I have never been able to use the ChatGPT client in the browser, any browswer, on Mac OS.
I have an old M1 where I can install the ChatGPT app - in that case, all runs (more or less) smoothly. I work also on an old Intel i7 iMac where I cannot install the ChatGPT app. On this machine, I interact with ChatGPT through a browser.
In every browser I tried among Safari, Chrome, Brave, after a couple of prompts and replies, the web app seems to freeze. The text I type appears several seconds after and even scrolling is painfully slow.
Is there a way to use a browser-based ChatGPT client on Intel macs?
Hey @thistlillo, that’s a rough experience, especially when it works fine on your M1.
Short answer: Intel Macs can run ChatGPT in browser, but older hardware + modern web app = lag after a few prompts.
Most common causes:
- Memory pressure after long chats → things start freezing
- Extensions interfering (ad blockers, etc.)
- Hardware acceleration issues on Intel GPUs
- Long threads getting heavy to render
What’s helped others:
- Use Chrome/Brave in incognito (no extensions)
- Turn hardware acceleration off
- Start a new chat more often
- Keep fewer tabs open
If one browser felt slightly better, worth tweaking that one further.
-Mark G.