Puff
Get Puff · $4.99

What is backupd on Mac? Why it uses so much CPU, and how to fix it

Updated · 2 min read · by

Quick answer

backupd is the Time Machine backup service. It works hard during backups, especially the first one. Short spikes are normal. If it stays high, something is keeping it busy, and the steps below find and fix it.

What is backupd?

backupd runs Time Machine. It works out what changed since the last backup, copies it to your backup disk, and removes old backups when the disk fills up. You may also see backupd-helper alongside it.

After the first full backup, regular hourly backups are usually small and quick.

Why is backupd using so much CPU?

How to fix high backupd CPU usage

  1. Confirm it in Activity Monitor. Press ⌘ Space, type Activity Monitor, open the CPU tab and sort by % CPU. Watch backupd for a minute: short spikes are normal, only steady high usage needs fixing.
  2. Let the first backup finish while plugged in. Later backups are much lighter.
  3. Exclude folders you don't need backed up (caches, downloads, virtual machines) in System Settings › General › Time Machine › Options.
  4. Skip a backup when you need full speed: use the Time Machine menu bar icon and choose Skip This Backup.
  5. Use a faster disk if backups always take a long time.

More help: How to check CPU usage on a Mac

Questions people ask

What is backupd on a Mac?

backupd is the Time Machine backup service. It works hard during backups, especially the first one.

Can I quit backupd?

You can skip or stop the current backup from the Time Machine menu, but it runs again at the next scheduled time. Excluding big folders makes backups lighter.

Is backupd a virus?

Yes. backupd is Time Machine, built into macOS.