"Mail Web Content" spawns new threads in Activity Monitor when using Mail (Ventura 13.2)

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"Mail Web Content" spawns new threads in Activity Monitor when using Mail (Ventura 13.2)

Has anyone noticed "Mail Web Content" a lot in Activity Monitor when using Mail? This started for me with Big Sur and it's taking my CPU temperature into the 70 degC all teh time, spiking into the 85-90 degC

It seems as though a new PID is created every time you click on an email (new or otherwise, html or plain-text) and it's not related to particular email accounts or message types/originators (POP vs IMAP).

Anyone have any clues as to why this is happening and how to fix?

iMac

Posted on Jan 26, 2023 1:45 AM

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Answer 1

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Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Feb 6, 2023 4:21 AM in response to oz-macnut

oz-macnut wrote:

Thanks P. Phillips

First Part " That's how I expect it to perform, as I noticed that behaviour when opening additional messages on this machine and also my partner's Apple Mail also (same model iMac)."

Second Part " The real issue and boggle is why does my Mail Web Content constantly run at or over 100% CPU load on each of those instances, and yours from a clean install runs the CPU on each at virtually 0%..."

Additionally, I noticed this starting to happen with macOS Monterey.

Could it be something to do with Apple Mail v16?

So we Agree in the First Part of your above

The explanation maybe because the Content in each Additionally Spawned Windows has a lot of Embedded Images that are Connected to Remote Content

It can also be because there is some Third Party Security Software checking the Remote Content or Embedded Images

On the, now 3 M-Class computers, running Ventura 13.2 - do not experience this issue

Nor do any of these machines have an AntiVirus ( Security Software ) either.

As mentioned earlier , Arrive at your own conclusions

Should this not be to the satisfaction of the User >>

Download the Application Etrecheck directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer

The application is free or paid from added features.

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information.

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

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Answer 2

oz-macnut Author

Level 1

41 points

Mar 4, 2023 12:28 AM in response to Owl-53

Took two days of four attempts, but a clean install of macOS 13.2.1 successful, and data cloned using Carbon Copy Cloner (as Time Machine wouldn't copy all my files due to "not enough free space")?

The Mail.Web.Content processes are now under control. No CPU spikes and temperature is under control.

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Jan 27, 2023 1:40 AM in response to oz-macnut

To explain I have tried to duplicate this "Mail Web Content " you have brought up.

What follows is being done on a very clean installation of Ventura 13.2

By that I mean, I have never used a TM Backup to Migrate anything from any other computer to this machine.

Yes, I can duplicate having several " Mail Web Content " in Activity Monitor but under very exact and specific circumstances

In the first image below is Apple Mail Open and using " Organize by Conversation " with Preview Pane to Right.

In second image is the results of Activity Monitor with 2 instances of " Mail Web Content " - IMHO Normal

Now, here is where things Change.

When I Open the First e-mail ( your ) it spawns a Separate Window containing the full contents of the e-mail.

When I perform the exact same action for the second and third e-mail in below list, Two Additional Separate Windows appear.

That now means, I have 3 Spawned and Separate Windows each containing the complete text from each appearing.

Now I suggest checking the Third Image below

There are now 5 instances of Mail Web Content appearing in Activity Monitor

That is how we were able to duplicate this " Observance " in Active Monitor.

I believe is more of a Users Workflow rather than bug or carryover from a Migration from TM Backup

Arrive at your own conclusions

First Image

Second Image

Third Image

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Jan 26, 2023 3:42 AM in response to oz-macnut

This maybe normal if the user has used Tabs in Apple Mail.

Use tabs in Mail on Mac

Open a new tab in the Mail window: Press and hold the Shift key, then choose File > New Viewer Tab. ...
Show all tabs: To show thumbnails of all your open tabs, choose View > Show All Tabs. ...
Move between tabs: Click a tab, or press Control-Tab or Control-Shift-Tab to go to the next or previous tab.

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Answer 5

oz-macnut Author

Level 1

41 points

Jan 26, 2023 4:12 PM in response to Owl-53

Hi P. Phillips Might have used tabs years ago, but found them less helpful for my workflow, so turned them off.

This seems to be a recent development.

