Matlab 2021a is running extremely slow on MacBook Pro. How can I fix this?

I recently purchased a new MacBook Pro. It is running on Big Sur 11.4, and it has 16 GB ram, a 2GHz Quad-Core Intel i5.

I use Matlab 2021a on it. However, this program runs extremely slow. It is actually completely disfunctional.

I tried most of the solutions offered on the internet: reinstall Matlab, reinstall Big Sur, install other versions of Matlab, reset SMC, I put source control to none in the Matlab preferences, I increased the java heap memory, ... nothing seems to work.

What could be a possible solution to this? All other programs run just fine.

Thanks

Answer 1

[Peter Brady]

Hey Adriaan,

I had the same issue on my personal MacBook Air after upgrading to 11.4, and it was super frustrating. Yesterday I installed the Update 3 Patch for R2021a and this has fixed my issues.

Hope that helps,

-pete

PS: I am a MathWorker but these are my personal opinions.

[Adriaan Campo]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your advice. Upon reading it, I promptly installed update 3.

However, this did not solve my problem.

I hope I will find a solution soon.

Best,

Adriaan

[Peter Brady]

Sorry then, the only other thing that I did when debugging my Update 2 issues was to grant full disk access to the MATALB_R2021a app via the Security Panel in System Preferences. This made no difference to Update 2 but perhaps it helped Update 3?

-pete

[Adriaan Campo]

Dear Peter,

Again, I tried your suggestion.

Finally, Matlab works like it should.. Thanks so much for your advice!

Best regards,

Adriaan

[Peter Brady]

Hey, no worries.

I've found the move to Apple silicon and OS updates broke a few of my other apps as well. For completeness (and search engines) if you are happy with this answer please mark this questions as answered.

Cheers,

-pete

[Geoff Lee]

Hi, where can I find the patch to install? do I have to run the installer again

[Walter Roberson]

@Geoff Lee

In the Command Window,

"Home" tab --> Help -> Check For Updates (current versions)

"Home" tab --> Add-Ons --> Check For Updates --> Products (slightly older versions)

[Peter Brady]

And for completeness there has been posted since 21 June an official notification:

https://au.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/861830-why-is-matlab-slow-after-updating-my-macos-to-version-11-4

[Adam Snyder]

I doubt the patch is the answer because I just updated to r2021b (which would have presumably had the patch, right?) and this continues to be a problem... the terminal workaround seems to work but is not ideal

[Richard Waugh]

Having the same problem with 2021b and Mac OS 12.1, Monterey. Diasabled Source control and things seemd to improve slightly, but still very slow.

[Richard Waugh]

Neither disabling "Source Control" nor giving MAtLab full disk access has made an appreciable difference