High Memory Usage and Severe Slowdown After macOS Update
Hello
After updating macOS, I have been experiencing a serious issue: my memory (RAM) usage has increased abnormally, and the system has become extremely slow. Currently, I can barely perform any tasks without the system freezing or becoming unresponsive.
iMac 24″, macOS 26.1
I'm not especially surprised by your screenshot for a Mac with 8 GB or memory that's running Illustrator and Chrome.
Chrome is a notorious resource hog on Macs. Installing it also installs multiple ‘helpers’ from Google that run in the background, and their purpose is not necessarily to help you but to help Google (keep in mind that Google’s primary source of revenue is using your data to drive targeted advertising). Even if you aren’t running the Chrome app, those system extensions are always running in the background. I’d recommend deleting Chrome and all related components.
If you are looking for something other than Safari, consider Firefox or Brave (the latter is based on Chrome code but without the Google baggage).
Having said that, your Mac should not be freezing up with those apps, so it may be that something else is going on.
1) How much free space is available on your internal storage? If that is <10% of your capacity, you can run into issues.
2) There may be issues with incompatible 3rd party extensions. See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup.
I'm not especially surprised by your screenshot for a Mac with 8 GB or memory that's running Illustrator and Chrome.
Chrome is a notorious resource hog on Macs. Installing it also installs multiple ‘helpers’ from Google that run in the background, and their purpose is not necessarily to help you but to help Google (keep in mind that Google’s primary source of revenue is using your data to drive targeted advertising). Even if you aren’t running the Chrome app, those system extensions are always running in the background. I’d recommend deleting Chrome and all related components.
If you are looking for something other than Safari, consider Firefox or Brave (the latter is based on Chrome code but without the Google baggage).
Having said that, your Mac should not be freezing up with those apps, so it may be that something else is going on.
1) How much free space is available on your internal storage? If that is <10% of your capacity, you can run into issues.
2) There may be issues with incompatible 3rd party extensions. See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup.
Sam_Hosseini wrote:
Do you think it’s a good idea if I reinstall the previous update, macOS Sequoia?
It is nearly impossible to return to Sequoia. It requires wiping everything and then restoring from a backup that has not been touched by Tahoe.
What only 8GB of RAM, one easy fix would to reduce the number of Google Chrome features that you have running.
To get a better picture, run and post an EtreCheckPro as suggested by KiltedTim.
Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html
Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
Sam_Hosseini wrote:
Thank you so much.
Do you think it’s a good idea if I reinstall the previous update, macOS Sequoia? It was running very smoothly on my system and I didn’t have any issues with it.
Do not even consider this downgrade to Sequoia until you have read the below
User Risk Assessment: macOS Downgrade Procedure
Before initiating any downgrade from macOS 26 (Tahoe) to an earlier version such as macOS Sequoia, assess the user’s tolerance for potential risks. The following checklist must be completed before proceeding.
Primary System Dependency
Determine whether the affected Mac is the user’s primary or only computer.
If the user cannot function without this system for several days in the event of a failed downgrade, the risk level is high.
The downgrade should be postponed or avoided until proper contingency measures are established.
Availability of a Secondary macOS System
Confirm that the user has access to another Apple computer currently running macOS 15 or macOS 26 (Tahoe).
This secondary system must be capable of performing a Revive or Restore operation on the target Mac’s firmware if required.
Lack of a secondary Mac significantly reduces the ability to recover from firmware corruption or boot failures.
Firmware Compatibility and Secure Enclave Risks
Be aware that upgrading to macOS 26 (Tahoe) likely includes a firmware update affecting the logic board and Secure Enclave Processor (SEP).
Downgrading to an earlier version (e.g., Sequoia) may introduce firmware mismatch issues, leading to instability or loss of functionality.
There have been at least three documented cases where downgrading from Tahoe to Sequoia resulted in Secure Enclave malfunctions, requiring full system restoration or hardware servicing.
Backup Integrity and Recovery Preparedness
Verify that the user has at least three complete backups created before the macOS 26 (Tahoe) upgrade.
Implement the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy:
3 total copies of essential data
2 different backup methods or storage media
1 copy stored offsite (for protection against natural or human-caused disasters)
Each backup should reside on a dedicated, single-purpose external drive.
For enhanced backup and cloning capabilities beyond Time Machine, refer to:
Recommendation Summary
If the user answers NO to any of the above questions:
Downgrading the Mac is not recommended.
Proceeding without proper contingency plans, verified backups, and recovery tools may result in:
Data loss
Firmware corruption
Secure Enclave failure
Complete system inoperability
Chrome is a serious resource hog. Adobe's apps aren't much better.
Memory pressure looks "ok" though I do see the spike.
Download etrecheck and post the report it generates here. That will give us an idea of what's going on behind the scenes.
One reason is that Spotlight is reindexing your Mac as well as any other storage you have connected to Mac if you enabled the option.
Thank you so much.
Do you think it’s a good idea if I reinstall the previous update, macOS Sequoia? It was running very smoothly on my system and I didn’t have any issues with it.
Thank you very much for your time, it was a great tip.
You are welcome
High Memory Usage and Severe Slowdown After macOS Update
