Tahoe OS on MacAir 2025 with M3 chip Lags, Lags, Lags, and track pad freezes

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Part 1 of 2

Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading. It will only load the Minimum amount of Core Apple Processes to allow the the computer to function at a reduced Level of Performance 

Does the issue present in this mode ?

Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.

If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.

Part 2 of 2

To Drill Down further and to avoid a session of Q&A, Q&A  and Q&A  

Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.

The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet "  and is  only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer Hardware / Software used on this computer 

The application is free or paid from added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

It is possible there are processes running in the background that are using significant resources. Check Activity Monitor, CPU tab, sort by % CPU to see what's running hard.

Activity Monitor User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Most likely there is something running on your Mac that isn’t completely compatible with Tahoe. See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Applications -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor -> View (menu) -> All Processes -> CPU (tab)

Applications -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor -> View (menu) -> All Processes -> Memory (tab)

Keep Activity Monitor running. When the issue occurs, check the Activity Monitor CPU and Memory tabs. See if there is a process or processes using excessive amounts of CPU or Memory.

What you describe has me leaning towards excessive Memory usage, but it could be CPU and or both.

alicefromwash wrote:

seriously?

try reading the whole thread of my comments instead of just casting shadow.

As long as we are comparing Apples to Apples

Using a 15" M4 MBA with 16 GB Unified RAM and 500 GB SSD drive

It arrived , July 21, 2025, as Brand New with macOS Sequoia 15.5

Since that time it has undergone several Sequoia updates and upGraded to macOS 26.0, to 26.0.1 to current Tahoe 26.1

None of the issues you have described have occurred

We deal with Computer Issue only - full stop

Should the user ( you ) decide to follow some of the advises already supplied - good

If you what to Drill Down even further on this computer issue

Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.

The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet "  and is  only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer Hardware / Software used on this computer 

The application is free or paid from added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

This is purely optional though is would give use some real and tangible evidence where some issues maybe coming from

An aside to the current issues but related to some other postings

To get the replies to your question in chronological order by Date 

Click on your User Name  >>   >> " Edit Profile and Preferences "

Scroll way down and look for >> >> " Other Preferences "

Change the >> >> " Default thread sort " to Oldest 

alicefromwash wrote:

thank-you.

The default makes it impossible to follow conversations.

Yes you are very right 👍 that the Default Sort Order in these Forums are jumbled and not in a logical sequence

On this issue, we all agree

Unfortunately, we mere morals do not have control over the Default Order of questions

Though, as a user like yourself

If I exercise my privileges that we ALL possess

We >> you << can change the Sort Order to something else

Those instructions have been provided IF you choose to use them

We digress from the Computer issue which it is suggested we focus bacK ON

If I may butt in here

What exactly has the user ( you ) made of the several suggestions

Looking that them and doing nothing with them is like sitting on the couch and watching the paint dry on the wall

alicefromwash wrote:

From what I can tell from online discussions this is a widespread problem with Tahoe OS.

"widespread" is relative. It wouldn't surprise me if close to a million users have installed Tahoe. So I would consider 50% or more reporting the same thing as widespread. 🤔

Just a side note, there is no M3 2025 MBA. It's either an M3 2024 or M4 2025 MBA. Typo maybe?

FWIW, what you describe is not normal. Follow the previous suggestions.

@ neuroanatomist

Only for continuity purposes

Severe lag and freezing after macOS Tahoe… - Apple Community

I wasn't going to mention it before but, one of my Macs is an M1 MBA running Tahoe 26.1 and I've had none of the issues you mention. And, an M3 is quite bit more capable.