Level 1

33 points

Anyone else finding that Tahoe 26 freezes up every few minutes?

I installed Tahoe 26 last night on my 2024 MacBook Pro (M3). Are other people finding that it just freezes up every few minutes? I don't have any "interesting" apps installed (other than MS Word they are all Apple Apps). But every 10-15 minutes, everything just freezes up: I can move the mouse but not click on anything. It stays that way for 2-5 minutes, then resumes normal operation. It happens whether I am running software or just navigating in the finder. So right now, I'm trying to figure out if this is a "me problem" or an "I upgraded too soon" mistake.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Sep 22, 2025 10:56 AM

Top-ranking reply

stwskinn

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Oct 21, 2025 12:44 PM

I had the same issue with my Mac Mini M2 Pro freezing and just being totally unusable. I contacted Apple Support several times with no resolution other than my device is new enough that it is supported for Tahoe OS26. I called them back today and demanded that they help me roll back my OS to Sequoia. At first they tried to tell me that I couldn’t roll it back. Thet told me it would reinstall OS 26. This was not true! When when through the steps it offered me to install Sequoia and that’s what I did. The blazing fast performance has been restored to my Mini and it is functional again. I recommend trying Tahoe only in virtualized environment until they release the stable RC. Otherwise it is just too unstable for everyday use

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56 replies

brian206

Level 1

20 points

Sep 30, 2025 4:34 PM in response to brian206

26.0.1

Oct 1, 2025 6:39 AM in response to dhp317

same problem with TWS Interactive blockers!

others apps works with no problems!

leroyk

Level 1

4 points

Nov 8, 2025 6:28 AM in response to dhp317

M4 Max Studio. Finder occasionally hangs for 30 seconds or so. 26.0.1 did nothing to fix it. All other software is responsive during this time.

dhp317 Author

Level 1

33 points

Sep 22, 2025 11:17 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Thanks for your appropriate suggestions. I should have mentioned that I have done that. If anything, the freezing up was more frequent in safe mode. I think I will roll back to Sequoia and hope something gets patched.

kooik_

Level 1

8 points

Sep 28, 2025 6:00 AM in response to dhp317

yeah same i have that freezing problem in my mac too , i think it’s not just mac but the iphones too my iphone 13 after upgrading to ios 26 it lags and freezes, there is too much bugs in this so called water like transparent ui, or are they doing it intentionally??

brian206

Level 1

20 points

Sep 30, 2025 4:24 PM in response to dhp317

My computer is unusable. I installed Tahoe last week and my computer has been fine but just today it’s freezing. I have to hold down the power button to force the computer to shut down but within 30 seconds of re-starting the computer is frozen.

MacBook Air M1

Has anyone found solutions other than going back to the old software?

dhp317 Author

Level 1

33 points

Oct 1, 2025 8:18 AM in response to dhp317

I naively thought that 26.0.1 would fix things up, so I tied the move from Sequoia once again. Even worse now. The glitches (now I lose the built-in track pad functionality every few minutes) plus the inexplicable design choices (you can't search for files using spotlight unless your iPhone is unlocked and nearby?!?!) mean I will not be trying Tahoe again. Let's see what '27 brings.

Oct 21, 2025 8:26 AM in response to dhp317

EtreCheck finds that I have some stuff in my system that may be slowing it down... but I have to pay 20 bucks for the pro version to find out how to fix it. (I might do this).

It is RIDICULOUS however, that Apple issues an update that makes my machine constantly freeze and I have to pay money to a third party to fix what Apple broke.

Oct 21, 2025 8:59 AM in response to caferoyalbooks

OMG...am so glad to see this post because this "freeze" issue is driving me crazy.....actually I've never had an install upgrade that wiped out so many settings I rely on.....I will follow your directions and hold my breath that it will solve the problem. Thanks for the step by step.

Oct 21, 2025 9:01 AM in response to dialabrain

Except that... it worked fine under Sequoia, and there shouldn't have been major implications for this update...

...and on top of that, the fact that Apple makes it so very difficult to figure out what it is, and that it is harder to deal with extensions in MacOS 26 than it was in MacOS System 6!

Very un-Mac-like.

dialabrain

Level 10

135,545 points

Oct 21, 2025 9:39 AM in response to neuroanatomist

neuroanatomist wrote:

I fail to see how it is Apple's fault that the developers who's software you chose to install failed to properly update their software to be compatible with Tahoe.

I understand it. With some folks, everything is Apple's fault. 😏

Oct 21, 2025 11:36 AM in response to dialabrain

I've never experienced this in a MacOS upgrade, and they do get to test these things, so yes... It is, in a very real sense, their fault that 1. This happens and that 2. I virtually can't find the source of the problem without investing in a third party app.

Oct 21, 2025 12:03 PM in response to peterhamm

peterhamm wrote:

I've never experienced this in a MacOS upgrade, and they do get to test these things, so yes... It is, in a very real sense, their fault that 1. This happens and that 2. I virtually can't find the source of the problem without investing in a third party app.

Yes, it’s Apple’s fault. That’s why it affects all users running Tahoe. Oh wait, it doesn’t… it must affect most of them, after all 39 other people clicked me too on this post. That’s got to be a significant fraction of the installed base, right?

dhp317 Author

Level 1

33 points

Nov 20, 2025 7:02 AM in response to peterhamm

Thank you for sharing and I am happy your computer works. But Apple must know that that is not a solution. If my computer worked, and then the only thing that changed is the upgrade Apple (eventually) forces you in to doing, and then it doesn't work. Then the upgrade or the upgrade process is broken. If there are known compatibility issues with software, your upgrade should do a pre-check to warn you - as every software maker used to do.

[Edited by Moderator]

KiltedTim

Level 10

224,652 points

Sep 22, 2025 10:57 AM in response to dhp317

Nope. No problems on either my M3 iMac or my M4 MacBook Air.

Anyone else finding that Tahoe 26 freezes up every few minutes?