I have a 2017 Macbook Pro (2.9GHz quad core i7 running Ventura macOS) that SUDDENLY has slowed down to a crawl. "top" shows less than 10% idle when no apps are running, but shows "WindowServer" consuming high CPU (>50%). I ran malwarebytes and found no malware. Not only computer performance is slow, but typing is delayed and network feels like on old dialup.
How can I troubleshoot whatever has suddenly taken up my CPU?
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 13.6
Under-configured memory, given what is a substantial load.
hosts seems to have been changed, too. What’s in that?
Offload what you can to get back to what that Mac can support. Remove MalwareBytes ongoing scans (fall back to manual scans, if you want a second or third anti-malware app), and whatever else you are not actively using. If you’re not using Java or Brave or Chrome or that NoMachine remote-access tool for instance, remove that.
Remove the (rest of the) Combo Cleaner anti-malware app, too. That’s malfunctioning.
Remove the fan control tool. Those fans are spinning to keep the Mac from frying itself, and all that’s going on here with apps and graphics and the Intel processor is all going to be toaster warm.
TL;DR: 16 GB memory is insufficient for Java, Docker, three AVs, Pace iLok or whatever licensing, XQuartz, Zoom, that remote access tool, MySQL, Google apps, and the rest of what’s loaded here.
First, how full is your storage (SSD)? Insufficient free space can cause lagging.
Are you running any anti-virus software, so-called "cleaning" apps, or a client-side VPN? All are primce casues of slow Macs.
Does the behavior continue after a restart?
Disconnect all external devices to see if one of those is slowing your computer.
That is about all we can suggest remotely at this point. However there is a way to extend our view. If you want a data-driven evaluation in this setting where we can neither see nor touch your computer, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the serious limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days.
EtreCheck Pro is available here:
The free version will do nicely for this purpose, although the app is worthy of our financial support.
We can see hard data about drive condition and performance, software issues and interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information, so please don't "edit the report. It's importe for us e see all report sections.
Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:
How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
My SDD is 4/5 free (almost 400 MB free)
No antivirus is running (that I know of), nor VPN
Behavior is fine after a restart, but the poor performance starts 5-30 minutes after starting to surf the web, when idle percentage goes from 95% to 10%
If there's anything else I can add, let me know
Thank you!
This was a development grade laptop inherited from my company, which I kept. When functioning well it's never had a problem supporting docker/java/zoom concurrently. Just a few months ago I cleaned out all the dust which made it run cooler & very fast and eliminated the dummy "kerne_task" process. I've already removed the 2 AV programs (malwarebytes/Combo Cleaner) so not sure why they're still showing up, so I just now removed all traces.
Right now my issue is that even when none of that software or daemons are running (java/docker/mysql), the software is just taking up space on my hard drive with 400 Gigs to spare, but still there is some process(s) or bottleneck slowing down my computer tremendously, because even with nothing running but a browser, the mac is either lightning fast or slow as molasses
Lots of displays cause graphics activity and that causes lots of heat, and hot throttles performance. Among other uses, Apple uses kernel_task as part of system cooling. This graphics-produced heat among other potential causes.
Well the laptop has always been lightning fast while supporting my multiple displays, so something else changed in the system which is slowing down everything. It's not the fault of the displays since it worked fine before
reddsgenesco wrote:
Are there options for paid support from an Apple specialists since it's out of warranty? I can't justify reloading the OS for an intermittant problem, I'd rather find out the root cause
Re-installing is the least effort and most expedient approach. It’s the usual next step for these cases.
Root cause analysis is nice and all, but of what value is that information, if the ultimate resolution is still to reinstall?
I’ve previously listed which apps I’d remove as part of a root cause analysis, if you do want to try that path.
App removal might not clear some latent system corruption, of course.
And re-installation won’t cure a nascent hardware problem, such as plugged cooling or overheating hardware.
But it will usually provide a complete and current backup, if this Mac is headed for a repair or replacement.
Are there options for paid support from an Apple specialists since it's out of warranty? I can't justify reloading the OS for an intermittant problem, I'd rather find out the root cause
Macbook suddenly barely crawling
