[Slow app launch]

4 hours ago, Hoby said:

Does anyone know if this is fixed in the new Version 2 releases?

My V1  was from the App Store and was plagued with startup delays.  I bought V2 direct from Affinity and have no issues.

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

Just launched Designer 2 after having launched it this morning, and it took 23 bounces on the dock before it launched.  (MBP 13 M1)

Disappointing.  

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

6 hours ago, pharwood said:

Startup is a few seconds on Mac mini M1. Thanks Apple.

Pretty sure Apple had nothing to do with it, otherwise V1 apps would launch lickety-split now.  But glad to hear V2 launches like every other app now (fast).

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

Anyone try Affinity V2 apps to see how fast they start?  Web or App Store versions?

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

According to an email I just received, "Something BIG is coming...".  New versions?  Probably.  Free upgrades to those of us that already bought?  Hopefully (but unlikely).

Will the apps launch quickly?  Not unless Apple fixed something on their end.

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

3 hours ago, luispedrofonseca said:

It's beyond ridiculous this issue is still happening after years of being initially reported. Is this still being investigated or have you reached the point of not caring at all?

Isn't the answer obvious?

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

23 minutes ago, M1chael said:

as far as I understand he downloads a trial of Affinity Photo, replaces the app store version (and backups that app store version before), starts the trial (accepts the license agreement), and finally replaces the trial with the backed up version of the app store.

not sure if this will *really* help to the case, to be honest.

Interesting, but none of the "fixes" I have found to work long term.  They may work for a few weeks, but then...BAM!  back to the 17-23 seconds of bouncing icon on the dock.

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

4 hours ago, Dan C said:

Unfortunately there's been no further development update regarding this, however;

This is not true, and would not resolve this issue. Many other apps are being reported for slow loading issues, since 2020, for example:

https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/1500000055901-Why-Does-SkySafari-6-Pro-Takes-A-Long-Time-To-Open-On-MacOS-And-Can-It-Be-Faster-Answer-The-Time-To-Launch-Originates-With-MacOS-GateKeeper-Scanning-The-App-

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253960836

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/big-sur-apps-slow-to-launch.2279325/

https://www.applevis.com/forum/macos-mac-apps/apps-launching-very-slowly-m1-macbook-air

As I understand it, this appears to have begun after Apple changed how codesiging and Gatekeeper works, meaning the apps have to be fully checked on each 'new run' (ie following a system restart), as this data is no longer held locally.

More information regarding this can be found below:

https://eclecticlight.co/2020/11/25/macos-has-checked-app-signatures-online-for-over-2-years/

https://eclecticlight.co/2018/12/22/how-thoroughly-does-gatekeeper-check-existing-apps/

We're still working with Apple to try and reduce the time these checks take, however we cannot circumvent macOS security as a third party app.

So the lingerling "logical" questions are why this happens MOSTLY with Affinity apps and why it only happens with the App Store versions?  Does Pixelmator Pro, for example,  not use codesigning and somehow bypasses Gatekeeper as the reason their app launches immediately?  

Why do your Web versions, for the most part, not delay on start?

Secondly, there is no way to provide Affinity Web Store replacements for people that can prove they bought the Apple App Store versions since this seems it will never be fixed? 

Also, YES...there are reports of other apps (mostly complaints of MS Office) that exhibit similar behavior, but if you read the posts, most say they have no issues with other apps (except MS Office, in the case of the particular thread).

It just seems if Apple changed something, then why isn't EVERY app exhibiting the delay?

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

2 hours ago, Matheus Amazonas said:

Any updates on this? I get that it's a problem that requires help from Apple, but please keep us up-to-date. It's been a long, long time.

You sort of answered your own question.  If they cared, they'd redesign their software to work like literally every other app that doesn't stall on start.  I would guess they have zero resources working on this.

[Slow app launch]

14 hours ago, mliving said:

DEMinSoCAL, I have rebooted regularly during this period and have not had any slow app launches.

Seems you have hit upon a bit of good luck then.  Metal didn't work for me as a fix.  Unfortunately, no one else has chimed in with their experience using Metal setting.

