Do I need to get a newer Mac with more RAM?

Photoshop can be run in Native mode, but you may be using some Plug-ins that must run using Rosetta. You can get more information here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-for-apple-silicon.html

Even though you are using some heavy duty apps, your Mac should be fine with the 32GB. The system manages memory very well as long as apps such as CleanMyMac are not interfering with its normal operation. Posting the free EtreCheck report that has been suggested already would help to see if there are any other conflicts. Do this after uninstalling CleanMyMac to make sure all of its fragment files are removed.

As a side note, I have found Google Chrome to be a resource hog, but that could just be my experience. I don't expect much from my web browsers other than displaying web pages by consuming the least amount of resources, when I could be using those for other apps. I'm not blaming Chrome for the issues, since I truly feel CleanMyMac is your problem. In addition if you could use PhotoShop using the native silicon would help.

Uninstall CleanMyMac.

Reboot periodically to clear memory and cache.

Change your work flow process so that you don't have "millions" of apps running simultaneously.

I'm not sure about the Sentinel One anti-malware you've got installed. Others here have expressed that MalwareBytes is probably the best in this space for Macs, as it doesn't have a large footprint like so many others. (I mention this as I saw quite a few references to the Sentinel One processes in your report).

Noting that Rosetta has the auto-updater installed, it's apparent you have at least one Intel process or app installed.

I use the following to check if an app is Intel or Apple Silicon:

System Settings-->General-->About-->Scroll down and click on System Report. Click on Software-->Applications in the left pane.

In the resulting window click on the Kind header to sort the applications by Kind. For me, this is probably the most complete means of checking this. For anything that says Intel, see if there's an update available that is either Universal or Apple Silicon.

(I had to reinstall Photoshop on My MBA last year when I updated from an older MBP).

<<. I thought the way RAM worked on these Mac was, even though an app is open, if I am not using it, it would stop hogging the RAM. >>

no that is NOT correct.

when you leave a Mac App Open with no windows open, it stops using many CPU cycles (of which you have NO shortage). They continue to consume RAM memory. That way, you can switch to them quickly and the (already very small) launch time will be even smaller). But if memory is becoming a problem for you, get in the habit of deliberately QUITing unused Applications.

It sounds like your MacBook Pro M1 Max may be reaching its physical limits due to the simultaneous use of multiple resource-intensive applications. While the M1 Max is a powerful machine, even it has limits, particularly when running several demanding apps like Photoshop, Premiere, and others. I recommend closing applications that you're not actively using, especially those known for high RAM usage like video editing software.

Also, ensure that the applications you use have either Universal or Apple Silicon-specific binaries to optimize performance over those running on Rosetta 2 emulation.

If you could provide screenshots of your Activity Monitor showing the RAM usage, it would be helpful to better understand the issue. However, please be cautious not to include personal information like your serial number in these screenshots for privacy and security reasons.

Because Apple doesn't have anything to do this.

Oh. Apparently you missed the news 24 years ago. When the Mac operating system changed to a Unix-based OSX in 2000, Apple included elegant, automated self-maintenance routines that take care of all required maintenance and housekeeping without your having to think about it. They even defrag when necessary. Third-party "cleaning" apps interfere with that elegance you paid Apple to include, and cause issues including slowdowns and false warnings.

Hey there,

To check if an app on your Mac has a Universal or Apple Silicon binary, follow these steps:

1. Open the Finder and locate the application in question.

2. Right-click (or Control-click) on the app's icon and select "Get Info."

3. In the "Get Info" window, look for a section labeled "General."

4. Under "General," there will be an entry named "Kind."

- If the app is optimized for Apple Silicon, it will say either "Application (Universal)" or "Application (Apple Silicon)."

- If the app is not optimized and running through Rosetta 2 emulation, it will say something like "Application (Intel)."

You can also accomplish the same via the Activity Monitor

1. Open Activity Monitor (you can find it using Spotlight search or in the Utilities folder within Applications).

2. Click on the "CPU" tab at the top of the window.

3. In the list of processes, there is a column labeled "Kind."

- Here, you'll see whether the app is labeled as "Intel" (running through Rosetta 2 emulation) or "Apple" (optimized for Apple Silicon).

This method provides a real-time view of which apps are optimized for your M1 Mac's architecture.

CorviasDesigner wrote:

But, why is this happening on a newer, faster Mac, vs my old, slower Mac? I had Clean My mac and the same workflow. Nothing has changed; well I guess apps get upgraded.

You could post an etrecheck report so that we can see what else may be impacting your computer's performance.

Can you get rid of Sentinel One? Or does your employer require it?

My previous employer has us using Forticlient and it was an ongoing problem.