9

My MacBook Pro running on macOS Catalina is really slow and the kernel task is using 1000% of the CPU !!

I tried all the solutions suggested in MUF How to Fix Your Mac’s “kernel_task” High CPU Usage Bug. I still have the same problem.There is only one solution that I was not able to do exactly like it was mentioned, it is the one suggested by Victor Petterson in How to fix kernel_task CPU usage on Yosemite.

It involves removing the « model identifier ».plist file. I was not able to find the file with my model identifier so I removed all the files in : ../ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext/Contents/Resources

After removing the .plist files I have restarted my MacBook and re-enabled the SIP. Now the files are removed and the kernel task still using 70% of the CPU with a maximum speed of fans.

Does anyone have the same problem and was able to find a solution to the kernel task issue which is different from the ones mentioned above ?

Improve this question
6
  • Any idea of whats causing the Kernel task to run? Have you tried killing the kernel task and seeing if it restarts itself but at a lower CPU usage?
    – Natsfan
    Commented Jun 14, 2020 at 14:50
  • 1
    You can’t really kill the kernel_task process because it’s an internal system process
    – Mouayd
    Commented Jun 14, 2020 at 21:09
  • you're right. my bad!
    – Natsfan
    Commented Jun 14, 2020 at 21:29
  • 1
    I spent more than 5 hours dealing with this problem. Activity Monitor showd kernel_task taking up 1400% of my CPU. Try running $ kextstat | grep -v com.apple and then try to get rid of everything which pops up there. In my case, the culprit was HAXM (com.intel.kext.intelhaxm). It’s supposed to provide better performance for android emulators (I installed it as soon as I got my macbook because Android Studio advised me to do so). However, after uninstalling it my emulators kept running ok, and I haven’t had this weird issue again.
    – LGenzelis
    Commented Oct 20, 2020 at 23:55
  • In my case a change to a refresh rate of 60 Hz of the monitor helped. You might find more information in the following explanation via youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=mK4AcBndg-0
    – duffy356
    Commented Jul 29, 2021 at 21:28

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9

Kernel_task is a dummy process which takes up CPU resources from other applications in order to cool the system down. So I would look at your system's cooling, maybe use fan tools such as Mac Fan Control and perhaps disabling turbo boost with a tool such as TurboSwitcher. Also on some MacBook Pro's you can cool the system a bit by using a TB3 port on the right-hand side to charge from rather than the left.

Some other issues related to Kernel_task problems.

  1. Update software (so bugs get fixed)
  2. Check for malware.
  3. Adobe Flash! if you have this uninstall it is well known using up CPU resources. It is not needed anymore.
  4. Boot into safe mode see if that solves the issue
  5. If #4 works try uninstalling third-party software with kernel extensions (kexts) by using AppCleaner or CleanMyMac X, find them using terminal kextstat | grep -v com.apple and match them to the software packages. Do not remove Apple's, hence the command line filters them out of the listing of extensions.
  6. Use System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Login Items and remove those applications you don't need to start upon login.
  7. Clean out your system using a tool like CleanMyMac X and uninstall applications you no longer use.
  8. Try resetting NVRAM
  9. Upgrade macOS 10.Reinstall macOS
Improve this answer
8
  • Thanks for your answer. Unfortunately, I had already tried all the 9 solutions. Nothing works really. I’ll try with Turboswither tool and see if it will do any good
    – Mouayd
    Commented Jun 14, 2020 at 21:11
  • @Mouayd No problem the main point is Kernel_task normally uses more CPU as your MacBook gets hotter. But when I say using more CPU its not really using the CPU for anything taxing its just controlling how much other applications can use. which model of MacBook are you using?
    – AndrewC
    Commented Jun 15, 2020 at 8:24
  • Exactly that’s what I found after doing some research. It usually does that when there is a hardware problem on the motherboard. I have the 2017 MacBook Pro 13
    – Mouayd
    Commented Jun 15, 2020 at 19:44
  • @Mouayd software issues (bugs etc ) can do it as well and MacBook’s will naturally do it under a lot of load. Regarding hardware have you run Apple diagnostics? support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731
    – AndrewC
    Commented Jun 15, 2020 at 21:27
  • 1
    The insight that kernel_task is used to steal CPU from other processed made me find a solution - I have been using MacsFanControll app and set fans to constant 2500 rpm - a little bit higher than minimum to keep my mac cooler. Once I turned off the app the fans immediately started to run faster, Mac cooled down and kernel_task stopped stealing CPU from other processed. It's weird cause I always thought MacsFanControl sets minimum RPM but nothing prevents it to spin faster. Note: I used Catalina 10.15.6 and newest MacsFanControl.
    – Jakub Głazik
    Commented Aug 18, 2020 at 13:33

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .