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Just wanted to let you know that I had the same issue with a new MacBook Pro, and 3 hours with Apple support did nothing to fix it. They actually claimed this probably was normal behaviour at the end.

Below solved it for me.

option+command+r, install,and no iCloud login or Touch ID set in configuration stage.
0 delay after above procedure.
I've never done this before? Are you even able to skip the iCloud login phase and start using the laptop? I thought that was mandatory to use a Mac (Mac n00b!3 here)
 
I've never done this before? Are you even able to skip the iCloud login phase and start using the laptop? I thought that was mandatory to use a Mac (Mac n00b!3 here)
Yes, thats possible. There is a tiny ”Do this later” link at the top when going through setup. Hard to spot though.
 
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I have had the same issue with 3 Macbook Pros now.
My old one (Late 2013) started acting up and being slow in the preferences, and I thought it was just getting old.
Ordered a new one from Apple (MacBook Pro 13" with 2 TB Ports), but the Security Preferences Pane was just horribly slow (more than 3-4 min until it opened, and another couple of min until I was finally able to edit).
So I returned it and 1 month later I opted for the MacBook Pro 16".
Same issue, even without installing any other software. Now it takes even longer (up to 12 min, even recorded a couple of videos of that).
I tried everything (reinstalling, not using Touch ID and not even configuring it), but nothing worked. I'm returning that Macbook as well and will just keep my old one that I wanted to sell.
At least here it only takes a minute or so in total.
 
Just taken delivery of a new 16-inch and have found the same issue.
1. Unlocking "authenticating" prefs
2. Users & Groups
3. Security & Privacy

Turned 'Unlock with Apple Watch' off. Only thing I skipped at set-up was 'Hey Siri'.

Very odd.
 
Just taken delivery of a new 16-inch and have found the same issue.
1. Unlocking "authenticating" prefs
2. Users & Groups
3. Security & Privacy

Turned 'Unlock with Apple Watch' off. Only thing I skipped at set-up was 'Hey Siri'.

Very odd.

Try going to Users in preferences and select one of the stock pictures as your profile picture. Solved the problem for me and others.
 
After three fresh reinstalls on my 16” (not configuring iCloud and TouchID on one try) I gave up and returned it. I’m not spending that much money on a faulty machine or one that I need to invest a lot of time into to get it to work.
i created a new Volume on my old 13” and reinstalled macOS there.without configuring iCloud, I managed to get it to work and now it runs smoothly (the weird processes that were running before on both the 13” and the 16” are not running as well) and all preferences and password prompts are instantaneous.
copied my data from from the old volume to the new and I’m happy again with my 13”.

btw, your advice on the stock profile pictures did not help in my case unfortunately.
but thank you for responding
 
Hi there! I'm having the same problem here. I've tried everything, but nothing works. Apple Support isn't helping as well.

/edit: just saw the stock pictures tip. it's odd, but worked for me.
 
Just wanted to give a HUGE THANK YOU to the person that mentioned changing the logon picture. You saved me possibly returning this laptop and hours, perhaps days of time and immense frustration.

Computer is flawless now.

I haven't logged into this website in years, but I felt the need to say thanks.
 
I wanted to check in as well to say that the Profile Photo was the solution for me as well. Seems to be some sort of corrupted photo that causes the whole system to be slow? Weird.

I actually couldn't even click edit on the Profile Photo, So I had to create a new user in system preferences (With a stock photo), and then delete the original user (With the corrupted photo) And now everything on my MacBook Pro works PERFECT!

Thank you!
 
Wanted to chime in here and say that I experienced the exact same issue with my new Macbook Pro 13" 2020. Editing the profile picture (System Preferences > Users & Groups) solved it.
 
Thank you so much! the changing the profile picture finally fixed my issue on my 16' Macbook Pro. It was very annoying and I just thought was part of the system with the touchbar.
 
Try going to Users in preferences and select one of the stock pictures as your profile picture. Solved the problem for me and others.
Thank you so much! This worked for me too and I was just about to resign myself to start a re-install. (iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)
 
Try going to Users in preferences and select one of the stock pictures as your profile picture. Solved the problem for me and others.

This worked for me too. I then selected another custom profile picture and it's still working nice and fast!
 
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