If you’ve ever opened the Activity Monitor on your Mac, you might have noticed a process called WindowServer. Wondering what WindowServer is and why it’s using so much of your CPU power? In this article, we’ll explain what this process does, how to check its CPU usage, and how to keep it from overloading and slowing down your operating system.
Before you start: You need a Mac with access to the Activity Monitor app.
How to check WindowServer CPU usage on your Mac
Follow these steps to check the CPU usage of WindowServer and manage its performance effectively.
- To open Activity Monitor, press command + space bar and type activity monitor. You can also find it in the Utilities subfolder inside your Applications folder.
- Click the CPU tab at the top of the Activity Monitor window, which may be selected by default.
- Type windowserver into the search bar at the top of the window or scroll through the list of processes to find it.
- Look at the %CPU column to determine how much processing power WindowServer is using. Ideally, this should be between 10% and 30%. If it is higher, there might be too many graphical elements for it to manage.
Pro tip: To optimize WindowServer’s performance, consider closing unused windows and apps, and clean up your desktop to minimize the graphical load.
WindowServer plays a critical role in managing the graphical elements of your Mac, and understanding how to monitor its CPU usage is essential for maintaining your system’s performance. Keeping WindowServer’s CPU usage within the recommended levels not only ensures a smooth user experience but also prolongs the overall lifespan of your Mac. Staying proactive in managing your processes can avoid potential slowdowns and improve your workflow significantly.