[Slow app launch]

13 hours ago, mliving said:

Just a quick update.

I've been using all Affinity apps daily since May 16 when I turned on Metal instead of OpenGL and ALL apps continue to open in 2 secs.

Have you rebooted a few times?  I just rebooted and my apps are back to 15 bounces before opening.  Before rebooting, they were quick at launching.  As a matter of fact, right after updating to macOS 15.4 they still launched fast.  But did a manual restart and then back to slow again.  Checked Preferences and still on "Metal" for all three apps.

[Slow app launch]

7 minutes ago, mliving said:

I completely rebooted my MacBook Pro before relaunching the apps so nothing would be cached.

And this afternoon was the first time I started my MacBook Pro since last evening the the app opening speed was still 2 sec.

I've rebooted mine after fast opening and sometimes it still opens fast.  Sometimes it doesn't.  Like I said, it's very unpredictable.  Come back in a couple weeks and let us know if any of the apps have reverted to 20+ seconds.

 

Basically, Affinity has said that the problem is with some sort of "check" with Apple servers that is failing.  Why they are the only app that has this check is yet to be explained.  I don't think (and my results don't show) that switching how the video works fixes the startup glitch.

[Slow app launch]

2 minutes ago, mliving said:

I completely rebooted my MacBook Pro before relaunching the apps so nothing would be cached.

And this afternoon was the first time I started my MacBook Pro since last evening the the app opening speed was still 2 sec.

I'm not disproving your results, I'm saying the OpenGL --> Metal change doesn't work for me.  I do know that the apps don't always stall on opening after a reboot. It's very random.  As is how long the copy-app "fix" stays working.  

By your results above, Designer and Photo should be opening in 2-4 seconds normally.  Even after your "fix", they still take 15+ seconds.  That's not "fixed".  Is it quicker?  Yes, but not "fixed".  

I just don't want others to think that switching an app to Metal fixes the app so it opens in 2-4 seconds because it doesn't.

[Slow app launch]

4 hours ago, Patrick Connor said:

Just a thought, but could you please try switching Photo to OpenGL, running once & exit, Run again and switch back to Metal and exit. Then running up again.

Of course that seems to work because once you run an app, it starts quickly thereafter.  But after I restart, Photo goes back to 22 bounces to start (expected).

[Slow app launch]

2 hours ago, mliving said:

Just a quick follow up.

All Affinity apps started in 2 sec. after a cold boot this afternoon.

Seems to be working for me.

And that is normal behavior.  Even after copying the apps and running those, while it seems to work for a while, it stops working and reverts back to 20+ bounces on the taskbar, requiring you to do the "fix" again.  I know you think you found a fix, but give it time.  

You mentioned in your post that Designer was already launching in 2 seconds before any "fix".  If that's the case, you don't have the problem the rest of us have.  ALL the apps take 20+ bounces before they open.  But once open, they tend to open quickly, even after a reboot, but WILL revert to super slow open soon.

I don't see how making a preference change in ONE APP affects all the other apps (if it even does).

[Slow app launch]

13 hours ago, mliving said:

I "had" the same problem with my new M1 Max MacBook and I tried a couple of suggestions I found here in the Affinity forums and while one suggestion (copy app to Desktop, rename or delete original app, copy app back to Applications folder) cut the start up time almost in half, it still took quite a bit longer then Publisher which opens in 2 secs.

So I was looking in the Preferences in Designer and I noticed that Display rendering was set to OpenGL so I changed it to Metal and restarted my MacBook Pro and Designer and Photo now open in 2 sec. just like Publisher.

Hope this helps everyone!

I would have to say that whatever issue you were seeing with the long delay that was somewhat fixed by the "copy app" workaround is not fixed by this OpeGL--> Metal switch because while Designer was set to OpenGL, my Photo and Publisher were already on Metal and have had the slow start for over a year.  Logically, this switch may fix some other slow startup issue but not the one that plagues the App Store apps.