I can't seem to find what the process is that causes the processes to spawn, however, clicking on an email seems to open a new instance. I have six instances in Activity Viewer now, and I've clicked on about 4 or 5 emails.

Quitting and re-opening Mail, immediately creates three instances of "Mail Web Content" running at 190% CPU

Is this something that would be solved with a clean install? (I have already tried that previously to Monterey). I'd rather not go through the hours of work restoring from a backup from a clean install or the risks involved with doing so, unless it's going to solve it.

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Answer 6

oz-macnut Author

Level 1

41 points

Feb 6, 2023 4:10 AM in response to Owl-53

Thanks P. Phillips

That's how I expect it to perform, as I noticed that behaviour when opening additional messages on this machine and also my partner's Apple Mail also (same model iMac).

The real issue and boggle is why does my Mail Web Content constantly run at or over 100% CPU load on each of those instances, and yours from a clean install runs the CPU on each at virtually 0%...

Additionally, I noticed this starting to happen with macOS Monterey.

Could it be something to do with Apple Mail v16?

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Answer 7

Owl-53

Level 10

102,955 points

Feb 23, 2023 6:59 AM in response to oz-macnut

Apart from what has already been suggested and presented.

Refer to below

Problem: Other problem

Description: Apple Mail â Mail.Web.Content uses high CPU for each message viewed in Mail (over 100% CPU)

Major Issues:

Q1 - Heavy CPU usage - Some processes are using an unusually high amount of CPU.

A1 - Worth the time of the User ( you ) explore the above issue

Minor Issues:

Q2 - Heavy RAM usage - Apps are using a large amount of RAM.

Q3 - Clean up - There are orphan files that could be removed.

Q4 - Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed. These files could be old, incompatible, and cause problems. They should be reviewed.

Q5 - System modifications - There are a large number of system modifications running in the background.

Q6 - Runaway user process - A user process is using a large percentage of your CPU.

A2 to A6 - Worth the time of the User ( you ) explore the above issue

Q7- Antivirus software: Apple and Malwarebytes

A7 - Fine to have Malwarebytes but not really needed to have it running all the time

Q8 - [Running] Macs Fan Control (Ilya Parniuk - installed 2022-12-06)

Application

/Applications/Macs Fan Control.app

A8 - The one place that can really muck up and possible cause unintended consequence including Frying the Logic Board is using a Third Party Application to control the Colling System of the computer

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Answer 8

oz-macnut Author

Level 1

41 points

Feb 23, 2023 4:02 PM in response to Owl-53

Thanks P. Philips for your time and detailed responses.

I'm in the process of preparing for a full backup, clean install and recovery manually. This OS has been continually migrated, transferred and updated since 10.6 Snow Leopard.

I rely so heavily on minimal downtime with the production environment I operate, it's just easier that way.

Heavy CPU usage - yep - it's Mail.Web.Content doing that! that's what i'm trying to solve. I had mail running when I did the EtreCheck scan, as the machine is fine unless i run Apple Mail.

Orphan, unsigned apps, system mods - all will be reviewed and possibly removed, however the same sets of unsigned apps and mods are installed on another identical model iMac in our office (also running Ventura), and no issues are present with it's Mail.Web.Content.

Malwarebytes has been one for the least intrusive and lowest resource hungry utils I've used since clamXAv in the early macOS X days. I'm doubtful, but will turn the App Block and Malware Protection off to see if that assists.

Macs Fan Control has been helpful to set a higher static fan speed, as macOS was not lifting the fan speed to counteract the higher internal temperatures, especially since Mail.Web.Content started kicking off.

The default macOS fanspeed is 1200 rpm. I've lifted that minimum to 1500rpm, with the fan speed rising proportionally as the CPU average temp rises from 55C, with the 95C being the max allowable temp. We live in a high ambient temperature country, with daytime summer temperatures which can exceed 40C (100F) for a week at a time, and overnight temps not dropping much below 30-35C, thus the indoor temperature can be higher than the expected ambient of 21C (our air conditioners struggle).

Unless you or others have differing suggestions, and the above A1-A6 don't prove effective, it's a wipe and clean install as the only option, I believe.

Thanks for the help.

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