What is launchd?
launchd is the first process macOS starts (it's process number 1) and the parent of almost everything else. It starts system services at boot, starts your login items when you log in, and relaunches background helpers when they're needed or when they quit.
On a healthy Mac it uses almost no CPU. When it does show up near the top of Activity Monitor, it's usually because it's being asked to restart something again and again.
Why is launchd using so much CPU?
- A helper that keeps crashing. A broken login item, menu bar app or background agent crashes,
launchdrestarts it, and the cycle repeats many times a minute. - Leftovers from an uninstalled app. A background agent whose app is gone can fail to start over and over.
- Right after login or an update, when many services start at once. This settles within a few minutes.
How to fix high launchd CPU usage
- Confirm it in Activity Monitor. Press ⌘ Space, type Activity Monitor, open the CPU tab and sort by % CPU. Watch
launchdfor a minute: short spikes are normal, only steady high usage needs fixing. - Give it a few minutes after login or an update before investigating.
- Open Console (Applications › Utilities) and check Crash Reports. The same app crashing many times is your culprit.
- Review login items in System Settings › General › Login Items, and turn off background items you don't recognise or no longer use.
- Update or reinstall the app that's crashing, or remove it completely using its own uninstaller.
- Restart to clear anything stuck.
More help: How to check CPU usage on a Mac