Ever since the old one Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and to macOS Mojave (10.14 Beta) there are users who complain about the excessive consumption of CPU resources of the process 'VTDecoderXPCService'. In some situations VTDecoderXPCService can consume up to 600% CPU. This causes the processor on the MacBook to overheat and the fan fan to run at high speeds. I got a bit confused about the percentage number of processor usage shown in Activity Monitor, as its value could be higher than 100%. For example, in below screenshot, the CPU usage for Firefox is 109.7%. Actually the value was even higher, I just wasn't able to capture it when I was capturing the screen.
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This problem occurred to me when I was contributing with Folding@Home project of Stanford University. Their application (also known as fahclient) was using all my computers CPU and the temperature of my Mac’s graphic card was around 89 degrees centigrade. So I tried to limit the CPU usage of this application within it’s preferences menu, but it was not working at all, so I searched Internet and I found that this is a common problem an the solution was not that well-known ! So in this post I’m going to describe how to limit application CPU usage in Mac OSx. In this tutorial I’m going to use cputhrottle which is a small OS X command-line utility designed to limit the CPU usage of a process to which it attaches.
First of all I should say that I used this solution for OSX 10.8.3 and it is working perfectly.
These are the steps you should go through to get this done:
These are the steps you should go through to get this done:
- Download cputhrottle application
- Almost setup the cputhrottle application
- Limit the process using cputhrottle
1. Download cputhrottle application
In this step you should download the cputhrottle from it’s website:
You have two option to download, but I prefer the binary version (cputhrottle.gz), and I’m describing the binary version in this tutorial.
>>> Update: the willnolan website is down at the moment, <<<<
>>> so you can download the application from the link below <<<<
>>> so you can download the application from the link below <<<<
2. Almost setup the cputhrottle application
First open the terminal and navigate to your download folder, in my case:
You can follow the instructions from it’s website and I’m just copying those instruction here:
You must run “chmod +x cputhrottle” after running “gunzip cputhrottle.gz”, in order to make the program executable. Otherwise, it will not start correctly. Some folks have noted that gunzip says that the file is not in gzip format. In that case, try renaming the file to “cputhrottle” and running as-is.
In my experience, I got the gzip error:
gzip: cputhrottle.gz: not in gzip format
so I just renamed the file by the following command:
Then it is time to set the execution permission for this file:
3. Limit the process using cputhrottle
This step is the only step you should do whenever you want to limit some process CPU usage. first use the following command to get the PID of your desired process:
which will result this:
PID COMMAND %CPU TIME #TH #WQ #PORT #MREG
13004 top 5.4 00:01.80 1/1 0 24 31
13000 mdworker 0.0 00:00.05 3 1 55 66
12983 LKDCHelper 0.0 00:00.00 3 1 34 45
12981 com.apple.iC 0.0 00:00.08 4 2 55 67
12980 taskgated 0.0 00:00.03 3 1 31 60
12897 ocspd 0.0 00:00.11 1 0 25 45
12870 mdworker 0.0 00:03.48 4 1 57 95
12842 bash 0.0 00:00.01 1 0 21 26
12841 login 0.0 00:00.02 2 1 33 67
12837 cputhrottle 0.1 00:02.80 1 0 17 22
12789 FahCore_a4 200.3 15:15.36 5 0 26 205
12786 FAHCoreWrapp 0.0 00:01.29 2 0 23 74
12782 FAHControl 0.5 00:23.38 6 3 104 354
13004 top 5.4 00:01.80 1/1 0 24 31
13000 mdworker 0.0 00:00.05 3 1 55 66
12983 LKDCHelper 0.0 00:00.00 3 1 34 45
12981 com.apple.iC 0.0 00:00.08 4 2 55 67
12980 taskgated 0.0 00:00.03 3 1 31 60
12897 ocspd 0.0 00:00.11 1 0 25 45
12870 mdworker 0.0 00:03.48 4 1 57 95
12842 bash 0.0 00:00.01 1 0 21 26
12841 login 0.0 00:00.02 2 1 33 67
12837 cputhrottle 0.1 00:02.80 1 0 17 22
12789 FahCore_a4 200.3 15:15.36 5 0 26 205
12786 FAHCoreWrapp 0.0 00:01.29 2 0 23 74
12782 FAHControl 0.5 00:23.38 6 3 104 354
You can also use the following command to see the most demanding running processes in your computer:
so now finding the PID is not hard due to the massive amount of CPU usage. In this case the file named FahCore_a4 is using 200.3% of my CPU and the PID of it is 12789. So I use the following command to limit it’s CPU usage to only 25%:
So in the command above, the first number is the PID of your desired process and the second number is the percentage you want this process to use.
