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MacBook Pro is stuttering since 15.3 update

Balkon

Balkon

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 17, 2017
36
39
Since updating my MacBook Pro (14", M4 Pro, 2024) from macOS 15.2 to 15.3, the system randomly stutters for a few seconds. Sometimes, I can use macOS for several minutes without issues, while other times, multiple stutters occur within one or two minutes. Each stutter freezes the entire system for two to five seconds (every animation stops, trackpad feedback ceases, etc.). The only thing that continues to function is the spinning rainbow cursor animation. These brief freezes make the system nearly unusable and drive me crazy.

How can I identify the cause of this issue and fix it?
 
My recommendation, leave the computer for an hour or two, then reboot and see whether the issue persists.

If it doesn't go away, open Activity Monitor and check the CPU and RAM usage for signs of what's going on, especially during one of the stutterings (if it doesn't hang itself).

If the whole GUI is frozen the next step would be to use the Terminal and set up a monitoring script that gathers information in the background (as long as that still works).
 
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Thank you for your help.

I’ve left the computer on for several hours multiple times and always perform a full shutdown after each use, but that hasn’t made a difference. I also monitored system performance using Activity Monitor, but it doesn’t seem to react to the stutters at all. CPU usage remains between 65–80% inactive, and RAM usage is around 50%, with a similar amount cached. This suggests that CPU and RAM aren’t being pushed to their limits, yet my system still stutters.

I have the impression that the issue is UI-related—not tied to a single application, but rather a problem with the operating system itself.

What should I monitor via script to help diagnose the issue?

This feels like the "good" old Windows days...
 
Balkon, I'm having the same issue on my studio. As with yours, It freezes for a few seconds, but the CPU, etc, doesn't show any issues - reboot, it's fine, but within an hour or so, the issue comes back. It's not a problem with the resources of the machine as this unit has a ton of memory and CPU.
 
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Balkon said:
Since updating my MacBook Pro (14", M4 Pro, 2024) from macOS 15.2 to 15.3, the system randomly stutters for a few seconds. Sometimes, I can use macOS for several minutes without issues, while other times, multiple stutters occur within one or two minutes. Each stutter freezes the entire system for two to five seconds (every animation stops, trackpad feedback ceases, etc.). The only thing that continues to function is the spinning rainbow cursor animation. These brief freezes make the system nearly unusable and drive me crazy.

How can I identify the cause of this issue and fix it?
Click to expand...

I have this same issue with 15.3. Worked fine on 1 and 2 but get stuttering, sluggish slow response times. A couple apps would not load and I had an issue with my Downloads and documents folder.

I ended up creating a new user and re-installing a few apps and it is a slight bit better.

Also, I suspect there were too many UI enhancements and AI that is causing performance and non responsive issues. Others have noted a download problem as well.
 
I’m somewhat relieved to know that others are experiencing the same issue. Interestingly, I didn’t encounter any stuttering before logging in, but often enough immediately afterwards.
 
Balkon said:
Since updating my MacBook Pro (14", M4 Pro, 2024) from macOS 15.2 to 15.3, the system randomly stutters for a few seconds. Sometimes, I can use macOS for several minutes without issues, while other times, multiple stutters occur within one or two minutes. Each stutter freezes the entire system for two to five seconds (every animation stops, trackpad feedback ceases, etc.). The only thing that continues to function is the spinning rainbow cursor animation. These brief freezes make the system nearly unusable and drive me crazy.
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm getting this, but only once or twice a day. Never had it before 15.3. It's not app-related, because I first experienced it while viewing in Photos, then Firefox – I noticed network traffic stops too – then Notes. I don't do anything processor intensive, so it's not that. Weird.
 
iSuzan said:
What do you have installed an your machine?
Click to expand...

Besides several Apple apps: Zed, Sketch, iA Writer, Goodnotes, Unity (incl. Visual Studio Code) and the Affinity suite.



ajmcello said:
I ended up creating a new user and re-installing a few apps and it is a slight bit better.
Click to expand...

Did creating the new user really help or not really?



iBookmaster said:
If that doesn't help I usually create a new user and see if it is smooth or if you have the same problem. If it smooths out, I move everything over to the new account and delete the old one about 6 months later.
Click to expand...

I'll wait until 15.4 becomes available. If after all the app updates and the 15.4 update it still doesn't get any better then I'll perhaps reinstall the MacBook Pro.



auxbuss said:
Yes, I'm getting this, but only once or twice a day. Never had it before 15.3. It's not app-related, because I first experienced it while viewing in Photos, then Firefox – I noticed network traffic stops too – then Notes. I don't do anything processor intensive, so it's not that. Weird.
Click to expand...

