How to stop WebKit WebContent high CPU use?

How to stop WebKit WebContent high CPU use? how to stop this 2026-06-06 14:56:06 com.apple.WebKit.WebContent High CPU Use (2 times) First occurrence: 2026-06-04 22:46:51

Typically I see this issue when there is third party Anti-Virus installed...

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS

Third party AntiVirus is not recommended— it typically does nothing but add issues to the macOS and competes directly with Apple’s own built in security.

macOS antivirus - Protecting against malware in macOS - Apple Support

Security and your Apple Account Security and your Apple Account - Apple Support

Apple Platform Security - Apple M5 2026 Apple Platform Security - Apple Support

and https://help.apple.com/pdf/security/en_US/apple-platform-security-guide.pdf

weeklycod wrote:

I did not did back up due to not having drives, I have uninstalled Norton 3 days ago.

(edit forgot to put un )

I do not understand statements like this when I see them. People have $1000+ computer setups yet can't or won't get a $100 external drive to make a backup.

As for the WebKit WebContent cpu or memory usage, that can spike high due to having many web sites open in browsers, especially web sites that are streaming ads or other online content in the background or foreground. You might look at your browser tabs and eliminate ones that are leftover or ones you aren't actively using ... Also you can simply quit the browser(s) and restart. But watch for very busy sites with constant video ads (or other video content), CNN is an example, Macworld is another that I find almost unusable due to the constant deluge of video ads in sidebars.

Based on your EtreCheck report supplied.

WebKit WebContent is not currently showing high CPU usage.

The report's CPU snapshot shows

1 - com.apple.WebKit.WebContent (12) using 2.75 GB RAM total

2 - No WebContent process appears in the top CPU consumers

3 - Overall CPU usage is only 2% (1% system, 1% user)

4 - System load is low and performance is rated Excellent

The only indication is that " com.apple.WebKit.WebContent High CPU Use (2 times) First occurrence: 2026-06-04 "

This means macOS detected a WebKit process using high CPU briefly on two occasions, but it isn't an ongoing problem.

One thing that stands out in your report is that Norton was installed recently

2026-05-21 Norton (26.4.0) - Installer

2026-05-23 Norton (26.4.0) - Installer

This specific issue has ben addressed previously and remedial action had been suggested - full stop

The repeated crashes are not WebKit crashes.

They are , Business.appex, part of Apple's Business Chat framework

Unless you are seeing Messages related problems, these are unlikely to be related to WebKit CPU usage.

There is, as per the report

 No Time Machine backup - Time Machine backup not found or any other means by which the users important and non replaceable personal data is backed up

If you have used or are using Time Machine Backup Utility  you maybe able to Restore the Deleted Files 

For future purposes

To truly protect your non replaceable Data

Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current

3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 

https://bombich.com

How to schedule a backup

weeklycod wrote:

how to stop this

2026-06-06 14:56:06 com.apple.WebKit.WebContent High CPU Use (2 times)

First occurrence: 2026-06-04 22:46:51

If your Mac is working well, I would ignore this "high cpu use" item in the report. If it isn't broken, don't try to "fix" it.

weeklycod wrote:

I did not did back up due to not having drives, I have uninstalled Norton 3 days ago.

(edit forgot to put un )

Although, Not having access to or having purchased reliable External Drive for a Rescue Plan is important for the the reasons supplied

It is not central to the issue at hand namely " stop WebKit WebContent high CPU use "

The XY problem

weeklycod wrote:

as I look into it mainly it is saying what are not done instead resolution

Is the user saying, there is no active WebKit CPU issue visible in the report, so there is nothing specific in the report that can be fixed." ?

weeklycod wrote:

I did not did back up due to not having drives,..

Rephrased: this data has no value; is utterly worthless.

The only way to mark data as being valuable is with backups.

Otherwise, the data is one drop, one dunk, one corruption, one crash, one loss, or one theft away from gone.

MrHoffman wrote:

weeklycod wrote:

I did not did back up due to not having drives,..

Rephrased: this data has no value; is utterly worthless.

The only way to mark data as being valuable is with backups.

Otherwise, the data is one drop, one dunk, one corruption, one crash, one loss, or one theft away from gone.

We can only suggest and can do no more 👍

weeklycod wrote:

I dont have anti virus, and completed reading all the links

[Edited by Moderator]

The user (@weekycod) would likely benefit from focusing on one issue at a time before moving on to the next.

Most of the questions being asked are entirely legitimate and worth exploring.

However, developing a solid understanding of Apple computers and macOS is a gradual process.

It's a broad subject with many interconnected concepts, and it's uncommon to learn and fully understand everything in a single discussion or session.

Working through topics step by step can often lead to a clearer understanding and more effective troubleshooting than trying to tackle multiple areas simultaneously.

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weeklycod wrote:

Thank mr owl it helps me to take everything in one place

You're welcome.

My main suggestion wasn't so much about gathering everything in one place, but about focusing on a single topic at a time before moving on to the next.

That approach often makes it easier to build a clearer understanding and troubleshoot issues more effectively.