macOS Tahoe and the Electron App Performance Issue: What You Need to Know
Recent updates to macOS, specifically Tahoe, have brought a performance snag to light for users of applications built with electron. Many have reported experiencing unexpected slowdowns, increased GPU usage, and overheating macs. Let’s break down what’s happening and how to address it.
Understanding the Root Cause
Electron allows developers to build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies. Though, Apple recently altered something within macOS that inadvertently caused a spike in GPU usage for many Electron-based apps. This wasn’t a malicious change, but rather a consequence of Apple’s internal workings not being fully aligned with how Electron functions.
Essentially, Apple doesn’t always prioritize testing compatibility with frameworks like Electron to the same degree they do the public ones.This led to a widespread issue impacting a significant number of popular applications.
Identifying affected Apps & The Fix
Fortunately, developers have been swift to respond. Newer versions of Electron no longer rely on the problematic private API that triggered the issue.They are actively updating their apps to mitigate the performance hit.
A helpful resource for tracking which apps have been updated is shameelectron. this tracker provides a clear overview of popular apps and their Electron version status.
Here’s a snapshot of apps that have been updated:
* Claude
* Cluely
* Discord
* Docker Desktop
* Figma
* GitHub Desktop
* MongoDB Compass
* Notion
* Obsidian
* Pocket Casts
* Signal
* Slack
* Super Productivity
* Visual studio code
Unfortunately, some major apps are still lagging behind with updates, including:
* 1Password
* Bitwarden
* Cursor
* Dropbox
* Windsurf
You can find a more complete and up-to-date list on the ShameElectron tracker.
What Can You Do?
If your Mac has been running hotter or slower since the macOS Tahoe update,the culprit might be an un-updated Electron app running in the background. Here’s what you should do:
- Check for Updates: Open each of your Electron-based apps and manually check for updates.
- Monitor Activity: Use Activity Monitor (found in Applications/Utilities) to identify apps consuming excessive CPU or GPU resources.
- Close Needless Apps: If you find an un-updated app is hogging resources, close it until an update is available.
- Stay Informed: Regularly check the ShameElectron tracker to see the latest update status of your frequently used apps.
By taking these steps,you can reclaim your Mac’s performance and enjoy a smoother,cooler computing experience. Remember, developers are working diligently to resolve this issue, and the situation is improving as updates roll out.