macOS process library
What is sharingd on Mac?
sharingd is the macOS daemon behind AirDrop, Handoff, Instant Hotspot, connecting to shared computers, and Remote Disc in the Finder. It runs in your user account and wakes up when nearby devices want to share something with your Mac.
- Part of
- Apple’s Sharing daemon, part of macOS.
- Safe?
- Yes. The copy at
/usr/libexec/sharingdis part of macOS. - Can I quit it?
- No. macOS restarts it, and AirDrop and Handoff stop working until it’s back.
The short answer
sharingd is a normal part of macOS and is usually idle. You’ll see brief CPU while AirDropping files or when Handoff kicks in. If you don’t want nearby devices reaching your Mac, limit AirDrop and Handoff in settings instead of trying to stop the process.
Normal use
What sharingd usually looks like.
sharingd usually uses close to 0% CPU and a few tens of megabytes of memory. It becomes active during AirDrop transfers and when your devices offer a Handoff.
Like rapportd, it may trigger a firewall prompt asking to accept incoming connections. That’s expected, because AirDrop and Handoff work by devices connecting to each other directly.
Why sharingd uses so much CPU or memory
- AirDrop transfers
Sending or receiving files, especially large ones, keeps sharingd busy until the transfer finishes.
- AirDrop set to Everyone
When anyone nearby can see your Mac, it handles more discovery requests in busy places.
- Handoff and Instant Hotspot
Your devices regularly let each other know what you’re doing and whether a hotspot is available.
- Finder sharing
Browsing shared computers or a Remote Disc in the Finder sidebar goes through sharingd.
How to calm sharingd down
Start at the top. Each step is more disruptive than the one before.
- Let transfers finish
If an AirDrop is in progress, wait for it to complete or cancel it.
- Limit who can AirDrop to you
Click Control Center in the menu bar, click the arrow next to AirDrop, and choose Contacts Only, or turn AirDrop off.
- 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.
- Restart your Mac
If sharingd stays busy with nothing being shared, restart. Save your work first.
Seeing it in Spare
Find what it’s reacting to.
sharingd rarely uses much. Spare lists it as a system task next to your apps, development projects, and AI agents, so you can confirm quickly that it isn’t what’s slowing you down.
Spare treats macOS processes like sharingd as system tasks and never offers to stop them. Spare doesn’t monitor network traffic.
Common questions
About sharingd
Is sharingd spyware?
No. It is Apple’s daemon for AirDrop, Handoff, and Finder sharing, and it lives at /usr/libexec/sharingd.
Should I allow sharingd through my firewall?
Yes, if you use AirDrop or Handoff. Blocking it doesn’t harm macOS, but those features stop working.
How do I stop strangers from AirDropping to me?
Set AirDrop to Contacts Only or turn it off from Control Center in the menu bar.
Can I remove sharingd?
No. It is part of the protected macOS system and can’t be removed.
Related processes
Sources: sharingd(8) man page, macOS, Apple: Use AirDrop on your Mac. Reviewed October 6, 2026.
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