Buzz
In the following article, Mytour will explain to you WindowServer: What is it? Why does this process run on Mac? Additionally, you can explore other processes like kernel_task, hidd, mdsworker, installd, and many more online.
What is WindowServer?
What is WindowServer? Essentially, WindowServer is a core component of macOS, acting as the link between applications and the screen. If you see something on your Mac screen, WindowServer puts it there. Every window you open, every webpage you browse, every game you play - WindowServer 'pulls' it onto your screen. Furthermore, for those technically inclined, you can delve deeper into Apple's developer documentation.
In simpler terms, WindowServer is what macOS and the applications you run on macOS use to display everything on your screen. This process is entirely secure.
Why does WindowServer consume so much CPU?
As mentioned earlier, all applications communicate with WindowServer to 'pull' everything onto the screen. If WindowServer is consuming a lot of CPU, try closing applications and see if CPU usage decreases. If you notice a significant decrease in CPU usage after closing a specific application, that application might be the 'culprit' causing the 100% CPU error. Just like encountering the CPU 100 error on Windows, there are various methods to fix CPU 100 errors to enhance the performance of your computer.
To check CPU temperature, you can use various software like CPUID HWMonitor or SpeedFan ... all of which are considered the best CPU temperature monitoring software. Among them, CPUID HWMonitor is highly rated by users compared to other software options.
To some extent, this is normal: programs constantly changing what is displayed on the screen will use quite a bit of WindowServer, meaning these applications will use high CPU. Therefore, some games, video editors, and other applications are the reasons for sudden increases in WindowServer CPU usage.
Sometimes in certain cases, software can cause high WindowServer CPU usage errors. If you notice this and don't believe the application is the 'culprit' causing the CPU spike, consider contacting developers. They may help you troubleshoot the issue.
If WindowServer continues to consume a large amount of resources even when you don't have many applications running, the program is running. First, you can search online for ways to speed up an old Mac, especially by reducing transparency. You'll find this option in System Preferences =>Accessibility =>Display, known to be the culprit consuming a lot of WindowServer CPU, especially on older Macs.
Additionally, you should close all unnecessary windows, ensure there aren't too many icons on the desktop, and reduce the number of desktop screens used in Mission Control. If not, consider resetting the NVRAM, which can be helpful in some cases.
Another thing to remember: if you use multiple monitors, WindowServer will use more CPU to handle multiple displays. The more screens you display, the more pronounced this becomes.
Above, Mytour has explained what WindowServer is to you. Why does this process run on Mac? Hopefully after reading this article, especially for readers using Mac, you have gained more knowledge about processes on Mac OS.
Furthermore, we have also published an article introducing how to connect to SSH servers on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If interested, you can refer to the SSH server connection guide here.
