe mode. I'll post an update when I find a solution.

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After upgrade to Sonoma, opening of PAGES docs is VERY slow