XprotectService Mac High CPU

What is XprotectService on Mac

XprotectService is a background process within XProtect on Mac, an anti-malware security technology built into macOS. Its purpose is to remove malicious content efficiently and ensure the overall security of your Mac. It scans apps and files using a mechanism based on YARA signatures, and then proceeds to block or quarantine threats.

For more details, see our macOS security guide.

Why XprotectService uses so much CPU on Mac

XprotectService is one of the tools that macOS uses to check for malware on your Mac. This process can involve heavy CPU usage. Causes may include scanning large files, the presence of malware, an outdated version of macOS, corrupted system files, or even conflicts with third-party apps installed on your machine.

1. Corrupted system files

We’d like to start by discussing one of the main reasons XprotectService might be using a lot of CPU on your Mac. Corrupted system files on your computer can cause it to malfunction, and this also applies to XprotectService. In most cases, XprotectService enters into a loop when its related files are damaged, and it struggles to complete its processes. In more extreme cases, it may stop working and expose your computer to malware.

2. Outdated macOS or XProtect definitions

Based on our experience, another reason for high CPU usage caused by XprotectService is that your Mac is running an outdated version of macOS. Additionally, you may need to update the XProtect definitions on your computer. If XprotectService isn’t aware of the latest security threats, it might miss them if a file or app you download contains such threats.

3. Scanning large files

Just like us, you’ve probably run into this situation before. When downloading or transferring large files, you might notice your Mac’s fans spin faster and your computer gets noisy and warm. The same thing occurs when XprotectService scans large or complex files. High CPU usage during these scans is normal, so we suggest being patient until the scan finishes.

4. Third-party software conflicts

We’ve identified another common cause of high CPU usage: incompatibility between third-party software and XprotectService. Conflicts can arise between external security software and the built-in tools of macOS. Based on our experience, this is a common problem, especially with XprotectService, and can cause the process to crash or run excessively.

5. Malware infection

Another possible cause of excessive CPU usage is a malware infection. But do MacBooks get viruses? Contrary to popular belief, Apple devices are also vulnerable to malware. XprotectService sometimes struggles to detect very new or sophisticated threats, as well as malware not yet included in the XProtect definitions. In these cases, XprotectService may work harder than usual, potentially entering a loop and consuming excessive CPU resources.

A note from our experts: 

 

While macOS includes built-in anti-malware tools, they provide only a basic layer of protection. For enhanced security, we recommend adding MacKeeper’s Antivirus. Installing it on your Mac gives you peace of mind, as any threats attempting to access your computer will be automatically detected, blocked, and removed.

 

Here are the steps to use MacKeeper’s Antivirus on your machine:

1. Launch the MacKeeper app on your device.
2. Select the Antivirus option from the sidebar.
3. Hit the Start Scan button.
4. Wait until the scan is complete.
5. Choose any detected malware.
6. Move it to quarantine.

How to fix XprotectService high CPU usage on Mac

If XprotectService isn’t functioning properly, try the following steps:

• Restart your Mac as a quick and simple first step.
• Disable third-party apps that could be causing conflicts.
• Scan your Mac for malware using a trusted antivirus app.
• Update macOS, as the latest version may contain important fixes.
• Reset your Mac’s SMC and NVRAM/PRAM.
• Reinstall macOS only as a last resort.

1. Restart your Mac

Based on our years of experience, one of the most effective solutions to many Mac performance issues is simply restarting your device. While it may not seem like a perfect fix, we recommend trying this step before attempting more complex or potentially risky methods.

Follow these simple steps to restart your Mac:

1. Go to the Apple logo in the menu bar.
2. Choose the Restart option in the dropdown menu.
3. In the new window, choose Restart to confirm.

2. Go to Activity Monitor to check CPU status

If restarting your Mac hasn’t resolved the issue, we recommend verifying whether the problem is truly related to your CPU before proceeding with other troubleshooting steps. Once you’ve confirmed this, review the list of suspicious processes on Mac and close any that may be causing the issue.

Here’s how to manage CPU processes via Activity Monitor:

1. Open Finder, then choose the Applications folder.
2. Open the Utilities folder.
3. Double-click on Activity Monitor to launch it.
4. Find and select those draining XprotectService processes.
5. Hit the X icon, then click Quit to close them.

3. Disable third-party apps

Alternatively, if you suspect that your Mac’s CPU issues are caused by incompatibility with third-party apps, try disabling this software to see if it resolves any problems with XprotectService. This means either making sure the app isn’t open or uninstalling it completely.

Follow our tips below to disable conflicting third-party software:

1. Press Option + Command + Esc simultaneously.
2. Select all the conflicting apps you want to close, then click Force Quit twice.
3. Alternatively, go to Finder, then select Applications from the sidebar.
4. Find any apps you want to uninstall.
5. Right-click them and select Move to Trash from the dropdown menu.
6. Follow the onscreen instructions to delete the apps for good.

