Golden Gate macOS glitches

If you just updated to Golden Gate (wishing the last day or two), Spotlight re-indexes your Mac after a macOS update, and this process can take some time and use system resources, causing some temporary slowdowns.

About Spotlight indexing and search results on Apple devices - Apple Support

If it's been longer than that, there are likely other causes. Since you are experiencing slowness in Safari, do you have any Safari extensions installed? If so, they may need to be updated to work properly with Safari 27.0.1. You can turn them all off, then turn them on one by one to test behavior.

More info from Apple: Use Safari extensions on your Mac - Apple Support

If you are experiencing more general slowness, then there may be other issues.

Runaway processes and low free storage space are common reasons for Macs to run slow / beachball. 

It is possible there are processes running in the background that are using significant resources. Check Activity Monitor, CPU tab (sort by % CPU) and Memory tab (sort by Memory) to see what's running hard. Make sure that View menu > All Processes is selected, so you are seeing everything.

Activity Monitor User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Confirm that you have sufficient free space on your internal storage. The absolute minimum is ~30-40 GB free space, and as a rule of thumb you should aim to have 15-20% of your total internal storage as free space. You can check the amount of free space you have on your Mac in a variety of ways:

Select your internal drive then click File menu > Get Info, check Available space

Go to System Settings > General > Storage, check the graphical display at the top of the settings pane

In Disk Utility (in Applications > Utilities), by selecting the main container disk below the drive itself (you may need to select View menu > Show all devices to see it)

In the System Report – hold the Option key and click the Apple menu > System Information (the top menu item), look for the name of your internal drive (Macintosh HD, unless you have renamed it as I did)

Note that on version of macOS prior to Golden Gate, the ‘available’ space reported with the first two methods above was greater than the ‘free’ space reported by the second two methods. Apple corrected that confusion with Golden Gate, and as shown in the above screenshot, the available/free space is consistent across the different methods. For more details, see this User Tip.

Some steps to take to safely free up space:

Free up storage space on Mac - Apple Support

Optimize storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

How to free up ‘System Data’ and other st… - Apple Community

If nothing in the above reveals an obvious culprit, then appropriate troubleshooting steps are Safe Mode and creating a new user account to test. 

See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.

Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support

If you have 3rd party ‘protection’ software installed, that may be the problem. That includes:

• Cleaners (software claiming to automatically free up space)
• Optimizers (software claiming to make your Mac run faster)
• Antivirus software
• VPN software (unless provided by a school/employer to enable access to internal resources from a remote location)

Such 3rd party system ‘helpers’, ‘cleaners’ and ‘protectors’ do more harm than good. In fact, such products are completely unnecessary for macOS and the only ‘good’ (if you want to call it that) they do is to put money in the developers’ pockets. Cleaners and protectors cause compatibility issues, often after macOS updates. Commercial VPNs claim to hide your browsing activity from websites, and while that may be true those VPN providers just sell your browsing data to others. For the user, all of these types of software offer only harm…and if that is limited to harm to your bank account, then count yourself lucky. If you have installed such software, follow the developer’s instructions to completely uninstall it (note that some developers fail to provide instructions and their software installs can be pervasive, meaning the only way to truly remove it is to erase your Mac, reinstall macOS then restore your user files from a backup).

It might help to download and run EtreCheck, written by a long-time forum member. The free version is fine. Post the full report using the Additional Text button. No personal information is revealed. 

Troubleshooting Safari Slowdowns on MacBook Air M1 After macOS 27.0 Upgrade

Device: MacBook Air 13-inch, Apple M1

macOS: 27.0 (as reported)

Problem: Safari's toolbar, header, or Smart Search field disappears and takes unusually long to reappear, with noticeable slowdown following the macOS upgrade.

I would like to identify whether this is a Safari-specific issue, a system performance problem, or a possible software regression.

1. Determine the scope

Test Finder, System Settings, and other applications. In Safari, try several websites and note whether the delay occurs after scrolling, switching tabs, waking from sleep, or returning to Safari.

• Safari only: investigate extensions, website data, and browser behaviour.
• Multiple applications: investigate CPU usage, memory pressure, and storage.
• Specific websites: consider site scripts, content blockers, or compatibility.

Apple: If Safari doesn't work as expected

2. Allow background tasks to finish

If the upgrade was recent, connect the Mac to power and Wi-Fi and allow background processing, such as Spotlight indexing and iCloud synchronization, to settle. Restart and retest. If the problem persists after several days, continue troubleshooting.

3. Check for updates and available storage

Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update and check for compatible updates.

Then open System Settings > General > Storage. Check available SSD space and safely remove unnecessary downloads, installers, or large files. Avoid deleting system files or indiscriminately clearing caches. 

Apple: Update macOS

Apple: Change Storage settings

4. Troubleshoot Safari

Check View > Always Show Toolbar, if available, and inspect View > Customize Toolbar.

Open Safari > Settings > Extensions and temporarily disable all extensions, including content blockers. Re-enable them individually to identify a possible culprit.

