Hey guys, I’m new here to the forums, but I have been using Sketchup on my mac computers since Sketchup 2016. It’s an amazing program and it really keeps improving with every version. However when 2024 came out the new graphics engine was introduced and with it the ability to do Ambient Occlusion. This feature worked great in Mac OS Monterey on my 2009 Mac Pro Tower with an RX 580 graphics card. However when I recently upgraded to Sonoma the new graphics engine no longer worked and I had to switch to the classic graphics engine inside of Sketchup. That worked fine but I really missed the look of the new graphics engine. So I searched for answers as to why the new engine wouldn’t work. It’s the same hardware. I didn’t change my graphics card or anything. Why would it work fine in Monterey but not in Sonoma? So I tried upgrading my OS to Sequoia hoping that would fix the problem. No such luck. I still had to use the classic graphics engine inside of Sketchup or it would crash. Now that Sketchup 2025 has been released I was hoping that just maybe I might be able to use the new graphics engine again. But again Sketchup 2025 would crash unless I switched it to the classic engine. So I dusted off an old hard drive that still had Mac OS Monterey on it and I installed Sketchup 2025 there. And Eureka! I was able to use the new graphics engine and all the new features. Exact same hardware 2009 Mac Pro with an RX 580 graphics card. The only difference is the system software. So my question is this, what did they change in the newer operating systems that makes me not be able to use the new graphics engine in Sketchup? And can someone figure out how to put it back into the newer operating systems?
I don’t use a Mac but I understand that newer versions of the MacOS have removed some support for older hardware configurations and are really meant for use with the newer M-series computers.
The new graphics engine in 2025 runs fine on my 2019 Intel-based MacBook Pro with Radeon graphics and Sequoia. I suspect that your graphics are not capable of running the version of Metal required by the engine.
So you’re saying Apple has removed support for the RX 580 on their newer system software. Anything after Mac OS Monterey will not be compatable?
I’d have to search Apple to find out about that specific card. SketchUp requires support for Metal 2, I believe.
A simple Google search turns up hit after hit indicating that the RX580 is no longer supported for newer Mac OS versions.
yep
try this :
Use System Information to check for Metal support
On Mac, you can also use System Information to check for Metal support:
Press and hold the Option key while choosing Apple menu > System Information.
Click Graphics/Displays in the sidebar.
Check the information on the right for Metal Support or Metal Family:
If you see Metal Support, you will also see the version of Metal supported.
If you see Metal Family, your Mac supports Metal 2 and earlier.
see what it tells you. it might be that your 16 year-old computer doesn’t support the more recent 3d engine made by apple and used in the new sketchup versions.
Thanks everyone! You guys have been a big help. Looks like I will eventually have to get a new machine that supports Metal 2.
I am using Ventura 13.7.4 on a 2017 Macbook Pro.
My graphic cards are:
- Radeon Pro 560 4 Go
- Intel HD Graphics 630 1536 Mo
My graphic cards supports Metal 3.
So far, I have no problems using SketchUp 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 on this setup.
This computer cannot be upgraded to Sonoma or Sequoia.
My card does support Metal 2 according to the system info. I guess I will need Metal 3 support. Does anyone know if there is Metal 3 capable card that can be installed in these old Mac Pros?
could be a mix of older GPU + newer OS.
back then, my 2015 imac had a Nvidia GPU. the last generation to use Nvidia.
because of that I was “stuck” on mac os 10.13
10.14 dropped support for Nvidia tech and basically meant using only the integrated intel GPU. I had to choose between a more recent OS with worse GPU or an older OS with better performances.
since the new OS are made for the new M series macs, I wouldn’t be surprised if a similar situation is happening. technically you’re compatible, but maybe the drivers are not following.
Hi
on my Mac M3 Max Sonoma 14.7.4 Metal 3 Sketchup pro 2024/2025 it doesn’t work fine ( slowdowns etc.) when I activate the “new graphic engine” and “AppleMax 3”
I had this problem on 2024 and was hoping 2025 would fix the problem and no!
So I have to stick to the classic engine
when I select an object the selection frame remains static but the object is not activated/selected. After two or three attempts it works but impossible to work in these conditions.
Tf3 created a separate thread for their issue