Problem with Kernel Task - El Capitan

Thank you pinkstones, I have 8GB of RAM installed -it's a macbook pro late 2011, 2.4GHz-. I didn't know that Kernel_task was the OS -I'm not a very advanced user-, you learn new things everyday...

You're fine, then. That's not an absurdly high amount given how much RAM is installed.

OK then, thank you very much for your help pinkstones.

Hey Badger,

Sorry for digging up old posts. But I am having a similar problem. Ever since I downloaded El Capitan my RAM has almost been maxed causing me problem while trying to use Google Chrome (which I need for certain online classes). I noticed like many my kernel task was taking a large amount of my 8gb RAM, and I proceeded to follow your step by step solution. However when I got the final destination folder my model identifier wasn't there MacBookPro 9,1. Suggestions?

Thanks,

Martyn

I am having same issue with Martyn too ... there is no MacBookPro 9,1

@Martyn I usually force quite the Google Chrome Helper via activity Manager when it's using too many ram

Hello,

I couldn't find my Macbook Pro 11,3 in the list, any idea !?

If kernel_task is using lots of RAM/CPU, then that's a symptom of some other problem, rather than a problem itself, because kernel_task is fundamental to most things.

Definitely do NOT delete Apple-installed system components. The problem is almost certainly elsewhere, like some third-party kernel extension or other software.

Throttling

When it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or low voltage readings from the battery of a MacBook, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption.

This was the main problem in my case.. I have set a cover to my laptop and the ventilation was not good. Removing the cover and the kernel_task CPU usage was down again 🙂

Thanks to Badgermonkey for solving this. I send in my mac to a authorise service centre in malaysia and they told me to change my hard drive cable which i did and pay the service fees for it. Came out and i still have this problem. Thanks i did it last night and was running for 30 mins no problem still. hopefully this solve my problem.

Thanks again.

I just signed up for a Netflix trial and couldn't be more disgusted to find it wants me to install Silverlight. I'm on my 2012 Mini at the moment but right alongside that is my mighty circa 2005 Power Mac G5, which still does all kinds of things really well (hat tip to the TenFourFox browser for a lot of that).

Silverlight almost killed my G5 years ago, triggering a kernel panic, if memory serves. I'm hoping your Chrome solution will also work for me. I really don't want to slaughter the Mini 🙂

EDIT: Victory. It works. Thank you Badgermonkey and Google.

Hello, i have problem to with kernel_task, i think because i installed some programs on my mac but i don't know what program.
I create another user, and login with new user, then remove the previous user, just it and my problem with kernel_task solved, no more kernel_task in my Activity Monitor.

Badgermonkey,

thank you for giving my Mac back to me! This helped for my MacbookPro8,1. I am writing this on battery, which was not possible a while ago....

Kedekede

I have a Macbook air (4.2) 2011

I had trouble installing 10.11 - so insted I installed from time machine backup. It is very slow. Acti-moni reportede "kernel_task" use up to 500% cpu. Rebooted into Root user and with safe-boot (shift) - that made a considerbly different - now "kernel_task" just about 1%

There is no 3 parti connections - no usb

Apple Hardware test - reportede no problems

Micormatic - mactest - also reported no problems

When i boots and works fine in "safe-mode" i think it is software relatede?

Could i try your fix? or is there other solutions? -have i overlooked something?

I fixed - found out that is was the battery. Disconnected it and the mac ran smooth. Did at clean "el capitan" install and reboot. With battery connected the problem was still there. Booted i target-mode, and removed the file sugested form badgedmonkey. Reboot at every thing is fine. Ran a test on disk, temp ect. and no problems reported.

-Thx

Buddy, I have a MacBook Pro 10,2 and I don't see any file where you said with my model. I'm running El Capitan on MacBook Pro Retina 13 inch Early 2013.

I followed the steps but without success.