WindowServer draining battery on 2020 Macbook Pro

Hi,

I'm on a 2020 MacBook Pro i5 2GHz, which recently (?since updating to Monterey) runs hot with fans blazing leading to a large drop in battery life - I'm having to recharge after 2 hours (maybe 3 if I'm lucky). WindowServer is constantly running at 100-110% of CPU even if all of my apps are closed. I've cleaned up my applications folder & updated everything to no avail. Would someone mind having a look at the EtreCheck report attached to see if a cause can be identified?

Thanks!


MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Dec 18, 2021 4:12 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 18, 2021 4:58 PM

<< WindowServer is constantly running at 100-110% of CPU even if all of my apps are closed. >>


As long as there is still some RAM available, closing an Application does NOT make it quit. It will continue to do what it does, even without an open Window. If you want to save battery you need to get in the habit of saying QUIT, not just closing the last window.


You have a remarkably large CPU usage, and FireFox is open and using WindowServer resources.


You also have installed OneDrive, and have it set to run at all times. When you do this, it scans your files NON-STOP AND scan your files on the shared Drive NON-STOP consuming your computer's resources because it is ported form Windows, and dies not consult the MacOS data structures that could tell it instantly what folders had been modified.


You need to start up your Time machine backups real soon. its been over ten days, according to your report. Time machine does its work at low priority in the background, so you can continue to do your important work.

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 18, 2021 4:58 PM in response to lizlemon11

<< WindowServer is constantly running at 100-110% of CPU even if all of my apps are closed. >>


As long as there is still some RAM available, closing an Application does NOT make it quit. It will continue to do what it does, even without an open Window. If you want to save battery you need to get in the habit of saying QUIT, not just closing the last window.


You have a remarkably large CPU usage, and FireFox is open and using WindowServer resources.


You also have installed OneDrive, and have it set to run at all times. When you do this, it scans your files NON-STOP AND scan your files on the shared Drive NON-STOP consuming your computer's resources because it is ported form Windows, and dies not consult the MacOS data structures that could tell it instantly what folders had been modified.


You need to start up your Time machine backups real soon. its been over ten days, according to your report. Time machine does its work at low priority in the background, so you can continue to do your important work.

Dec 18, 2021 5:38 PM in response to lizlemon11

You have Windscribe VPN installed, and it's components have crashed daily for several days running.

Readers assume a VPN will protect them and keep them safer. Instead, this stuff punishes performance and slows down your Mac and makes it unstable, while compromising your security.


Unless you use this to connect to your employer or school, you should not be running a VPN. It's completely unnecessary and it's snake-oil.

Dec 18, 2021 4:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

That computer is a battery-CAPABLE device. It is not optimized as a battery-operated device. (It is NOT an iPhone.)


Your computer performs best when connected to AC power. It can use the full output of the Power Adapter AND when doing especially challenging work will also freely "borrow" power from the battery. In some cases, even with the power adapter connected, the charged state may even decline during stressful work.


When used only on battery, your computer has no extra cushion of power, and will perform more slowly. However, for ordinary non-stressful tasks this may not be objectionable (possibly not even noticeable.)


Your MacBook Pro uses smart charging to charge in the optimum way, and only when necessary. Plugged in is Not necessarily actively charging. There is substantial hardware and software cooperating on battery and charging issues.


In general, you should ALWAYS connect AC power when it is possible to do so, and only run on batteries (which will be somewhat slower) when no AC sources are at hand. Your Mac will NEVER over-charge.

Dec 20, 2021 2:22 PM in response to lizlemon11

These are your crash reports:


Diagnostics Information (past 7-30 days):

2021-12-19 06:49:14 WindowServer High CPU Use

Executable: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SkyLight.framework/Versions/A/Resources/WindowServer


2021-12-18 00:45:10 /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ProxiedDevice-Bridge/log-aggregated-2021-12-18-004510.ips Crash


2021-12-17 00:00:49 /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ProxiedDevice-Bridge/log-aggregated-2021-12-17-000049.ips Crash


2021-12-16 00:00:47 /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ProxiedDevice-Bridge/log-aggregated-2021-12-16-000047.ips Crash


2021-12-15 00:29:44 /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ProxiedDevice-Bridge/log-aggregated-2021-12-15-002944.ips Crash


2021-12-14 00:31:41 /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ProxiedDevice-Bridge/log-aggregated-2021-12-14-003141.ips Crash



Dec 18, 2021 5:15 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for your reply Grant!

Sorry yes, when I say apps closed I do mean I have clicked quit.

Interesting about OneDrive - I actually don't have this installed, I'm just logged in to a Microsoft account for Office365 (I only have Word, Excel, Powerpoint & OneNote installed) - only OneNote has files stored on the drive and it's not been used for weeks. Will being logged in to this have the same effect re: constantly scanning files or is that just if I have the actual OneDrive app installed/OneDrive synced to Finder?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

WindowServer draining battery on 2020 Macbook Pro

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.