With once or twice a day I would be happy. :D
 
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Balkon said:
Besides several Apple apps: Zed, Sketch, iA Writer, Goodnotes, Unity (incl. Visual Studio Code) and the Affinity suite.





Did creating the new user really help or not really?





I'll wait until 15.4 becomes available. If after all the app updates and the 15.4 update it still doesn't get any better then I'll perhaps reinstall the MacBook Pro.





With once or twice a day I would be happy. :D
Click to expand...
I am starting to have hesitations with 15.3 also. So, I have disabled Apple Intelligence. It hasn't gone away though. I can still Clean Up in Photos though. I have read it takes up to a week for Intelligence to go away. I am going to find out how long it takes. So far, the hesitations have mostly stopped. Let's see.
 
I have the same problem on my M2 Pro 14 inch. Very annoying...
 
Last edited:
Alameda said:
Try turning off Apple AI?
Click to expand...
I tried that. In the end what really solved my problem was unfortunately to reinstall mac os. BUT I just downloaded it from the app store and reinstalled it without losing any data, so it was ok. Now it works again without an issue.
 
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bellnen said:
I tried that. In the end what really solved my problem was unfortunately to reinstall mac os. BUT I just downloaded it from the app store and reinstalled it without losing any data, so it was ok. Now it works again without an issue.
Click to expand...
How do you do that?
I only know that it displays “Update” in the Settings app.
 
Alameda said:
How do you do that?
I only know that it displays “Update” in the Settings app.
Click to expand...
Just open the regular appstore and search for you current mac os in case of the most recent being "macOS Sequoia". Download it run it and click through. Just make sure when it asks for the disk to select you current mac os disk (just in case you have any external ssds connected). Then let it do it's thing. Worked for me.
 
So I deleted the main file for Apple Intelligence. I tried to follow these instructions but, it didn't work for me. I did remove the file. I'll tell you how after showing the instructions I found:

  1. Disable Apple Intelligence in System Settings.
  2. Start up into Recovery Mode. (Instructions)
  3. Open Terminal (Utilities menu, Terminal)
  4. Type: csrutil disable
  5. Shut down and start back up in Recovery Mode.
  6. Open Disk Utility.
  7. Right-click on 'Data' under 'Macintosh HD' and choose Mount.
  8. Quit Disk Utility and open Terminal again.
  9. Type: rm -rf /Volumes/Data/System/Library/AssetsV2/com_apple_MobileAsset_UAF_FM_GenerativeModels
  10. Type: csrutil enable
  11. Reboot
This didn't work but, I disabled system integrity by starting in recovery mode, restarting and finding the file com_apple_MobileAsset_UAF_FM_GenerativeModels and deleting it manually. Then emptying the trash, shutting down and restarting in recovery mode, launching Terminal and enabling system integrity. It doesn't get rid of all Apple Intelligence totally because after doing this I opened Photos, clicked on a photo, then editing and Clean Up is still available and worked! So far everything is running smooth. I'll come back after a day or 2 and let everybody know if it's still zippy!
 
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The strange thing is, I live in Germany, where Apple Intelligence is disabled by default. Perhaps Apple activated it to start working in the background before its launch sometime in April. Nevertheless, the option is still disabled by default.
 
Balkon said:
The strange thing is, I live in Germany, where Apple Intelligence is disabled by default. Perhaps Apple activated it to start working in the background before its launch sometime in April. Nevertheless, the option is still disabled by default.
Click to expand...
I can't believe AI is working while you switched it off or never switched it on.
Is the switch in System Settings > Privacy&Security > Apple Intelligence Report also OFF?

Then again, on all my machines (below) there is some minor slowness but not as with the other
messengers above. I use LibreOffice and Mozilla stuff and those are also suffering a bit.
Let's wait for 15.3.1, 15.3.1.1 etc.
;JOOP!
 
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I can't switch it off or on because at the moment it isn't available in Germany (at least not for a system that uses German as main language).
 
Balkon said:
I can't switch it off or on because at the moment it isn't available in Germany (at least not for a system that uses German as main language).
Click to expand...
Funny: I chose UK English (because I'm Dutch ?!?) of which they say "no AI available too") and ....
.... I can switch it all on or off.

OFF! definitely: I will do the smart thinking myself.
;JOOP!
 
Alameda said:
Try turning off Apple AI?
Click to expand...
I did that after finder started actings strange(like needed to go on show all windows for it to work otherwise it looked frozen :S) after turning AI off.. back to normal :) it's bug and first AI release so it happens..

still having problem with safari youtube to go full screen.. it just clicks and nothing happens unless I restart mac then it works for some time pa after day or two again same thing.. running macbook pro 14" m4 pro 24gb.. only extension is adblock.
 
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