Multiple copies of Finder Sync extensions running

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Level 1

28 points

Multiple copies of Finder Sync extensions running

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed that I get multiple -- and by 'multiple' I mean "very large numbers" -- of processes apparently started by the Finder Sync extension mechanism.

For example, at the moment I have several hundred instances of Adobe Content Synchronizer Helper, probably almost as many Dropbox Finder Extension instances and BetterZip Finder Extension instances, a good number of Code Helper (from VSCode), plus some FirefoxCP Isolated Web Content and VTDecoderXPCService instances, which might or might not be the same kind of thing.

I'm running OS X 12.6.1 on an Intel i9 MacBook Pro. These large numbers of unwanted processes slow down my machine noticeably, forcing me to restart periodically.

I've seen other threads started by users with the same issue, but the official response seems to be just to finger-point at the developers of the Finder Sync extensions. I'd think that -- given that this seems to occur across a wide range of third-party software, and given that it's been a reported problem for some years now -- this might be something that needed a fix at the OS level.

Has anyone isolated a cause for this (beyond "oh, the third-party developers must have done something wrong"), or found a way to fix it other than either restarting or killing all the rogue processes manually?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Dec 11, 2022 10:56 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

102,637 points

Dec 12, 2022 2:39 AM in response to mongoosenyc

Precursor to the very good advise from @Luis Sequeiria 1 above.

Or, just straight into the suggested Etrecheck Application which is where the below steps would have eventually lead to

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

2 - Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading

3 - Does the issue present in this mode ?

4 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

5 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.

6 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.

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Answer 2

Dec 11, 2022 11:35 PM in response to mongoosenyc

We need more information.

Please run Etrecheck and post its full report here. Use the "additional text" button and paste the report into the text box.

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Multiple copies of Finder Sync extensions running

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