What's running on my Mac?
Saw a name in Activity Monitor you don't recognise? Each page says what it is, whether to worry, why it can use a lot of CPU or memory, and what to do, with the Mac's own tools.
macOS
- kernel_taskmacOS itself. High CPU usually means it's holding the chip back to cool it.
- WindowServerDraws everything on your screens. Busier with more displays, windows and animation.
- coreaudiodAll sound on your Mac goes through it.
- syspolicydGatekeeper: checks that apps are safe to open.
- XProtectApple's built-in malware scanner.
- logdCollects system logs. Busy means an app is logging far too much.
- trustdChecks certificates for secure connections.
- softwareupdatedChecks for and downloads macOS updates.
- accountsdYour internet accounts, for Mail, Calendar and Contacts.
- ControlCenterControl Center, menu bar items and AirPlay Receiver (ports 5000 and 7000).
- spindumpRecords why an app stopped responding.
Files & iCloud
- mds_storesSpotlight indexing your files. Busy after big changes; it settles on its own.
- mdworker_sharedSpotlight reading files to index them. Many at once is normal while indexing.
- photoanalysisdPhotos analysing your library for people and search. Runs while the Mac is idle.
- birdiCloud Drive syncing.
- fileproviderdSyncs cloud folders (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) into Finder.
- nsurlsessiondDownloads and uploads in the background for apps and macOS.
- clouddiCloud syncing for apps: Notes, Messages, Safari and others.
- backupdTime Machine backing up.
- mediaanalysisdAnalyses photos and videos for Visual Look Up and search.
Apps & browsers
Developer & AI
Not here yet. Unhogged explains about a hundred processes inside the app.
Skip the detective work
Unhogged groups 900 processes into the apps they belong to, says what's slowing your Mac in one sentence, and fixes it in one click.