Been liking Yosemite so far. However it has a nasty problem where the windowserver process starts hogging memory (sometimes up to 6 gbs). The only solution is to kill the process and to reduce transparency to avoid the problem again. I can use Yosemite like this, but I would prefer to use full transparency as it is intended.
What can I do?
MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10)
It seems to be an issue with using any video resolution other than the default.
If you go to System Preferences -> Display -> Resolution: Default for display. The memory leak will stop.
Although I like using higher resolutions, this seems to be the only way I can use osx w/o needing to restart it every 30 minutes.
I have the same problem: window server consistently runs at 90%, slows everything down; i see a lot of beachballs.
Have not identified the cause.
Submitted feedback for another round of WindowServer process bugs/leaks. Seems like each OS X version has these, but it seems particularly bad with an external monitor connected, creeps up to 90% cpu causing lag everywhere (on a core duo... :). Disconnecting aux monitor drops the cpu to ~10%, reconnecting is fine for a while but it creeps back up eventually. When I check the "Reduce Transparency" box in the Accessibility panel, it only drops ~10% cpu, problem still exists.
Otherwise like Yo so far. *Really* like having the new Terminal work with mouse scroll and page up/down keys in vim. Yes, linux server admin here (who also needs to run MS Office). 🙂
Resetting the SMC solved it... briefly. The problem is back. Tempted to do a clean install, but I just don't have the time.
Problem description:
windowserver memory leak
EtreCheck version: 2.0.6 (91)
Report generated 20 de octubre de 2014 15:10:05 GMT-7
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Air (Verified)
MacBook Air - model: MacBookAir6,1
1 1.7 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core
8 GB RAM Not upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Video Information: ℹ️
Intel HD Graphics 5000 -
Color LCD 1366 x 768
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10 (14A389) - Uptime: 18:41:49
Disk Information: ℹ️
APPLE SSD TS0256F disk0 : (251 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 249.77 GB (148.84 GB free)
Core Storage: disk0s2 250.14 GB Online
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Configuration files: ℹ️
/etc/hosts - Count: 97
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/Library/App[redacted]ication Support/VirtualBox
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (4.3.14) Support
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (4.3.14) Support
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (4.3.14) Support
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (4.3.14) Support
/Library/Extensions
[loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (4221 - SDK 10.8) Support
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.AmbrosiaSW.AudioSupport (4.1.2 - SDK 10.7) Support
[not loaded] com.ScreamingBee.driver.SBVirtualMic (1.0.4 - SDK 10.8) Support
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSB (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) Support
/System/Library/Extensions/MotMobi[redacted]eUSB.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileMS (1.0.0 - SDK 10.5) Support
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileMTP (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) Support
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBLAN (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) Support
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBLANMerge (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) Support
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBSwch (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) Support
Startup Items: ℹ️
ProTec6b: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ProTec6b
Startup items are obsolete and will not work in future versions of OS X
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
[running] com.paragon.NTFS.notify.plist Support
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[running] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist Support
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support
[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist Support
[loaded] com.motorola.MDMUpdater.plist Support
[running] com.motorola.motohelper.plist Support
[loaded] com.motorola.motohelperUpdater.plist Support
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support
[loaded] com.paragon.updater.plist Support
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist Support
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[running] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist Support
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
[invalid?] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist Support
[loaded] com.ambrosiasw.ambrosiaaudiosupporthelper.daemon.plist Support
[running] com.cleverfiles.cfbackd.plist Support
[loaded] com.disc-soft.DAEMONTools.PrivilegedHelper.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist Support
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist Support
[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist Support
[loaded] com.paragon.ntfs11.refresh.plist Support
[loaded] com.quark.quarkupdate.plist Support
[loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist Support
[loaded] net.sourceforge.MonolingualHelper.plist Support
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist Support
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.diskSpaceWatcher.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.scheduledScan.plist Support
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.trashWatcher.plist Support
[not loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist Support
User Login Items: ℹ️
iTunesHelper Aplicación (/App[redacted]ications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
PopClip Aplicación (/App[redacted]ications/PopClip.app)
Dropbox Aplicación (/App[redacted]ications/Dropbox.app)
BetterSnapTool Aplicación (/App[redacted]ications/BetterSnapTool.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
AdobeExManDetect: Version: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 Support
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.152 - SDK 10.6 Support
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.152 - SDK 10.6 Mismatch! Adobe recommends 15.0.0.189
AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 2.0.0.0 - SDK 10.7 Support
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.4 - SDK 10.6 Support
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 25 Check version
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
Facebook Cleaner (Disabled)
Facebook Improved (Disabled)
Ultimate Status Bar (Disabled)
ClickToFlash (Disabled)
iTube Studio
YoutubeWide (Disabled)
AdBlock (Disabled)
Stylish (Disabled)
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Flash Player Support
Java Support
Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X Support
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Destinations:
Time Machine [Local]
Total size: 319.73 GB
Total number of backups: 19
Oldest backup: 2014-04-18 04:28:48 +0000
Last backup: 2014-10-17 14:15:06 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 319.73 GB > (Disk size 0 B X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
5% WindowServer
1% fontd
0% Creative Cloud
0% Little Snitch Network Monitor
0% AdobeIPCBroker
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
189 MB Safari
122 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent
69 MB Mail
52 MB ocspd
34 MB mds_stores
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
3.64 GB Free RAM
2.63 GB Active RAM
307 MB Inactive RAM
897 MB Wired RAM
14.78 GB Page-ins
784 MB Page-outs
Not sure my issue is the same as yours; I only see the WindowServer problem when my Macs are booted while the 2nd display is plugged in. If I boot completely to the desktop and then plug in the second display, WindowServer doesn't rise above 20-25%, typically settling down to 10-15% when "Reduce Transparency" is checked off in Accessibility prefs. Still high IMHO, chews battery. This happens on a 2008 (5,1) MacBook Pro and 2009 Air.
I think we just have to wait out the 10.10.1 bug fix update like happened with previous X 10.x.0 launches.
This is my MacBook Air (Mid-2012) after a few days uptime: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2355649/before%20reboot.mov
This is just after a reboot: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2355649/after%20reboot.mov
It takes a few hours to degrade back to the top .mov, currently everything is still going great. WindowServer is clearly leaking memory over time, it's the only explanation I can find that fits the evidence.
Hi, try this: Disable the "Display have separate Spaces" in Mission Control
LogOff and Login again, check the process...
all fine?
As always after a reboot or relogin it's all fine, for the first few hours. I did what you suggested, and after a day or two it was back to stuttering, just like before.
Same issues here - it is fine after a reboot for a few hours or maybe a day or so but then slows to such a crawl that it is unusable - very annoying!
10.10.1 does not help. This is pretty annoying.
Same problem with me...
I just want to throw BetterSnapTool in the ring. I can't prove it yet, but it seems that after several hours of having it loaded, my iMac 5K with Yosemite (obviously) comes to a crawl regarding scrolling and space changes. Since I killed it, things seem to be more stable. If you need an alternative to betterSnapTool, try Divvy I'm using that for years as well and so far it does not seem to disturb Yosemite.
WINDOWSERVER memory leak
