Why Spotify might use more CPU than it should
- The visible window. Spotify's interface is built on web technology, so animations, artwork and Canvas videos cost more while the window is open.
- Canvas: short looping videos that play on some tracks.
- Hardware acceleration not playing well with a particular Mac or macOS version.
- Downloading playlists for offline listening.
- A bug in one app version, usually fixed in the next update.
How to fix it
- Hide the window while you listen. Close or minimise it; playback continues, and Spotify does less drawing.
- Turn off Canvas. In Spotify's Settings, look for the Canvas option in the display section and switch it off.
- Toggle hardware acceleration. In Spotify's Settings, look for hardware acceleration in the compatibility section. If it's on, try it off (and the other way round), then restart Spotify and compare.
- Let downloads finish, or pause them if you need the speed now.
- Update Spotify, or reinstall it if the problem started after an update and persists.
How much CPU is normal for Spotify?
While just playing music with the window hidden, it should sit near the bottom of Activity Monitor's CPU list. Short spikes when you search, change tracks or open the window are normal; steady high usage while idle is what the fixes above address.