macOS process library
What is rapportd on Mac?
rapportd is the macOS daemon that lets your Apple devices communicate with each other. Apple’s own description says it enables Phone Call Handoff and other communication features between Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
- Part of
- Apple’s Rapport daemon, part of macOS’s Continuity features.
- Safe?
- Yes. The copy at
/usr/libexec/rapportdis part of macOS. - Can I quit it?
- No. macOS starts it again when it’s needed, and features like Handoff stop working in the meantime.
The short answer
rapportd is a normal part of macOS, and seeing it in Activity Monitor or in a firewall prompt is expected. It is usually idle. If you don’t use Handoff or calls through your iPhone, you can turn those features off, and rapportd will have less to do.
Normal use
What rapportd usually looks like.
rapportd usually uses close to 0% CPU and a small amount of memory. It runs in your user account and wakes up when nearby devices need to exchange something.
Many people first notice it when a firewall asks whether “rapportd” may accept incoming network connections. That is expected: your devices connect to each other over your local network and Bluetooth.
Why rapportd uses so much CPU or memory
- Continuity between your devices
Handoff, taking iPhone calls on your Mac, and similar features keep your devices in touch. rapportd handles part of that conversation.
- Many Apple devices nearby
Each iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Watch on the same Apple Account is something rapportd may communicate with.
- A firewall or network change
When a firewall is turned on or reset, it asks about rapportd again, which can make it look new even though it has always been there.
How to calm rapportd down
Start at the top. Each step is more disruptive than the one before.
- Allow it in the firewall prompt
If your firewall asks about rapportd and the path is
/usr/libexec/rapportd, allowing it keeps Continuity features working. Denying it blocks those features. - Turn off Handoff if you don’t use it
Go to System Settings → General → AirDrop & Handoff (AirDrop & Continuity on newer versions) and turn off Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
- Toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
If rapportd seems stuck, turning Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and on again resets the local connections it uses.
- Restart your Mac
A restart starts rapportd fresh. Save your work first.
Seeing it in Spare
Find what it’s reacting to.
rapportd almost never uses enough to matter. If you’re checking on it, Spare shows it alongside your apps, development projects, and AI agents so you can see at a glance that something else is doing the real work.
Spare treats macOS processes like rapportd as system tasks and never offers to stop them.
Common questions
About rapportd
Is rapportd spyware?
No. It is an Apple daemon that lets your own devices communicate. You can confirm it’s the real one by checking that it runs from /usr/libexec/rapportd.
Should I allow rapportd to accept incoming network connections?
Yes, if you use Handoff or take iPhone calls on your Mac. Denying it doesn’t harm macOS, but those features stop working.
Is rapportd related to IBM Trusteer Rapport?
No. Trusteer Rapport is separate banking security software. Apple’s rapportd only shares part of the name.
Can I turn off rapportd?
Not directly. Turning off Handoff reduces what it does, but the daemon stays part of macOS.
Related processes
Sources: rapportd(8) man page, macOS, Apple: Hand off between your Mac and other Apple devices. Reviewed October 6, 2026.
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macOS 14+ · Apple silicon · Signed and notarized