Process "com.apple.dock.extra" is monopolizing User %

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Process "com.apple.dock.extra" is monopolizing User %

Main reason for even jumping into this with tech support was the constant appearance of the colorful beach ball. Computer (MacBook Pro) was running slowly compared to another one that I use for work.

Computer had enough processor to run Mountain Lion. Downloaded it and spent all day yesterday troubleshooting with tech support. Noticed a few things running, "com.apple.dock.extra" being the process using the highest % of memory (stays at around 100%). Other processes, jumping in and out of contention for the next few highest %'s included "com.apple.NotesMigratorService," "hiutil," "mds," and "mdworker." The biggest culprit is "com.apple.dock.extra."

Ran through a number of restarts after getting rid of things in Caches, after "control, R" restart, after "R, P, command, option" restart, etc. Ran through a gamut of things with which I had no experience. Last thing I did ... reinstalled Mountain Lion ... found the process was still hanging out at the top of the heap at 100+%. The computer employs the use of the fan constantly. Therefore, I'm using my work computer at the moment.

If I must erase my hard drive and perform a fresh install of the OS, then I am open to that.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Sep 3, 2012 9:57 AM

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Answer 1

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msf1630 Author

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Sep 3, 2012 10:36 AM in response to msf1630

Took some applications off of my dock, including MS Word. Then, I Force Quit "com.apple.dock.extra." It was hanging out in Activity Monitor, doing nothing. However, it finds its way back at the top of the processes list, sucking 100% CPU very quickly. This is annoying, to say the least.

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Answer 2

x29

Level 1

4 points

Mar 26, 2013 1:35 AM in response to msf1630

I got this same process "com.apple.dock.extra" hogging down my cpu after forcing shutdown (due to a strange hang when waking my MBPr w/10.8.3 from sleep). Also Addressbook, Messages and CalendarAgent were using more than 100% cpu each.

I tried removing com.apple.desktop.plist and com.apple.dock.plist from ~/Library/Preferences/, and all that happened was that I had to rebuild my Dock again, and the cpu still running wild.

I ran: sudo fs_usage and found that it was constantly accessing ~/Library/Application\ Support/AddressBook/Metadata/.Metadata.lock

Running the following command:

sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/AddressBook/Metadata/.Metadata.lock

solved the problem in my case.

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Answer 3

jximo 07

Level 1

8 points

Jul 9, 2013 11:37 AM in response to msf1630

Here's the solution. /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/XPCServices/com.apple.dock.extra .xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.dock

and when you get to the level of the dock.app right click + select "Show Package Contents, then select contents+xpcservices+delete com.apple.dock.extra.xpc

Then goto activity monitor and forcequit the process, dump your trash and you are done!

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Answer 4

Oct 25, 2013 10:51 PM in response to jximo 07

Hi jximo 07,

Your solution worked. How did you find this solution, by the way?

I had the same problem on my 15" Retina, Mid 2012. The com.apple.dock.extra service is using GPU and reported by the battery menu item, saying it's using a significant amount of energy.

I wonder why it's using discrete graphics? Some code must be forcing discrete graphics on my machine.

What's bothersome is that I have a mostly stock system without many programs. I upgraded from Lion to Mountain Lion to Mavericks, so maybe that's the problem. Would a fresh install make things better?

Looks a bug from Apple that I hope they will fix, or that someone will report at least.

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Answer 5

msf1630 Author

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Sep 3, 2012 10:08 AM in response to msf1630

Also, after reading other post about this issue, I am not running Windows OS, only Mountain Lion, although I do run Microsoft Office for Mac on my MBP.

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Answer 6

guguii

Level 1

54 points

Apr 5, 2014 7:01 PM in response to jximo 07

Big thanx!

🙂

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Answer 7

Jun 30, 2014 8:57 PM in response to jximo 07

Thanks, this worked for 10.9.3, back again though with 10.9.4.. going to give your suggestion another go.

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