What is launchd on a Mac, and why would it use CPU?
launchd is process 1: it starts everything else on a Mac. It used 1.8% CPU and 24 MB on ours, with 540 jobs loaded. When it spikes, a job is crashing and restarting.
What is launchd?
launchd is the first process macOS starts, /sbin/launchd, process ID 1, and it starts everything else: system services, your login items, and the background helpers apps install as LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons. When one of those stops, launchd decides whether to start it again.
| Reading on our Mac | Value |
|---|---|
| Process ID | 1 |
| Runs as | root |
| CPU | 1.0% to 1.8% |
| Memory | 24 MB |
Jobs loaded for our user (launchctl list) | 540 |
Why is launchd using CPU?
Usually because a job it manages keeps exiting and launchd keeps starting it again. A helper left behind by an app you removed, pointing at a program that is gone, is the classic cause. Look in the system log for the job's name:
log show --last 10m --predicate 'process == "launchd"' | grep -i -E 'exited|respawn' | tail -20Where are the jobs it starts?
~/Library/LaunchAgents: helpers for your account, added by apps you installed./Library/LaunchAgentsand/Library/LaunchDaemons: helpers for every account and for the system./System/Library/...: macOS's own, protected.
System Settings, General, Login Items & Extensions lists the third party ones too. Removing an app's agent properly is shown in uninstalling Watchman and uninstalling OpenClaw.
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 processes you cannot quit.
Related: Which app is using the internet on my Mac and Compressed memory explained.
Common questions
What is launchd on a Mac?
The first process macOS starts, process ID 1. It starts and restarts every other service, login item and background helper.
Why is launchd using high CPU?
Usually a job it manages keeps crashing and being restarted. Look for helpers left by removed apps in ~/Library/LaunchAgents.
Can I quit launchd?
No. Everything else on the Mac runs under it.