Parallels 12 Mac: causes lag in switching Mac apps & windows

OS X El Capitan : 10.11.5
Parallels 12.1.3

Hi all,
Updating this post with more details.

As soon as Parallels 12 is launched, I get a lag when switching between any open apps on my Macbook Pro. If I'm in one app and click another open app in the Dock -- or if I click a window of another open app -- there is a several-second delay before the other app appears.

This lag starts AS SOON as Parallels 12 is launched -- even without opening a VM.

And it persists after Parallels is closed. The only fix is to restart. Once it reboots, switching windows/apps is lightning-fast again. But the second I launch Parallels, everything lags.

Parallels isn't consuming resources. The MBP is 95% idle at the moment, it's not impacting memory or CPU.

I previously had v10. This problem started immediately after upgrading to 12.

It gets harder and harder to work as the lag increases. I've normally kept Parallels open, but have started avoiding it until absolutely necessary, knowing I'll have to reboot and reopen everything I'm working on.

Any help will be MUCH appreciated!

Thanks,
B

 

Updating post with more details...

 

Hi Bmuse,
Considering the details you've shared, I suspect that the issue is related to macOS rather than to Parallels Desktop. Can you update macOS to v10.11.6 (https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1884?locale=en_US) and let me know if this behavior changed?

If not, please reproduce this behavior and send us a technical report via Help menu of Parallels Desktop > Send Technical Data...
Please post the report ID here, we will do our best to help you.

Dmitry,
The Parallels Team

 

Hi Dmitry, thank you for the response.

I updated to 10.11.6, but the problem still exists. And I can confirm that it only happens when I launch Parallels Desktop.

I've noticed another detail. Mac apps all bounce smoothly when I launch them in the Dock. But when I launch Parallels, there's a "hiccup" when the icon bounces -- a little freeze and then the bounce continues. And from that point on, all apps have the little hiccup when launched, and all apps and windows lag when switching between them.

And, as before, the lags and stutters persist even after quitting Parallels. It can only be fixed by restarting. After restart, everything is fast and smooth until I launch Parallels.

Dmitry -- the report ID is 154491758.

Thank you, looking forward to any help you can provide.