Quick Look Bug in macOS Monterey

Log into a new, basic, admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac,  and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.

If the problem is not in the new user account then there is something in your account that is the culprit. If that's the case try the following: download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

IMPORTANT:

Before running Etrecheck assign Full Disk Access to Etrecheck in the first window that comes up so that it can get additional information from the Console and log files for the report:

Also click the About… vurron and read the info to further permit full disk access.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to include the report in your reply.

Then we can examine the report and see if we an determine what is the culprit.

I have been facing this problem ever since I upgraded to Monterey on my 8GB/512GB M1 Mac Mini. This is possibly an issue with the swap memory usage. However, I discovered this solution after lots of research... it's the best one. I use it multiple times a day. But it's the most convenient, without having to restart the Mac.

1. Open Activity Monitor
2. Search for quicklook in the search bar
3. Select all quicklook processes shown
4. Click View --> Quit Process
5. Click Force Quit
6. Close Activity Monitor and you're back in business.

Trust me, I do this at least 4-5 times a day. It happens most when the system is being throttled. Apple has strangely not addressed this at all.

Hope this helps!

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files