Level 1

22 points

WindowServer memory leak

Looks like this problem is coming back in High Sierra.

I have a late 2013 MacBook Pro Retina, freshly installed High Sierra after resetting SMC, PRAM, at most 6 apps open at the same time, after 16 hours, this WindowServer process is taking almost 1GB RAM! Notice how much has been compressed. Several days ago, I have been using the High Sierra GM for about a week without rebooting/logging out, and I noticed this WindowServer process took 8GB RAM!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Sep 27, 2017 8:50 AM

Top-ranking reply

welsonsun Author

Level 1

22 points

Posted on Oct 3, 2017 10:25 AM

Well, looks like the current consensus of the bug is that for retina display with Intel graphics card, if the resolution is set to the "scaled max", you will get the WindowServer memory leak. Other resolutions seem to be fine.

On my late 2013 rMBP 13'', setting the display to "scaled max (1680x1050)" will instantly create the memory leak. Other "scaled settings", currently at 1440x900, WindowServer stays around 100MB for 24 hours now.

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53 replies

Morgon-

Level 1

18 points

Oct 3, 2017 9:55 AM in response to CongGao

I wasn't going to post after only 12 hours of use, but I actually saw memory _decreasing_, so I feel like this is doing well.

At its height, I was at 270 MB 'Real Memory' usage, but as time has gone on, macOS has reduced it to 173 MB. I am satisfied.

Oct 29, 2017 11:58 PM in response to welsonsun

I can confirm this on a 15" 2015 MBP. When running scaled resolution WindowServer starts to consume in excess of 20GB after a while. (I'm running the latest version of MacOS High Sierra, 10.13.1?)

I have no additional monitors connected.

Disabling scaled resolution tames WindowServer memory consumption but this is not a viable solution as I need the screen Realestate for my design work.

Nov 6, 2017 3:27 PM in response to Kudose

I hope you are sending feedback to Apple using the Feedback Assistant app.

Kudose

Level 1

4 points

Nov 7, 2017 8:57 AM in response to welsonsun

It's been several days since the 10.13.2 Beta install without a reboot and the memory usage is currently 175MB whereas it would be into the GB by now previously. Submitting feedback report to Apple.

Kudose

Level 1

4 points

Nov 10, 2017 1:25 PM in response to elencticdeictic

Try 10.13.2 Beta ... you have to enroll in the beta program to get it.

skivvie

Level 1

5 points

Nov 27, 2017 9:04 AM in response to mlaporte

I'm seeing the same. Are you having any issues with Sleep? Mine wakes up immediately when I choose APPLE->Sleep.

margot-

Level 1

20 points

Nov 30, 2017 7:39 AM in response to welsonsun

Same issue here with Macbook Pro Retina late 2013...

csmuc

Level 1

4 points

Dec 1, 2017 12:52 AM in response to welsonsun

Same here, late 2013 MBP, running 10.13.2 Beta 5.

Problems seams to happen only when a external display is connected.

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WindowServer memory leak