fix(3146): Fix slow electron startup

.github/workflows/desktop-build.yml

@@ -19,11 +19,16 @@ jobs:
             source_path: linux
             build_cmd: "--linux AppImage"
             artifact_glob: "packages/desktop/dist/*.AppImage"
-          - os: macos-15-intel
+          - os: macos-26-intel
             target: macos
             source_path: darwin
             build_cmd: "--mac"
             artifact_glob: "packages/desktop/dist/*.dmg"
+          - os: macos-latest
+            target: macos-arm
+            source_path: darwin
+            build_cmd: "--mac --arm64"
+            artifact_glob: "packages/desktop/dist/*.dmg"
           - os: windows-latest
             target: win
             source_path: win32
@@ -218,7 +223,7 @@ jobs:
 
   build-macos-prod:
     # needs: run-e2e-tests-mac
-    runs-on: macos-15-intel
+    runs-on: macos-26-intel
     if: |
       startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/@quiet/desktop')
 
@@ -296,6 +301,87 @@ jobs:
           version: ${{ steps.extract_version.outputs.version }}
           status: ${{ job.status }}
           slack_oauth_token: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_OAUTH_TOKEN }}
+
+  build-macos-arm64-prod:
+    # needs: run-e2e-tests-mac
+    runs-on: macos-26
+    if: |
+      startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/@quiet/desktop')
+
+    env:
+      TEST_MODE: ${{ github.event.action == 'prereleased' }}
+      S3_BUCKET: ${{ github.event.action == 'released' && 'quiet.7.x' || 'test.quiet' }}
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          submodules: 'recursive'
+
+      - name: Extract version
+        id: extract_version
+        uses: Saionaro/extract-package-version@fdb5b74adc1278ddb777dfed4c988b9d098bb48d # v1.2.1
+        with:
+          path: packages/desktop
+
+      - uses: actions-rs/toolchain@16499b5e05bf2e26879000db0c1d13f7e13fa3af # v1.0.7
+        with:
+          toolchain: stable
+          components: clippy
+          override: true
+
+      - name: Setup environment
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-env
+        with:
+          bootstrap-packages: "@quiet/eslint-config,@quiet/logger,@quiet/common,@quiet/types,@quiet/state-manager,@quiet/backend,@quiet/identity,@quiet/desktop,backend-bundle,helia,@quiet/node-common"
+
+      - name: Before build
+        uses: ./.github/actions/before-build
+        with:
+          source-path: darwin
+
+      - name: "Remove crud files"
+        run: xattr -crs .
+
+      - name: "Set electron-builder props"
+        run: echo "ELECTRON_BUILDER_PROPS=-c.publish.bucket=$S3_BUCKET" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: "Release"
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
+          CSC_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MAC_CSC_KEY_PASSWORD }}
+          CSC_LINK: ${{ secrets.MAC_CSC_LINK }}
+          APPLE_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID }}
+          APPLE_ID_PASS: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID_PASS }}
+          APPLE_TEAM_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_TEAM_ID }}
+          AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
+          AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          USE_HARD_LINKS: false
+        run: cd packages/desktop && node_modules/.bin/electron-builder -p always --mac --arm64 ${{ env.ELECTRON_BUILDER_PROPS }}
+
+      - name: Get release
+        id: get_release
+        uses: bruceadams/get-release@74c3d60f5a28f358ccf241a00c9021ea16f0569f # v1.3.2
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+
+      - name: Upload Release Assets
+        uses: actions/upload-release-asset@e8f9f06c4b078e705bd2ea027f0926603fc9b4d5 # v1.0.2
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        with:
+          upload_url: ${{ steps.get_release.outputs.upload_url }}
+          asset_path: ./packages/desktop/dist/Quiet-${{ steps.extract_version.outputs.version}}-arm64.dmg
+          asset_name: Quiet-${{ steps.extract_version.outputs.version}}-arm64.dmg
+          asset_content_type: application/.dmg
+
+      - name: Send Release Notificaton
+        uses: ./.github/actions/release-notifier
+        if: always()
+        with:
+          os-name: MacOS
+          version: ${{ steps.extract_version.outputs.version }}
+          status: ${{ job.status }}
+          slack_oauth_token: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_OAUTH_TOKEN }}
 
   build-windows-prod:
     # needs: run-e2e-tests-win

.github/workflows/e2e-mac.yml

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name: E2E Mac
 on: [workflow_call]
 jobs:
   mac:
-    runs-on: macos-15
+    runs-on: macos-latest
     timeout-minutes: 180
     env:
       TEST_MODE: true

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@
 ### Chores
 
 * Change autoupdater text [#2971](https://github.com/TryQuiet/quiet/issues/2971)
-* Fixed issues with testing workflows [#3030] (https://github.com/TryQuiet/quiet/issues/3030)
+* Fixed issues with testing workflows [#3030](https://github.com/TryQuiet/quiet/issues/3030)
+* Add MacOS arm64-specific build jobs to resolve slow UI startup on Apple Silicon [#3146](https://github.com/TryQuiet/quiet/issues/3146)
 
 ### Fixes
 

packages/desktop/src/main/main.ts

@@ -179,6 +179,9 @@ let browserHeight: number
 // Default title bar must be hidden for macos because we have custom styles for it
 const titleBarStyle = process.platform === 'darwin' ? 'hidden' : 'default'
 export const createWindow = async () => {
+  logger.trace('Creating splash and main windows')
+  logger.trace('Creating main window')
+  logger.time('Created mainWindow')
   mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({
     width: windowSize.width,
     height: windowSize.height,
@@ -193,6 +196,8 @@ export const createWindow = async () => {
 
   remote.enable(mainWindow.webContents)
 
