macOS process library
What is that process on your Mac?
Activity Monitor lists hundreds of processes with names like mds_stores and WindowServer. Here’s what each one does, why it sometimes uses a lot of CPU or memory, and when it’s safe to step in.
Audio
coreaudiodRuns all sound in and out of your Mac.
Browsers
Google Chrome Helper (Renderer)Runs the web pages in your Chrome tabs, usually one per site.
Display and graphics
WindowServerDraws every window, menu, and pixel on your displays.
Networking and devices
airportdManages your Mac’s Wi-Fi connection.nsurlsessiondFinishes downloads and uploads that apps hand off to macOS.rapportdLets your Apple devices find and talk to each other nearby.remotedFinds connected Apple devices and the services they offer.sharingdPowers AirDrop, Handoff, and Instant Hotspot.
Photos and media
mediaanalysisdAnalyzes photos and videos for search, Live Text, and Look Up.photoanalysisdScans your Photos library for people, places, and Memories.
Security and privacy
syspolicydChecks that apps are allowed to run before macOS opens them.trustdChecks that certificates and secure connections can be trusted.
Spotlight and search
corespotlightdIndexes content inside apps, like notes and contacts, for search.mds_storesStores and updates Spotlight’s search index on each disk.mdworkerReads your files so Spotlight can search them.
System core
distnotedPasses system-wide notifications between apps and services.kernel_taskThe macOS kernel, which also keeps your CPU from overheating.launchdThe first process macOS starts, which launches everything else.logdCollects and stores the messages that macOS and apps log.
iCloud and sync
clouddMoves app data between your Mac and iCloud through CloudKit.fileproviderdConnects iCloud Drive and cloud storage apps to Finder.
Where Spare fits
Most slowdowns aren’t one process.
A busy system process is often reacting to something else: a big download, a photo import, a project with thousands of changing files. Spare groups CPU and memory use by the apps, projects, and AI agents you recognize, so you can see what was running alongside it.
How to see what’s running on your Mac →Get Spare
Free to use. Yours to explore.
Download Spare for Apple silicon, or explore the MIT-licensed source on GitHub. Free to use, with no subscription or account.
macOS 14+ · Apple silicon · Signed and notarized