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

1 hour ago, Billy2022 said:

Dave your way worked for me BRILLIANT! 5 seconds start up when it used to be nearly 25 seconds. I'm using masOS Monterey. Any future Mac updates I check if its slowed down Affinity again or not, but thanks made my day lol

While it seems like a solution, copying the app trick does revert back to 17-22 bounces after some time.  Trust me on this.  

[Slow app launch]

3 minutes ago, ianhg said:

@DEMinSoCAL

Have you tried keeping the apps open and when closing down selecting reopen apps when logging in?

No, but for me, I don't use all the Affinity apps all the time.  So keeping them all open all the time is just a waste of resources.  

[Slow app launch]

On 4/1/2022 at 7:52 AM, ianhg said:

I think the issue is more to do with Apple rather than Affinity. I found keeping the apps open when shutting down and selecting reopen app when logging in worked for me.

Affinity will have you believe that.  Yet no other apps have this annoying delay.  My Pixelmator Pro from the App Store starts instantly, for example.  Affinity seems content to sit on their hands and point the blame on Apple instead of changing their App store version so there isn't such a huge delay.  The "copy-of-app" fix  doesn't work anymore -- they take forever to launch now.  

[Slow app launch]

2 minutes ago, paschulke2 said:

It works. But only for a while (maybe a week or two).

Affinity: when will this be fixed? It's very annoying!

You are fooling yourself if you think, after almost 18 months, that Affinity is actually working on fixing this.  They aren't.  

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

6 hours ago, M1chael said:

I am on Monterey and all Affinity Apps, either bought through the App Store as well as from Affinity directly show this "slow start" behaviour, sometimes even if not started for some days (without machine reboot) again. Immedeate re-launching the apps (this goes true for both app store as well as Affinity versions) is fast as almost instant.

Would really enjoy seeing this being fixed.

Buy lottery tickets.  You have a better chance of winning the lottery than Serif/Affinity fixing the app. 

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

1 minute ago, jmwellborn said:

I don’t experience these startup delays at all on either my laptop or desktop — both machines with the M1 chip and both running Big Sur.  Photo, Designer, and Publisher consistently open within 2-3 seconds.  All Affinity apps were purchased directly from Serif.

Yes, it's been stated that the problem is with the App Store versions of the apps.

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

1 hour ago, jimfbk55 said:

I get 21 bounces on my M1 MacBook Pro before the about screen shows on a fresh launch and 14 bounces thereafter.

Did you try the "copy App" trick?  Make copies of each Affinity app and put those down in your Dock and launch.  For me, it's worked much better with just a few bounces on initial launch (after a fresh boot or restart) and almost immediate if quit and relaunched.

Do you mean if you quit the app and immediately launch it,, it still bounces 14 times?  That's not right, even for Affinity.

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

1 hour ago, Alex M said:

To anyone who's experiencing slow startup of Affinity apps, you may try this simple trick.

Open Terminal app and run any of the following commands:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Affinity\ Designer.app
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Affinity\ Photo.app
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Affinity\ Publisher.app

This will remove quarantine flags from the bundles so they will just launch without those security checks that may take some time before app starts to load.

 

Doesn't work.  Also, needs to have "sudo" before each command otherwise you get permission denied.

[Slow startup (all Affinity apps)]

17 minutes ago, rudluc said:

I understood this to mean that the problem with slow startup of Affinity applications only occurs with versions purchased from the Mac AppStore.
Since the problem has existed for a long time and is unlikely to be fixed (I've given up hope by now), I think it would be a great initiative if Affinity offered their users an easy switch to the non-AppStore version.

In my testing last year when all this started, it was initially thought that only the App Store version was affected, so I downloaded trial version from the Affinity web site, and installed those also.  At first, they appears to start normally, but after a few days, even the web site downloaded versions would stall at startup.  I wound up removing the web versions.

Making duplicates of the apps and using the duplicates also did not seem to keep working properly and would start stalling.  So, I haven't seen a permanent fix.

 

Someone above recommended some host file entries.  That did not work for me at all, unless there is more to it than editing the host file and running the app.  Mine still stalled (20+ bounces on first launch).