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User profile for user: t.kyhn
t.kyhn Author
User level: Level 1
64 points

iTunes slow / temporarily unresponsive

With every audio file related action iTunes becomes temorarily unresponsive for up to 10 seconds, sometimes possibly longer (spinning beach ball). This happens when creating/deleting playlists, editing playlist names, adding tracks to playlists, editing ID3 tags, etc.


My iTunes Library.xml file is 105,3 MB, and it looks like the whole file being updated every time I make the least ID3 change.


Any suggestions how to solve this problem other than by not using iTunes?


(I'm using iTunes 12.2.1.16 / OS X 10.10.4 on a MacBook Pro 2,8 GHz Intel Core i7 with an SSD drive. All dead tracks have been removed from the iTunes library.)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Aug 10, 2015 2:39 AM

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18 replies
User profile for user: Linc Davis
Linc Davis
User level: Level 10
209,547 points

Aug 10, 2015 1:19 PM in response to t.kyhn

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select

SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages

from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select

View ▹ Show Log List

from the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Click the Clear Display icon in the toolbar. Then take an action that isn't working the way you expect. Select any lines that appear in the Console window. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.

The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of which is irrelevant to solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.

Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.

Some private information, such as your name or email address, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

When you post the log extract, you might see an error message on the web page: "You have included content in your post that is not permitted," or "The message contains invalid characters." That's a bug in the forum software. Please post the text on Pastebin, then post a link here to the page you created.

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User profile for user: t.kyhn
t.kyhn Author
User level: Level 1
64 points

Aug 10, 2015 2:55 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for your reply.


Here's a sample from the Console (what appeared while I created a playlist and added a few tracks).


15-08-10 23:46:14,009 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:46:14,070 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 22 attempts

15-08-10 23:46:29,580 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:46:29,604 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 14 attempts

15-08-10 23:46:32,745 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:46:32,786 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-10 23:46:59,715 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:46:59,790 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 25 attempts

15-08-10 23:47:25,138 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:47:25,180 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-10 23:47:28,952 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:47:29,012 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 22 attempts

15-08-10 23:47:41,420 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:47:41,483 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 23 attempts

15-08-10 23:47:53,089 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:47:53,167 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 26 attempts

15-08-10 23:48:03,324 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:48:03,417 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 29 attempts

15-08-10 23:48:06,909 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-10 23:48:06,949 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts


Other actions in iTunes seem to produce similar results in the Console.

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User profile for user: Linc Davis
Linc Davis
User level: Level 10
209,547 points

Aug 10, 2015 3:23 PM in response to t.kyhn

Back up all data.

As a test, please move the iTunes library folder from the Music folder (or wherever you keep it in your home folder) to the Desktop. If you've moved the library folder to another volume, unmount the volume.

Quit and relaunch the application. It may prompt you to create a new library, or to select an existing one. Create a new one and import a few tracks. Test.

After testing, quit again and put the original library back where it was, replacing the test library. Post your results.

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User profile for user: t.kyhn
t.kyhn Author
User level: Level 1
64 points

Aug 10, 2015 11:26 PM in response to Linc Davis

I did as you suggested.


Creating a playlist and adding tracks with a new library, the Console says:


15-08-11 08:17:37,919 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:17:37,961 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-11 08:17:45,403 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:17:45,444 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-11 08:17:53,054 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:17:53,096 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-11 08:17:57,370 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:17:57,416 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 19 attempts


And there's no unresponsiveness at all.


After putting back the old library and preferences, it becomes unresponsive again, and the Console says:


15-08-11 08:21:55,438 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:21:55,531 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 29 attempts

15-08-11 08:22:04,638 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:22:04,684 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 19 attempts

15-08-11 08:22:04,905 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:22:04,932 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 15 attempts

15-08-11 08:22:18,574 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 08:22:18,699 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 36 attempts


The iTunes Library.itl (22 MB) and iTunes Library.xml (105,3 MB) appear to be re-saved every time I make the least change in the iTunes library – editing playlists, changing ID3 info, etc.

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User profile for user: Lockjaw43
Lockjaw43
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 10, 2015 11:55 PM in response to t.kyhn

I have been having the EXACT same issues since 'upgrading' to iTunes 12. Every single thing is a beachball often for 10 + seconds and I often have to force quit iTunes to get it to stop playing- it's like iTunes is now an early 90's app. If I try to retitle a song I will hit Command-I and then go do something else as it might take as long as 30-45 seconds. I however have a library of almost 1 TB that I am terrified of losing my playlists as has happened to me in the past a number of times. I'm running a MB Pro 2.8ghz so it is by no means a slow machine unless I'm using iTunes which seems as fast as a Mac +.

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User profile for user: Lockjaw43
Lockjaw43
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 11, 2015 1:31 AM in response to t.kyhn

I have had a library about this large for many, many years- it has just gotten absolutely impossible with 12. 7-8-9-10 were no problem at all, then it got slower with 11 and now 12 is almost unusable except there's no alternative. And among my pals this is not that big a library- I am a professional producer and a great deal of the files are things I'm working so it isn't an option to go to Apple Music/Spotify. I would go back to 10 in a literal heartbeat if I could- absolutely issue free.

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User profile for user: Lockjaw43
Lockjaw43
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 11, 2015 1:33 AM in response to Lockjaw43

Here's what Console has to say


8/11/15 1:30:19.338 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:30:29.680 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:30:29.781 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:30:39.985 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:30:41.101 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:30:50.366 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:30:51.574 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:00.810 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:01.988 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:11.184 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:12.176 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:21.444 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:22.654 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:31.897 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:32.521 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:42.849 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:43.900 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:53.105 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:31:54.080 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:03.300 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:03.651 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:13.892 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:14.700 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:23.911 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:25.002 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:34.268 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:35.478 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

8/11/15 1:32:44.745 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[276]: (com.hp.help.tocgenerator) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

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User profile for user: t.kyhn
t.kyhn Author
User level: Level 1
64 points

Aug 11, 2015 8:06 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for the suggestion. I just tried rebuilding the library, but it made no difference, iTunes is just as slow and unresponsive as before.


Here's what the Console says with the new iTunes Library.itl file:


15-08-11 17:03:02,496 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 17:03:02,588 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 29 attempts

15-08-11 17:03:05,445 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 17:03:05,487 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-11 17:03:20,980 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 17:03:21,024 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-11 17:03:22,082 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 17:03:22,123 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 18 attempts

15-08-11 17:03:22,615 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 17:03:22,626 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 11 attempts

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User profile for user: t.kyhn
t.kyhn Author
User level: Level 1
64 points

Aug 11, 2015 9:24 AM in response to Linc Davis

Unfortunately not. It's just as slow.


The Console says:


15-08-11 18:22:51,126 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 18:22:51,155 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 15 attempts

15-08-11 18:22:59,831 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 18:22:59,856 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 14 attempts

15-08-11 18:23:15,814 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 18:23:15,875 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 22 attempts

15-08-11 18:23:18,198 WindowServer[208]: Surface testing disallowed updates for 10 sequential attempts...

15-08-11 18:23:18,259 WindowServer[208]: Surface test allowed updates after 22 attempts

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iTunes slow / temporarily unresponsive

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