How to Fix WindowServer High CPU on Mac [macOS Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur]

To run Windows Server on Mac, a procedure creates the visual elements of a display, which can consume CPU cycles and slow down your Mac if not managed properly. Fortunately, there are solutions to fix this issue.

The WindowServer process in Activity Monitor consumes excessive CPU and memory resources, but there's no way to stop or reduce its usage, as it's a system process that constantly uses a lot of resources.

If you're wondering why WindowServer is consuming a lot of CPU on your Mac, there are several reasons for this. One possible cause is that the WindowServer process is responsible for handling all the windows and graphics on your Mac, which can lead to high CPU usage, especially if you have many windows open or are running resource-intensive applications. To lower WindowServer's high CPU usage, try closing unnecessary windows, updating your Mac's operating system to the latest version, and checking for any malware or viruses that might be causing the issue.

Overview: What Is WindowServer on Mac

WindowServer, a macOS process, consumes more CPU cycles when there are multiple active windows, as graphical components are frequently refreshed, requiring CPU cycles.

WindowServer is responsible for managing and rendering the graphical user interface (GUI) on your screen, handling interactions with applications, and updating the display in real-time as you navigate and interact with different programs and websites.

When you log into your Mac, the WindowServer process starts and ends with your login session. As a core macOS process, WindowServer is essential to the system's operation, and forcing its termination can have negative consequences, such as high CPU usage.

Reasons: Why WindowServer Mac High CPU Happens

The WindowServer process is a macOS process that handles graphics and window management. If it becomes unresponsive or stuck in an infinite loop, it can consume a large amount of CPU resources, leading to high CPU usage. This can happen due to various reasons such as a bug in the process, a corrupted system file, or a third-party application causing issues.

• Your increased interaction. Video editing, gaming, and other activities that require quick screen redrawing may be the actual cause behind the increase in WindowServer activity.
• Malware problem. The WindowServer process could surge due to continual refreshing while using it, among other factors.
• Multiple displays. Working on numerous high-resolution screens and assorted transparency and drop shadows could contribute to longer-term increases in WindowServer activity.
• Unorganized desktop. This can be inefficient, as it requires the system to constantly redraw the icons, which can lead to a decrease in system performance and battery life. This can be avoided by only drawing the icons that have changed, which is a more efficient use of system resources.

It sounds like your Mac is experiencing performance issues. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as a full hard drive, malware, or resource-intensive programs running in the background.

Methods: How to Fix WindowServer High CPU on Mac

Here are the methods to reduce WindowServer CPU usage issues on Mac:

Method 1. Restart your Mac

To free up memory and clear temporary files on your Mac, simply restart your computer, which will automatically clear caches and other temporary files, freeing up RAM and giving your system a fresh start.

Rebooting your Mac can resolve issues with specific programs using excessive CPU power, such as WindowServer high CPU or kernel task high CPU, by choosing Restart from the Apple menu and waiting for the Restart to complete. This may resolve the WindowServer Mac high CPU issue.

Method 2. Delete Files and Folders on Mac Desktop

Having many files on your Mac desktop can cause disorganization and increased CPU utilization on your WindowServer, as more visual components are required to handle the rising number of files.

To avoid clutter on your desktop, you can either transfer all files to a new location or delete them to the Trash Bin, and then force empty the Trash if some files can't be deleted.

You can reduce the Windowserver CPU use significantly by doing this.

Emptying the Trash can be a relief when deleting unwanted files, but it can also lead to accidental deletion of important files. This can cause a dilemma when you need to find the deleted files, making it essential to be cautious when clearing the Trash.

To recover deleted files on a Mac, you can download Deep Data Recovery for Mac, which can help you accomplish a complete recovery if you unintentionally deleted significant photos, movies, or documents.

To effectively recover your Mac data, research reputable software options, read objective product reviews and comparisons on trustworthy IT websites, and choose a respected, potent, and effective Mac data recovery software that boasts a high recovery rate, such as 99.7%.

Method 3. Quit Unused Programs and Apps

When Windows and browser tabs are open, Windows and browser tabs consume more CPU resources, making the WindowServer work harder, especially on outdated Mac computers. To manage this, you can force quit apps on your Mac.

• Before closing any window or application, make sure to save any unsaved work to avoid losing your data.
• You can close any active applications you are not using now.
• Open the "Force-Quit" menu by pressing Command + Option + Escape.
• Choose the pointless app, and click "Force Quit".

Method 4. Stop Mission Control Spaces

When using Spaces and the virtual desktop environment on a Mac, disabling the automatic rearrangement of spaces based on usage can significantly alter how WindowServer functions, leading to a more customized and tailored experience for the user.

How to do it:

• To access Mission Control, click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen, then select "System Preferences". From the System Preferences window, click on the "Mission Control" icon, which is typically represented by a grid of windows.
• To turn off the option to automatically rearrange spaces based on most recent use, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Account > Settings > Preferences > Spaces, and toggle off the switch next to "Automatically rearrange spaces based on most recent use". Alternatively, you can also press Command + Shift + > and then toggle off the switch next to the same option.
• The modification of the WindowServer has a positive impact, despite its seemingly minor nature, as it eliminates the issue of Spaces moving independently, benefiting the WindowServer.

The procedure will reduce the workload on Mac WindowServer, resulting in lower CPU usage.

Method 5. Disable Unwanted Login Items

To stop unnecessary login items on your Mac, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items, select the app you want to remove, and click the minus button. This will prevent the app from launching when you sign in to your Mac. You can also use the "minus" button to remove multiple apps at once. Alternatively, you can also use the "lock" button to prevent any further changes to the login items list.

• Go to "Users and Groups" under "System Preferences" in the Apple menu.
• To disable a startup item, select the item you want to disable by clicking the "Login Items" tab.
• Click the "-" button at the bottom of the list.
• To save your settings, unlock the padlock in the lower-left corner.

The Bottom Line

The WindowServer on Mac is a critical component that enables communication between displays and apps, but it can also consume a significant portion of the CPU resources, potentially slowing down your computer.

Now that you know more about WindowServer on Mac, you know what to do if it consumes excessive amounts of CPU and memory. Additionally, you can recover your deleted files with Deep Data Recovery for Mac.

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WindowServer Mac high CPU FAQs

Here are some other questions about WindowServer Mac's high CPU.

1. How to check if the WindowServer uses a high CPU?

To determine how much CPU the WindowServer process is using, open the Activity Monitor app on your Mac, click on the "System" tab, and then click on "WindowServer" in the list of processes. This will show you the exact percentage of CPU usage for the WindowServer process.

• Launch Activity Monitor by opening Finder, clicking Applications - Utilities.
• Click the CPU column's top. Search the column for "WindowServer."
• The WindowServer CPU consumption will then be displayed.

2. What happens if I quit WindowServer?

When you force quit WindowServer on your Mac, it will automatically log you out, shut down all open programs, and initiate an operating system update. It's essential to avoid attempting to end the process like you would other processes, as this can lead to data loss.

3. How to fix WindowServer prevents from sleeping?

Your Mac will stay awake while macOS Spotlight indexes your computer until the process is complete. Wait for the indexing to finish before putting your Mac to sleep, as this process can take minutes or hours. If you're experiencing issues with your Mac not sleeping, you can check out this article for more methods to resolve the problem.

4. How to fix WindowServer's high CPU usage on Mac?

Removing unnecessary objects from the Mac desktop, closing unnecessary windows, and disabling visual effects can help reduce the high CPU utilization of WindowServer. Additionally, manually removing a virus can also contribute to this reduction.

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