Open a Private Window with Shift–Command–N and test the same websites.

If only particular sites are affected, use Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data to remove data for those sites selectively.

Apple: Safari troubleshooting

Apple: Safari Extensions settings

5. Check CPU and memory

Open Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor. Check the CPU tab for sustained high usage and the Memory tab for memory pressure and swap usage. Close unnecessary applications and tabs, then retest. Avoid force-quitting unfamiliar system processes.

Apple: Activity Monitor memory usage

6. Compare browsers and test Safe Mode

Test the same websites in  another Web Browser .

• Safari alone is slow: a Safari-specific issue becomes more likely.
• All browsers or applications are slow: investigate system resources or macOS.
• Only certain websites are affected: investigate site-specific behaviour.

To test Safe Mode on an M1 Mac:

Shut down the Mac  ( Do Not use Restart ).

Hold the power button until startup options appear.

Select the startup disk, hold Shift, and choose Continue in Safe Mode.

1. Test Safari, then restart normally.

Improvement in Safe Mode may indicate interference from login items or third-party software.

Apple: Start up in Safe Mode

7. Gather information if the problem persists

Record:

Exact macOS version and build (Apple menu > About This Mac).

Safari version (Safari > About Safari).

Available SSD space and Activity Monitor findings.

Whether the problem affects all websites, other browsers, or other applications.

Whether disabling extensions, using a Private Window, or testing Safe Mode changes the behaviour.

Contact Apple Support if necessary. Avoid reinstalling macOS or erasing the Mac before simpler diagnostic steps are exhausted.

Part 1 of 3

Restart the computer in Safe Mode 

Do the issues persist ?

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 3

To Drill Down further and to avoid a game of 20 questions  

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 - Share Report >> Copy , then  paste  >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

Part 3 of 3

There are 5 Categories of Third Party Software / Services that are not needed 

Get rid of them via the Developers Instruction 

In no special order 

1 - Third Party 2 Way Firewalls 

like Lulu and Little Snitch 

2 -Commercial VPNs 

They may not be what one believes they are doing for the computer and what they actually are doing behind the scenes and unbeknownst to the user ( you ) 

They may also reduce your Internet Speeds significantly 

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29

VPN: What you need to know - Apple Community

3 - Third Party Security Software 

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX  Foundation and Permission Limitation. 

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that cannot be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.

Mac app security enhancements

The Built in Security  is all that is required to protect the computer.

Protecting against malware in macOS

4 - Third Party Disk Cleaners / Optimizer 

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster. 

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale. 

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.

This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.

It does not touch the Operating System itself, unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.

Then, the user’s environment has been badly compromised ( hosed ) to the extent that the whole system is unstable and unreliable 

5 - All in One 

"Avast Compressor" is not a standalone product, but rather a functional component of Avast Cleanup Premium (also available in Avast One), which is designed to free up disk space and improve device performance by compressing or optimizing large files and media

Yes me too - I update to 27.01 last night from the previous OS. Numerous glitches this morning, for example:

1) Very slow dragging and slowness in general

2) Failure to display Menu bar at top of screen when in an App is in full screen mode - moving the cursor to the top of the screen doesn't reveal it either

3) Inability to delete a draft email in Apple Mail - also doesn't display the Close/Minimise buttons in Mail and some other apps

4) Annoying repetition of switching Apps, only for another App to slide into view

These are just some observations after an hour of use this morning - I am sure there are more glitches

I’m still experiencing many of the same problems after updating :

1. Clicking an app in the Dock sometimes does nothing.
2. Command + Tab sometimes fails to switch between apps.
3. Using the four-finger gesture to show all open windows is very laggy and sometimes causes the system to hang.
4. The menu bar fails to appear, even when I move the pointer to the top of the screen. As a result I have made it remain visible at all times.
5. The window close and minimise buttons sometimes disappear or stop responding.

I’ve tried the steps suggested above by neuroanatomist, but unfortunately none of them have resolved these issues. The lag and unresponsiveness are making everyday tasks difficult.I also created a new user account and noticed a slight improvement, although the problems were not completely gone.Moving everything to a new user account would be inconvenient, so I would prefer to fix the issues in my existing account.

Doctor Zhivago wrote:

Apple just removed my post on the same issue and I have no idea why.

Apple Support Communities Use Agreement - Apple Community

1. Apple reserves the right to review content, including but not limited to questions, statements, images, avatars and links, submitted by users of the Site ("Submissions"). Apple may utilize automated systems, including artificial intelligence tools, to prescreen Submissions for further review. Apple retains the right, but not the responsibility, to edit, hold, block, or remove any Submission, including those deemed by Apple to violate the Agreement. Apple will make good faith efforts to investigate allegations that Submissions violate the Agreement but (a) makes no warranty to you that it will edit, remove, or continue to permit the display of any specific Submission, whether or not subject to such allegations, and (b) will have no liability whatsoever for editing, removing, or continuing to permit the display of any Submission whatsoever.

Apple just removed my post on the same issue and I have no idea why.