Switching to Xcode from other apps takes enormous time

Developer Tools & Services Xcode
Leo Braun OP
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I have a powerful machine (Mac Studio M1 Max, 64 GB).

Switching between apps is instantaneous. Except for Xcode.

It consistently takes 2+ seconds to switch to Xcode from any app under any memory pressure. (And yes, it's an absolutely enormous amount of time for this task.)

The same problem was with Xcode 26. I hoped that Xcode 27 will fix it, but nothing changed after updating.

There are days when I need to switch between other apps and Xcode often AND many times (in hundreds). This annoying delay is absolutely unacceptable.

I'm using Xcode since version 2 and have never experienced this problem.

I wonder if other Xcode users experience the same?

WHY there's even a delay? Again, no other app behaves like this - and I have quite a few apps open, including multiple heavy Adobe apps.

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Etresoft OP

I wonder if other Xcode users experience the same?

I haven't noticed this problem. But then I don't have that much RAM either.

Xcode uses a lot of RAM. While you have a lot of RAM, RAM isn't RAM anymore. It's all virtual now. The most likely explanation would be that you're running out of free storage. And I mean "free" storage, not Apple's "available" concept. And because you have so much RAM, your VM demands are probabaly pretty high too.

I recommend keeping 100 GB of free storage. Once you get below 50 GB, you'll start to notice a performance hit. Or at least, a normal person would. With your 64 GB RAM, it would probably be worse with you.

Plus, Apple's really struggling with storage in particular, and the OS in general these days. Last week, at 10:27am, I had 466 GB free storage. But for some reason, the dasd process went insane and started taking 100% CPU and eating up storage. Because I had so much free, I didn't notice a problem until 2pm, which I had less than 10 GB free. Of course, I can fix all that relatively easily.

This is just a single example from my recent experience. It could be anything. But my bet is storage.
Leo Braun OP
Written by Etresoft in 914743022

I recommend keeping 100 GB of free storage.

Thanks for replying!

I have 160 GB free right now. I know I need to watch my free space on the startup drive.

Recently, I had a few days when my free storage dwindled to below 50 GB. I cleaned up whatever was needed and restored it back to 150+. This didn't affect the Xcode behavior I described in any way.

In any case, it's good to know this doesn't seem to be a widespread issue.