+  logger.trace('Creating splash window')
+  logger.time('Created splash')
   splash = new BrowserWindow({
     width: windowSize.width,
     height: windowSize.height,
@@ -208,8 +213,11 @@ export const createWindow = async () => {
 
   remote.enable(splash.webContents)
 
+  logger.trace('Loading splash HTML', splash.id)
   // eslint-disable-next-line
-  splash.loadURL(`file://${__dirname}/splash.html`)
+  splash.loadURL(`file://${__dirname}/splash.html`)?.then(() => {
+    logger.timeEnd('Created splash')
+  })
   splash.setAlwaysOnTop(false)
   splash.setMovable(true)
   splash.show()
@@ -226,6 +234,7 @@ export const createWindow = async () => {
   })
 
   mainWindow.setMinimumSize(600, 400)
+  logger.trace('Loading main HTML', mainWindow.id)
   /* eslint-disable */
   mainWindow.loadURL(
     url.format({
@@ -235,7 +244,9 @@ export const createWindow = async () => {
       slashes: true,
       hash: '/',
     })
-  )
+  )?.then(() => {
+    logger.timeEnd('Created mainWindow')
+  })
   /* eslint-enable */
   // Emitted when the window is closed.
   mainWindow.on('closed', () => {
@@ -272,7 +283,7 @@ export const createWindow = async () => {
     if (!mainWindow || currentFactor <= 0.25) return
     mainWindow.webContents.zoomFactor = currentFactor - 0.2
   })
-  logger.info('Created mainWindow')
+  logger.debug('App windows created')
 }
 
 export async function openHCaptcha(siteKey: string): Promise<string> {
@@ -508,10 +519,13 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
   await sodium.ready
   SOCKET_IO_SECRET = sodium.to_hex(sodium.randombytes_buf(32))
 
+  logger.trace('Setting application menu')
   Menu.setApplicationMenu(null)
 
+  logger.trace('Applying dev tools')
   await applyDevTools()
 
+  logger.trace('Creating context menu')
   contextMenu({
     showInspectElement: false,
     showSaveLinkAs: true,
@@ -522,17 +536,21 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
   })
 
   if (quitting) {
-    logger.info('Quit requested before backend setup, skipping startup')
+    logger.warn('Quit requested before backend setup, skipping startup')
     return
   }
 
+  logger.trace('Getting ports')
   ports = await getPorts()
+
   await createWindow()
 
   mainWindow?.webContents.on('did-finish-load', () => {
+    logger.info('Main window finished loading')
     rendererReady = true
     // Only send the secret to the renderer via IPC, not via URL
     if (splash && !splash.isDestroyed()) {
+      logger.trace('Destroying splash window and showing main window')
       const [width, height] = splash.getSize()
       mainWindow?.setSize(width, height)
 
@@ -543,6 +561,7 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
       mainWindow?.show()
     }
 
+    logger.trace('Creating temp files directory')
     const temporaryFilesDirectory = path.join(appDataPath, 'temporaryFiles')
     fs.mkdirSync(temporaryFilesDirectory, { recursive: true })
     fs.readdir(temporaryFilesDirectory, (err, files) => {
@@ -555,6 +574,7 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
     })
   })
 
+  logger.info('Forking backend process')
   const forkArgvs = [
     '-d',
     `${ports.dataServer}`,
@@ -682,11 +702,12 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
   })
 
   mainWindow.on('close', e => {
+    logger.info('Main window close event received')
     if (resetting) return
 
     // --- macOS: hide instead of destroying the renderer ---
     if (process.platform === 'darwin' && !updating && backendProcess !== null) {
-      logger.info('Main window close (macOS) will hide after saving state')
+      logger.trace('Main window close (macOS) will hide after saving state')
       e.preventDefault()
       mainWindow?.webContents.send('force-save-state') // state‑saved → hide
       return
@@ -707,6 +728,7 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
 
   // splash window is destroyed when mainWindow is ready and close should not fire in regular case
   splash?.once('close', e => {
+    logger.trace('Splash window close event received')
     if (resetting) return
 
     // in the case where the user closes the splash window before the main window is ready
@@ -715,15 +737,16 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
       if (!updating) {
         e.preventDefault()
       }
-      logger.info('Closing splash window')
+      logger.trace('Closing splash window')
       backendProcess?.send('close')
       return
     }
-    logger.info('Splash window close event, saving state')
+    logger.trace('Splash window close event, saving state')
     mainWindow?.webContents.send('force-save-state')
   })
 
   ipcMain.on('state-saved', () => {
+    logger.info('ipcMain: state-saved')
     if (updating) return
 
     if (backendProcess === null) {
@@ -732,7 +755,7 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
       return
     }
     if (process.platform === 'darwin' && !updating) {
-      logger.info('Saved state hiding window (macOS)')
+      logger.trace('Saved state hiding window (macOS)')
       mainWindow?.hide()
     } else {
       logger.info('Saved state closing window')
@@ -841,7 +864,7 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
 })
 
 app.on('browser-window-created', (_, window) => {
-  logger.info('Event: app.browser-window-created', window.getTitle())
+  logger.info('Event: app.browser-window-created', window.id)
   remote.enable(window.webContents)
 })