Mobileassetd Mac High CPU

If you’re worried about how hot your Mac is running, paired with painful slowness, you’ve probably noticed that mobileassetd is the culprit behind your CPU strain. We’ve been there too, but thankfully, MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner can free up storage, reduce CPU load, and get your MacBook back to a steady processing speed.

System Requirements: macOS 10.11 or later

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Mobileassetd Mac High CPU
Written by   Tanya Ellis
Published: August 27, 2025

What is mobileassetd on Mac

A mobileassetd process Mac is a background system process that manages the download and installation of software assets. This includes essential macOS updates, Siri voices, Dictionaries, and iOS device support files. In short, you can think of mobilassetd as the name that is given to the hidden process that constantly works to ensure all of your background files and system software are kept up-to-date.

Extra help from us:  

 

Mac’s built-in Activity Monitor is the best way to see running apps on Mac–every process and app is listed so you can easily identify demanding apps or anything suspicious. For help accessing Activity Monitor, our support guide will walk you through it.

Why is mobileassetd using high CPU on Mac

Sometimes it can be mobileassetd on Mac, causing high CPU–eventually leading to your MacBook overheating, running louder than usual, or drastically reducing performance speed. This usually happens when the background tasks it’s responsible for handling run into problems or keep getting stuck. Other common reasons for mobileassetd nuisances include failed background downloads, software update loops, cache corruption, or third-party interference. Below, we’ll explain each of these in more detail:

  • Failed background downloads: If macOS has trouble downloading assets like Siri voices or dictionaries, mobileassetd will likely keep re-trying and eating up your CPU.
  • Software update loops: Incomplete or stuck macOS updates may cause the process to run constantly in the background.
  • Cache corruption: Damaged or overloaded cache files can stop mobileassetd from finishing its work, causing high CPU spikes.
  • Third-party interference: Privacy software, cleaning apps, or even a connected jailbroken iOS device can interfere with software installations and halt your daily Mac activities.

We encourage all Mac users to know how to check their MacBook performance regularly, to ensure they have the best protection against software bugs and avoid performance glitches.

A note from our experts: 

 

Once you know how to easily monitor your Mac’s processes, keeping your device stable is just as simple, thanks to MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner. Our tool can clear out redundant background tasks and free up RAM to stop mobilassetd from halting your daily activity.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner:

  1. Download MacKeeper.
  2. Open the app, head to the Memory Cleaner tool, and press Open.
  3. Review your Apps & Processes and click Clean Memory.
To heck if mobileassetd is behind your Mac’s slowness or processing glitches, open the MacKeeper app and go to the Memory Cleaner tool. Then press Open.
Step 1. Open MacKeeper, click on Memory Cleaner, and press Open
After the tool has calculated and checked your processes, you'll be able to review its findings before pressing the Clean Memory button. This should prevent mobileassrtd from slowing down your device when installing software updates.
Step 2. Review your processes and press Clean Memory

How to fix mobileassetd high CPU usage on Mac

If you suspect mobileassetd is causing your Mac’s CPU to soar, there are many troubleshooting solutions we recommend trying, including:

  1. Restarting your Mac
  2. Checking your macOS updates
  3. Reviewing processes in Activity Monitor

From our experience, these troubleshooting methods are proven to be the most effective at reducing CPU and fixing painful MacBook slowness. Below, we’ll walk you through these methods one-by-one to help you regain control of your device.

1. Restart your Mac

In case of mobileassetd Mac causing high CPU, first try restarting your device, like this:

  1. Quit any apps you have open.
  2. Click on the Apple Icon and press Restart.
To quit and restart all background processes, to help reduce CPU, begin by making sure you have all your apps closed and then Restart your Mac.
After ensuring you have no apps open, restart your Mac

2. Update macOS  

In many cases, outdated software can cause high CPU usage and slowness. Here’s how to check for macOS updates:

  1. In System Settings, click on General > Software Update.
  2. If there are pending macOS updates, press Update Now.
Keeping your macOS up to date is essential for reducing your Mac’s CPU and keeping on top of software patches that could leave you vulnerable if not updated regularly. Open System Settings, navigate to Software Updates and check for any updates. Press update Now if any are available.
In System Settings, head to Software Updates and click Update Now if any are available

3. Quit unnecessary processes in Activity Monitor

Activity Monitor allows you to quit all unnecessary processes to support mobileassertd while it handles updates behind the scenes. Here’s how to quit demanding processes:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
  3. Click on CPU, sort the list from high to low, and review processes.
  4. Any that are very high or suspicious, highlight and press Quit.
In Finder, you’ll need to open Applications and then Utilities to find Activity Monitor. Once it’s open you can browse all your background processes. If anything is really high or unfamiliar, highlight and press Quit.
In Activity Monitor, look for a high CPU-demanding process and press Quit if necessary

Advice from us: 

 

If your Activity Monitor has listed any suspicious processes and you now want support with how to scan Mac for a virus, the steps in this supporting blog will show you how to secure your device.

How to prevent mobileassetd from causing high CPU again

While you can fix mobileassetd spikes when they happen, it’s even better to stop them from coming back. Here are the preventative measures we recommend you consider:

  • Keep macOS updated to prevent system processes like mobileassetd from hanging.
  • Regularly monitor resources in Activity Monitor to spot high CPU usage.
  • Avoid conflicting apps on your device as they can interfere with macOS.
  • Restart your MacBook occasionally as a simple way to reboot and clear cache.

Improving system software updates with MacKeeper’s help

While the mobileassetd process on Mac is a normal part of macOS, when it glitches, it can be a pain to your Mac–eating up CPU and making your device sluggish. That’s why knowing how to keep an eye on your background processes in Activity Monitor and checking for regular macOS updates can help you track and manage mobileassetd or other software issues before they stop your Mac from a grinding halt.

 

We’ve shared our top solutions to fix slowness, but to prevent issues from continuously arising, we recommend MacKeeper’s Memory Cleaner. It’ll keep your Mac clear of unnecessary processes and free up RAM. That way, your CPU will not be strained, allowing you to continue using your MacBook like usual. 

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