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accountds consuming CPU; no Internet Accounts and iCloud, Spotlight is off

Hi, this issue has been reported by multiple users and I tried multiple suggestions already. Signed out of all Gmail accounts ( and removed them). Removed iCloud and Spotlight sybc. Rebooted multiple times but still I see 'accountsd' consume CPU up to 400%


Any other suggestions? As I can't seem to attach files to the thread please find

https://dropfiles.org/bqFclneA


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 25, 2020 3:11 AM

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Posted on Sep 25, 2020 6:40 AM

After doing some research found an alternative offered: just reboot in to Safe Mode (hold Shift at restart), then restart normally. Since then the problem seems to be resolved.. hopefully not only temporary, let's keep fingers x'ed!

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Sep 25, 2020 6:40 AM in response to Rodrigoha

After doing some research found an alternative offered: just reboot in to Safe Mode (hold Shift at restart), then restart normally. Since then the problem seems to be resolved.. hopefully not only temporary, let's keep fingers x'ed!

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Sep 26, 2020 1:14 AM in response to dima61

Hey guys, and gals! I’ve seen this process spike under different circumstances. If you’re still seeing the problem, (And there truly is no internet accounts added), please let me know if the same happens in a new administrator account. The answer to that might provide a possible solution. Let me know.


Set up a new user:


https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-other-users-on-your-mac-mtusr001/mac


Likewise, if the same DOES happen in a new user WITHOUT signing into any accounts, (Including during the setup of the new user), a better test might be Safe Mode. These operating systems can be complicated and there’s no one single answer for every different case, but these tests and integral in finding a culprit and solution.


Startup your Mac in safe mode:


https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/start-up-your-mac-in-safe-mode-mh21245/mac


The answers your these questions will reveal a lot to others who may have a solution, in either case, hope it works out, thanks!

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Sep 25, 2020 4:49 AM in response to dima61

Same here, upgraded to 10.15.7 and CPU usage spikes. Seems that the processes 'accountds'/ 'commerce' are responsible for this and killing the process 'commerce' is a only a temp 'solution' for minutes and then same problem appears again. Tried also SMC reset without success!!!

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Sep 26, 2020 12:48 AM in response to dima61

Glad to hear that but I am not really sure if it only delays the problem. For me everything was OK for approx. 24h and a few minutes ago both processes started eating up my CPU again. Killed 'commerce' and it's quiet now. Hopefully Apple is watching these conversations as well and monitoring other blogs so that they will come up with solid and final resolution!

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Sep 26, 2020 4:27 AM in response to DiZoE

Thanks for the reponses and tips & hints. However, the problem was introduced by an operating system update from Apple and therefore it's Apples responsibility to provide a solid solution. All other activities are circumventions only. I am working for a software company and our customers would definitely request this!

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Sep 26, 2020 8:40 AM in response to doobieb


OK, unfortunately you're right. One day has passed and issue started happening again.


This certainly should be treated with priority from Apple's tech support/R&D. I wonder if any of the engs themselves experience this and if it bothers them from "user perspective".


Anyway, I don't see an easy way to report a defect but if someone from tech support reads this thread, please do consider opening a ticket.

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Sep 26, 2020 11:49 PM in response to doobieb

Hey again!


Were you able to test in a new admin user?


The fact it worked in safe boot and then initially after a restart, but happened again tells me there is software on your Mac causing a problem, (If not a file system error that couldn’t be resolved by safe boot alone),


This would mean targeted troubleshooting isolation steps to find the non-Apple culprit causing troubles, can you confirm, after a good amount of time in safe boot this doesn’t happen?


Accountsd is a native Apple process, however third parties also use this process to work with the OS, so it’s not necessarily the OS at fault, from what I know it could very well be a third party provider or program that need to fix it on their end, or work with their Apple contacts to do so if it’s not something they can work out on their own.


To you and Dima61, were you able to fully test in safe boot and in a new user?


If in a new user and it works fine, there are several possible steps to take to get a solution, same as the safe boot results. This would tell us for sure if it’s corruption in the user folder, or a possible third party conflict, or truly an issue with the OS.


In either case hope it works out, just let me know if I can help further.


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Sep 28, 2020 9:01 AM in response to DiZoE

Hi DiZOe,


after upgrading to 10.15.6 I had the same problem (and actually still have).

Updating to 10.15.7 and restaring in the safe mode did not resolve the issue .

(MacBook Pro 13inch, 2019, 2.4GhZ)

What is your suggestion to solve the problem?


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Sep 28, 2020 7:58 PM in response to PJB07

Hey PJB07! I’d still try the steps above, did you test it while in safe mode? Or just boot to safe mode then restart? Also can you see if it happens in a new admin account?


I know the one who posted this issue dima61 had removed all the internet accounts as a test before posting. Although that didn’t work for them, it’s worth a try. I’d either remove all, restart and test, then add one at a time in intervals making sure to test a while after adding each one, as it could be a single account causing troubles. I’ve fixed this myself by doing that, removing all accounts, I then copied then deleted the contents of ~/Library/Accounts, restarted, re added the accounts and all was good, this was on Mojave though. Also I knew for a fact it worked fine in another user. If it did not, I’d probably consider reinstalling the OS. But I don’t think there’s a single answer unfortunately for every case, unless it’s truly a bug that has a workaround or requires another update to fix.


But yes, knowing the results of those two tests will help (safe boot and a new admin account), as far as what direction to go. If it works fine in safe boot, I’d consider backing up, and removing specific files in the /Library and possibly ~/Library, let me know how it’s goes!

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Sep 29, 2020 7:03 AM in response to DiZoE

I opened an Apple Support case and they told me that this a known problem and that they are working on a solution. It has something to do with an email account. They mentioned Gmail and a delete and recreate should solve this problem (documented in existing case).

Honestly speaking, I don't think it's only limited to an Gmail account only. I kept my non Gmail account untouched and safe boot with iCloud logoff/login solved the problem for me, at least for 4 day now.. keeping my fingers crossed.

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Oct 4, 2020 12:49 AM in response to dima61

After trying many "so called" solution, the problem still exists. Turn on the iMac (2020, 27", i9, 5700X, Catalina 10.15.7.), login one account. It seems everything ok, may I working without any problem. But no turn off(!), just logout one account and login another, the accountsd appears and the CPU-madness begins. So no smc reset nor nvram reset nor logout and login icloud solve the problem. These all only "an illusion".

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accountds consuming CPU; no Internet Accounts and iCloud, Spotlight is off

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