AppleMobileDeviceService.exe is hogging up to %50 of CPU

After denying that there was a problem Apple eventually published a "solution" on their website, which was to uninstall the content filtering software that iTunes was conflicting with - inspired, after all, who needs to protect their children or themselves online!

So Apple couldn't care about the problems that iTunes 10.5 causes, nor even explain why it is digging around within winsock at such a low level in the first place.

Fortunately some of the content filtering software publishers have chosen to work around Apple's bug, and both Bsecure and SafeEyes have issued updates which mean that their LSPs make specific provision for iTunes' awkwardness.

10/10 to those companies and 0/10 to Apple for their arrogant indifference.

Please Apple fix this with an update or tool you can run, I can't believe you haven't patched it. This is wide spread and makes iTunes worthless.

You need to work better with security software, if that many companies are having issues with your software it would be best for you to fix it, right?

As someone that has beein in IT a long time, I was shocked at what the folks at the Apple store told me regarding this issue...(Note: I opened up an official support call with Apple and followed their tech doc #1923 to a T)

The high CPU problem occurred immediately after turning on my PC, so on a recent business trip, I merely visted the genius bar...They told me, I had two options

1) Reload my windows operationg system & truy again

2) Stop using Itunes on my windows 7 Ibm think pad

Incredulously, I asked (at the genius bar mind you...), is that really Apple's official response to my issue?!?

The techie said, "I'm afraid sometimes it is"

I said, let me get this straight...I've been using itunes with no problems for years... you guys introduce a bug with a new release of code, and now you want me stop using the application?!?

What I always loved about Apple, is their level of professionalism and their focus on customer service. They were always striving to have impecable products and would NEVER go through the motions on any thing

Genius bar...ya right

This morning, I deinstalled itunes because I don't have time to fight my environment, especially when the high CPU issue is causing web meetings to fail

Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave right now

Seriously, Apple? This problem has been around for several yrs, and there's not so much as an honest acknowledgment that this is Apple's problem?

Because the battery life on the iPhone 4S is so heinously deplorable, I often park my iPhone in the cradle -- attached to the Windows computer -- whenever not in use. During the course of the day I insert/remove it repeatedly. ITunes isn't happy with this in-n-out, it appears, and often crashes.

I've tried the "netsh winsock reset" solution mentioned here and elsewhere. Works fine ... for the time being. But soon enough the problem returns. I don't want to have to reboot my computer several times a day.

craziest thing for me is that it pops us randomly with iTunes updates. I'm losing about 13% CPU to the service, this just started after the last iTunes "upgrade". Last time it happened was 4 versions ago I think. Weird.

My solution is Splashtop. iTunes stays off until I need it. If i want to watch something thru ATV, I just go to my computer thru Splashtop and launch itunes. same with streaming music on the go.

honestly, it's not affecting performance at all. but still annoying. temps on my cpu cores are contsantly up 6-10 degrees while iTunes has this nonsense going on. long term effect is likely negligible, but I still close it whenever I can 🙂

All,

I've posted this in some other threads to share on my findings given the fact that we're on the same **** boat -

I face the same problem, Windows XP that moves like snail with that downloaded iTunes 10.7.0.21.

The problem is definitely on the Apple Mobile Device Support that's been hogging 50% of the CPU.

This is what I discovered, experimented and did a moment ago:

1. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Apple\Installer Cache

2. Go inside the folder Apple Mobile Device Support 6.0.0.59

3. Right-click and Uninstall

4. Go inside the folder Apple Mobile Device Support 4.0.0.97

5. Right-click and Install

Voila.

The iTunes 10.7.0.21 runs as smooth as silk.

Give it a try and feedback please?

Cheers,

MT

From Indonesia-Singapore

I used the service stopping/starting trick and that works fine, i hardly dock my ipad so i can live with that.

Apple's solution is comically bad - I ran the "autorun" tool but I don't have any random LSP providers. I have two windows live nameid things but I assume they have been there for a long time! (Maybe they haven't!?)

I have found that after applying this fix the issue comes back after a while! For anyone that is having similar issues with iTunes I have found a permanent fix! It fixes this high CPU problem and it also fixes iTunes stalling while backups and syncing! The fix costs a little but it’s all worth it as it gets to the root of the problem and puts it away for good! Here’s the link http://for-the-people-online.com Good Luck! There's also this info from Squidoo that may help: http://www.squidoo.com/applemobileservices-exe-and-no-backups-or-syncing-with-it unes-and-iphone

I have this problem (MobileDeviceHelper hogging all CPU).

However when I use Autoruns to lool at Winsock providers (as recommended by Apple) there is just the one - Bonjour from Apple.

Any ideas what I can try next?

The only Autoruns I have are for Bonjour and also VMWare. Now looking at the support article, VMWare is known to have issues, however I can't find any information about how I might work around this.

Needless to say if I need to un-install a critical component like VMWare to get around this issue, it's not a fix........

Between this and the WIFI issue with my iPhone5 (that many people seem to have, yet no fix or acknowledgement at all from Apple anywhere, I'm about almost done with Apple products after many many years.

Although I haven't heard of any specific fix from Apple I will say that I only did the reset-fix once or twice a long time ago (I think it's over a year now) and haven't had the problem since. I should also mention that I'm still using XP. We'll see what happens when I go to Windows 7.

I tried the "netsh winsock reset" command because I was trying to get Home Sharing to work (again) and accessing my iTunes library from my Apple TV would just get stuck on Loading. It worked. Briefly. It's at it again.

Seriously, now that I have the Flash plug-in blocked, iTunes is the sole reason on my computer for slow-downs, crashes, and headaches. iTunes ***** and the latest and greatest lipstick on the pig doesn't do squat to solve any problems.

I am facing the same problem. I like to use iTunes for iTunes U and for the fact I have heavily organised my music around it. But such rubbish bugs that aren't fixed for such a long time make me search for alternatives.

Can I transfer by music ratings to another player? If so, I think I am switching.

And Apple: I am a user who has made a purchase of iTunes, but looks like I will be switching elsewhere.

I might as well throw away my iPod shuffle, I anyway use it only once a year.

End of Rant. Phew!

All, I finally found a source that will FIX the issue! This site has all the known fixes for this problem to include the solution explained in this thread (video form, link)! They are all temporary fixes but the site does give you an opportunity to get the permanent fix. I went ahead got it for a measly one buck and got rid of the problem for good! I recommend it, try it, you’ve got nothing to lose! The site, for-the-people-online.com. Good Luck !!

As mentioned before, thanks to all who has contributed to this issue in this thread! However, as I mentioned before above, the source that has all the fixes in one place to include a video link to the "winsock" fix is :

http://for-the-people-online.com , my bad, I didn't include the link before, so that you can just hover over it and go.