What is knowledge-agent on a Mac?
knowledge-agent records how you use apps and the Mac, for Screen Time and suggestions. It ran for 27 hours with 2 MB on our Mac. What it stores and how to limit it.
What is knowledge-agent?
knowledge-agent writes events about how the Mac is used, which app is in front, for how long, what is playing, into an on device store. Screen Time and Siri Suggestions read from it. It lives at /usr/libexec/knowledge-agent and runs as you. On our Mac it had run for 27 hours using 2 MB and no CPU.
Where does it store what it records?
In macOS's on device stores in your Library, alongside the Biome streams; see the Biome folder and DuetExpertCenter. These stay on the Mac, though some sync between your devices when Screen Time's Share across devices is on.
How do I limit it?
- Turn off Screen Time in System Settings if you do not use it.
- Turn off Siri Suggestions, or Learn from this App for individual apps, in System Settings, Siri.
- Turn off Share across devices in Screen Time to keep the data on this Mac.
See it live
Free Mac's System tab ranks every process by processor use and energy impact, once a second, and marks the ones macOS will not let you quit as protected. See also biomed and duetexpertd.
Related: suggestd and searchpartyd.
Common questions
What is knowledge-agent on a Mac?
A macOS process that records app and device activity on the device for Screen Time and Siri Suggestions.
Is knowledge-agent safe?
Yes, it is part of macOS. What it records stays on the Mac unless Screen Time sharing across devices is on.
How do I stop knowledge-agent?
Turn off the features that use it: Screen Time and Siri Suggestions.