4. Managing startup items

Startup items are apps that open automatically when you turn on your Mac. While they aren’t directly related to XprotectService, we believe that minimizing the number of login items can help speed up your Mac by reducing overall CPU load and improving system performance.

Here’s our advice to manage login items:

1. Go to the Apple logo from the menu bar.
2. Choose System Settings.
3. Click General, then click Login Items & Extensions.
4. Select the login items you wish to disable.
5. Hit the - icon to confirm.

5. Scan for malware

XprotectService is designed to safeguard your Mac against potential malware infections. XProtect, the built-in macOS scanner, runs automatically in the background. However, for added security, consider using an external security app to provide an extra layer of protection.

Follow our quick guide to scan your Mac for malware:

1. Open MacKeeper.
2. From the left sidebar, choose Antivirus.
3. Click Start Scan to start scanning for malware.
4. When the scan is done, select any threat you want to remove.
5. Click Move to quarantine.

6. Use Terminal

We suggest using this method only if you’re highly confident in your technical skills, as errors could cause serious or irreparable damage to your Mac. Below are the steps to identify and manage the file that may be causing XprotectService to consume excessive CPU resources.

Here’s how to resolve the CPU issue using Terminal:

1. Follow the instructions above to open Activity Monitor.
2. When there’s a CPU spike related to XprotectService, go to Finder.
3. Select Applications from the sidebar.
4. Open Utilities and launch Terminal.
5. Type sudo lsof –c XprotectService, then press Enter.
6. Enter your admin password and hit Enter again.

7. Update macOS

Besides simply restarting your Mac, one of the first recommendations our technical team offers for any issue is to update macOS. This helps determine whether a software bug is causing the problem.

Below, we explain how to update your Mac to the latest version:

1. Go to the Apple logo in the menu bar, then select System Settings from the dropdown menu.
2. Choose General on the left-side menu.
3. Select Software Update on the right.
4. Wait to see if there are any software updates available.
5. If so, click Update Now.
6. Follow the onscreen instructions to update your Mac to the latest version.

8. Reset SMC, NVRAM, and PRAM

Next, we’d like to discuss a tip for users who have some technical experience and want to reset certain Mac components. However, here’s our reminder that this procedure is only available on Macs with Intel-based chips.

Follow our steps to reset your Mac’s SMC and NVRAM/PRAM:

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
2. Select Shut Down from the dropdown menu.
3. Press and hold Shift+Option+Control and the Power button simultaneously to reset your Mac’s SMC.
4. Let go of all keys after 10 seconds.
5. Press the Power button again.
6. Go to the Apple icon again and choose Shut Down.
7. To reset your device’s NVRAM/PRAM, press and hold Command+Option+P+R after pressing the Power button.
8. Let go of all keys after 20 seconds.

9. Repair corrupted files

If none of our previous tips have worked, we suggest yet another technical solution to try. High CPU usage can sometimes result from a disk error. While this may sound serious, macOS provides a built-in tool called Disk Utility to diagnose and repair such issues.

Use our guide to repair corrupted files using Disk Utility:

1. Go to Finder, then open the Applications folder.
2. Launch the Utilities folder.
3. Double-click on Disk Utility to open it.
4. Select your disk from the left sidebar.
5. Click First Aid, then click Run.
6. Hit Done when the process is complete.

10. Reinstall macOS

As a last resort, we suggest completely reinstalling macOS. Since this is a major step, make sure to back up all your files beforehand. Although this method shouldn’t affect your personal files, we recommend it to avoid data loss if anything goes wrong during the process.

Follow this step-by-step guide to reinstall macOS on your device:

1. Go to the Apple icon in the menu bar.
2. Select Restart from the dropdown menu.
3. Press and hold down the Power button to enter Recovery Mode.
4. In the new screen, select Reinstall macOS.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions.
6. Wait until the installation is complete.

How to prevent XprotectService from using high CPU on Mac

Follow these tips to help keep your Mac running smoothly:

• Ensure that both macOS and XProtect definitions are always up-to-date.
• Regularly monitor apps known to use significant CPU resources.
• Avoid installing unnecessary software to minimize potential conflicts with XprotectService.
• Never download files or apps from untrusted or unknown source.
• Follow additional best practices to reduce your risk of malware infection.

Everything you need to know about XprotectService on Mac

XprotectService is a component of XProtect, one of Apple’s built-in technologies for protecting macOS from potential malware threats. While several factors can cause XprotectService to consume excessive CPU resources, there are multiple solutions available, too. These range from simply restarting your Mac to reinstalling macOS or resetting internal components.

One potential cause is a malware infection, which can occur even with Apple’s built-in protections. In such cases, we advise using third-party software like MacKeeper’s Antivirus. This tool not only removes existing malware but also detects and blocks future threats, providing comprehensive protection for your Mac.