Why is ATH.exe using 50% of my CPU?

I can confirm this issue on my system too. Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I noticed at least for me it started when I tried to wi-fi sync multiple idevices (ipad, then an iPhone).

When I added the second device it started hogging CPU. I disabled wi-fi sync on the iPhone and leaving Wi-Fi Sync on the iPad only to see if that will fix it.

I was really thinking the fix would be in iTunes 11. But no, I too still it. After syncinging via wifi, if I leave iTunes up, ATH ends up hogging my CPU until I close iTunes. Can't believe Apple is not dealing with this.

Between that and the end of support for Safari on Windows, it's pretty clear they no longer care about supporting their software on anything but their own hardware. I guess they are hoping Windows users will switch to Mac in frustration. More likely we'll keep our PC and but switch our mobile devices from iOS to Android.

Meanwhile, in case it gives anyone any clues as to the source of the ATH problem: I see similar behavior in the Polkast server (provides remote access to desktop files via mobile device). Runs fine, then at some point, starts hogging the CPU for no good reason. Their support people are helpful but stumped. My guess is that both ATH and the Polkast server must rely on similar underlying libraries or services and that's where the problem actually is.

ugh. really disappointing this wasnt fixed in iTunes 11.

Windows 7 64

iTunes 11

iphone 5 16

ipad 2

Whenever I enable wifi syncing, ath.exe jumps up to 100% of my CPU. This didnt happen immediately when I enabled it, but when I came back to my computer a few hours after enabling wifi sync, my computer fan was running non-stop and my processor was close to overheating. As soon as I turned off wifi sync, this problem goes away.

Agree. Apple and iTunes 11 have done nothing to fix this problem. Continues to exhibit the same behaviour as with iTunes 10.7. That is, the processes behave themselves for a few hours after a restart - maybe overnight if you are lucky - but then come back with a vengeance hogging CPU. Just proves what is becoming more apparent all the time in that Apple without Jobs has become impotent & rudderless.

Incidentally the versions of the AirTrafficHost (ATH) files ATH.dll, ATH.exe, ATH_main.dll that are supplied with iTunes 11 were last modified 01 Oct 2012.

I confirmed this by performing a complete uninstall of all Apple software prior to installing iTunes 11.

One might anticipate that a fix involving the ATH process is likely to require a modification to at least one of these files and it simply beggars belief that with all the resources that Apple has at its disposal that a solution to the ATH issue has not been incorporated in iTunes 11.

Incompetence ++++.

Same here. I really hoped that upgrading to windows 8 and installing the new itunes 11 would fix it but no, still having the same problems.

ATH.EXE, using all my CPU as well.

Windows HomeServer 2011, the later iTunes 10 and 11 both have the issue for me.

Best I can do at the moment is to set the priority of the ATH.EXE process (in task manager) to be low, and set the affinity to only one of my two cores, at least then other programs get a chance to run with out much delay. But of there is nothing else going on then yes the CPU usage does go up, but as soon as something else needs some CPU cycles, which would have a normal priority level, is gets, well, priority.

That said, Apple please fix this!!!

New iTunes is garbage. Is it possible to revert to previous version? It hogs CPU and stops responding all the time.

I've been fighting this issue for a year now. Every few months I get angry and try to fix it, only to browse these forums and find out Apple still doesn't fix it, or care or know how to build proper software.

Every few days the fan on my laptop starts spinning so fast it sounds like its trying to take off. ATH or some other apple process is hogging 50-100% of my CPU. I close these processes and back to normal. Its not a deal breaker but it sure is annoying....

I can't understand how something that has been reported for over a year by multitudes of users is just ignored by Apple. Maybe one of the apple fan boys can explain this to me. I've had an iphone since day 1, but I'm seriously considering exploring Samsung or my other options. Apples doesn't seem to care, so I guess I don't either.

#terribleservice #flakeysoftware #wherearethefanboys

Disabling traverse/execute for ATH.exe prevents it from running, and it looks like WiFi sync still works.

It's to the point now where I shut iTunes down when I'm not using it. I have woken up in the morning and found my computer crashed with a "CPU Overheat" error message on the screen. I just recently figured out it was because of ATH.exe running 50% of my CPU for hours and hours all night.

Sure, I can't do wireless sync when iTunes isn't running, but most of the time, iTunes "can't start sync session" or "can't find iPhone" on my wi-fi network anyway. I'm extremely disappointed that this is still a problem with iTunes 11.

This is not the windsock incompatibility

this is not an antivirus incompatibility

This is simply Wi-Fi sync failing to run into windows iTunes environment from day one

If you are a windows user, the only solutions a availiable are:

Disable wifi sync

Run a scheduled task to a batch file repeating every hour :

taskkill /im ath.exe /f

I seriously doubt apple intend to fix this it has been a year, they want us all running osx just to run iTunes.

Not cool

g-funkster wrote:

Disabling traverse/execute for ATH.exe prevents it from running, and it looks like WiFi sync still works.

That doesn't work for me. If I remove ATH's execute permissions, it sees the phone, but the sync button is grayed out. The phone shows that the PC is not availble. As soon as I allow it again, the sync button becomes available.

That would only solve part of the problem anyway, sometims AppleMobileDeviceService.exe also hogs the CPU.

Agree. AppleMobileDeviceService.exe hogs CPU as often as ATH.exe.

An unmitigated ongoing Apple-architected disaster for Windows users.

Given the duration of the issue & the consistent detail provided by many users, Apple simply has no excuse.

No excuse except that they just don't care. I was told by apple to reset Winsock. Oh sure, nice fix, maybe I should reinstall windows while I'm at it. Can you imagine if some Microsoft product caused these problems on OSX. Apple would put out TV commercials about it, and all the apple fanboys would decry a crime against humanity.

Don't get me wrong, I've had every generation of iphone, 2 ipads and a macbook and I like their devices. But I also need PCs in my environment and I just can't understand why Apple doesn't care. Its either a foundational problem that they CAN'T fix, or they don't care. Either way its infurtiating. This stuff is pushing me slowly to other options.

#crappyapplesoftware