The only step left is typing your administrative password because you used sudo command.
The only step left is typing your administrative password because you used sudo command.
4. Optional step – Keep the software running
As you can see in the comments, some users face this problem that the cputhrottle terminated out of sudden after few hours of running and their cpu usage were uncontrolled after that, so one of the folks was kind enough to write a shell script to check the status of this software and run it again if it was terminated.
The shell script can be accessed from Maui’s githup:
The shell script can be accessed from Maui’s githup:
How to turn start up apps on mac. Just get the code and put it in the same directory as cputhrottle, then open it in you favorite text editor (I personally use nano)
Now you can configure the settings you like, then you should set the permission so that the code can get executed:
and now everything is good to go and you should run the shell code so it do it’s job:
What is WindowServer Process on Mac? How to Prevent WindowServer Process Mac High CPU Usage:
The WindowServer is a very important and inevitable process in every Mac System. It is completely safe process that must run on your Mac to handle graphics and display related activities. When this process takes higher portion of CPU, you have to prevent it. The WindowServer High CPU Usage slows down the Mac System, heats it up and drains the battery faster. Therefore you need to find a way to prevent the WindowServer Process from taking High CPU Usage on Mac.
Contents
- 3 How to Prevent WindowServer Process from taking High CPU Usage on Mac
What is WindowServer Process on Mac?
WindowServer Process is a core part of Mac OS, it is directly concerned with Apple Graphics Hardware. The WindowServer is a mediator between the Apps and the Display of your Mac. Everything you type, draw or play on Mac is shown on the display by WindowServer Process.
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Why WindowServer Process taking High CPU Usage on Mac?
The WindowServer takes CPU Usage on the basis of number of opened apps and the apps, games or files constantly refreshing the display. If the Activity Monitor on your Mac is showing high CPU usage by WindowServer, you must check the running apps and games. Here we provide some possible causes of WindowServer Process taking High CPU Usage on Mac as follows:
- You are playing a High Graphics Game on your Mac. NFS, GTA, Asphalt and many other PC Games require high graphics on Mac computer.
- Drawing Software such as Coreldraw, AutoCAD consume high memory and the screen constantly refresh when you are creating designs.
- Photoshop, Picasa and other photo editor software are also responsible for WindowServer Process high CPU usage on Mac.
- Video Editor App uses graphics and keeps your Mac screen active for long time.
- There is a bug in one or more apps of your Mac.
How to Prevent WindowServer Process from taking High CPU Usage on Mac
Check Cpu On Mac
WindowServer Process can take CPU Usage based on Mac user’s activities. But sometimes the process takes high amount of CPU without any specific reason.
For example: All apps and games are closed. All apps from the Dock are closed. There is No animated icon or picture on Mac desktop. But the WindowServer Process is still taking high CPU usage.
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In such circumstances, you need to take some action to reduce the WindowServer Mac CPU Usage. Because it will slowdown your Mac, heat the PC and if you have MacBook, it will drain the battery faster. Here we provide some easiest ways to prevent WindowServer Process High CPU Usage on Mac as follows:
01. Reduce Transparency
When Transparency Settings are set to high, the graphics usage is also high. As a result, the WindowServer Process takes high CPU usage on Mac. Therefore we suggest you to reduce transparency in your Mac System to reduce the CPU usage by the WindowServer Process. Kindly follow the steps given below to reduce transparency on your Mac:
01. On your Mac Desktop, open Apple Menu.
02. Select “System Preferences” to go to that section.
03. Click on “Accessibility” icon to open Accessibility options.
04. Now select “Display” in the left side list.
05. Here you will see various options such as Invert Colors, Reduce Motion etc.
06. Find out “Reduce Transparency” option and tick the box.
07. Close the Accessibility Settings Window.
After reducing transparency, you will notice that your Mac’s Apple menu bar and Dock have become non-transparent. It also affects other apps which will ultimately reduce the WindowServer High CPU Usage on Mac.
02. Turn On/Off Automatic Graphics Switching
Many MacBook devices come with two graphics processors. The Mac System uses the suitable graphics processor as per its requirement. It also switches the graphics automatically which may cause high CPU usage by WindowServer. We request you to turn off the Automatic Graphics Switching option to check if the CPU usage gets reduced. Please follow the steps given below to turn off automatic graphics switching on Mac:
01. On your Mac, open Apple Menu.
02. Select “System Preferences” tab.
03. In System Preferences window, select “Energy Saver” icon.
04. You will see “Automatic Graphics Switching” option at the top of the Energy Saver settings window.
05. Un-check the Automatic Graphics Switching option to turn it off.
06. Close the Energy Saver settings window.
When you turn off Automatic Graphics Switching option, the Mac System will always use the high graphics processor for all apps. So you should check the WindowServer Process in Activity Monitor when Automatic Graphics Switching is turned off and turned on. If the WindowServer uses more CPU when auto graphics switching is off, you should turn it on again. You should keep the graphics switching mode which consumes less CPU usage by WindowServer.
03. Hide the Dock
On your Mac, Dock is situated at the bottom of the desktop screen. The dock contains many app icons. The WindowServer has to draw and show up those icons on your Mac display. Sometimes you don’t have any use of those icons still they are appearing on screen and using high CPU. Therefore we request you to turn on automatically hide dock option by following the steps given below:
01. On your Mac, open Apple Menu.
02. Select “System Preferences” option.
03. Find out “Dock” icon and click on it to open Dock Settings.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134201569/756002401.jpg)
04. On Dock Settings Window, find out “Automatically hide and show the Dock.”
05. Best mac app. Check that box to turn on Auto Hide/Show the Dock feature.
06. Close the Dock Settings Window.
After the Dock is hidden from your Mac desktop, the WindowServer Process CPU Consumption will be reduced by a few percentage. You can check that change in your Mac’s Activity Monitor.
Cpu Usage Macbook
04. Disable Automatic Rearrange of Spaces
Virtual Desktop Environment is a feature provided in Mac System. If you are using Spaces, they may get rearranged by themselves. Because of this setting in Mission Control, WindowServer takes high CPU usage. You can get your CPU usage back to normal by disabling the automatic rearrange of spaces on Mac. Please follow the simple steps mentioned below:
01. On your Mac, go to Apple Menu.
02. Select “System Preferences” to open a new window.
03. Click on “Mission Control” icon to open its settings window.
04. Find out the option “Automatically rearrange spaces based on most recent use.”
05. Disable Auto Rearrange of Spaces in Mission Control Settings.
Cup Usage Mac App Shortcut
When you disable Automatically rearrange spaces option, it will make a little reduction in WindowServer Process CPU usage on Mac.
05. Turn Off Separate Spaces for Displays
Mac Computer allows the user to setup multiple displays for one system. But it can be the cause of WindowServer Process high CPU usage if each display has a separate space. Every space takes some amount of CPU and memory. As a result, WindowServer takes high CPU usage for multiple displays have separate spaces. That’s why you should turn off this feature on your Mac. Kindly follow the steps given below to turn off separate spaces for displays in Mac system:
01. On your Mac desktop, open Apple Menu.
02. Select “System Preferences” tab.
03. Find and Select “Mission Control” icon in System Preferences.
04. On Mission Control Settings Window, find out “Display have separate spaces” option.
Apple Mac Cpu Usage
05. Un-check (remove the tick from) Display have separate spaces.
06. This setting requires log out to take effect on your Mac.
07. Log out from your Mac and Log in again.
Now the multiple displays don’t have separate spaces on Mac. Therefore the WindowServer Process will take less CPU usage than earlier.
Some Other Techniques to prevent WindowServer Process from taking High CPU Usage on Mac
Macbook Pro High Cpu Usage
![Mac os cpu usage Mac os cpu usage](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134201569/855867633.png)
You need to take some tiny steps to prevent the WindowServer Process high CPU usage on Mac. Here we provide important instructions for the Mac users as follows:
- When you see WindowServer High CPU Usage without any specific reason, just Restart your Mac System. It will fix the issue.
- You should open Mac App Store and Update the Mac OS to the Latest Version.
- You should check Update section in Mac App Store and Update All Apps in your Mac System.
- Close all those apps and games which you are currently not using or working on.
- Close Finder Windows to clean up the desktop and speed up your Mac. Open File menu in Finder and select “Close All” option to close all windows.
Mac High Cpu Usage
Final Words:
Mac Limit App Cpu Usage
All the information mentioned above about What is WindowServer Process on Mac is true and fair. The methods we have shared here are completely working on every Mac system. For more queries regarding how to prevent WindowServer Process high CPU usage on Mac, kindly contact the Apple Helpline Number at 1-800-MY-APPLE (800-692-7753) or visit Apple Support Website at support.apple.com.