Fileproviderd >95% CPU usage + Finder not responding

I am incredibly frustrated at the lack of support on this question, considering it has been asked MULTIPLE times, and has received "Me Toos" by over 500 people in total. I will describe my situation exactly:


One day I was trying to download an image and access it in Finder. All of a sudden finder brings me the colorful spinning wheel of death and fileproviderd is using 99% CPU.


To echo a post that received no support:

"

My Finder is not responding anymore.

The items on my desktop are not organised anymore.

I also noticed that Fileproviderd is at 100% CPU usage.

When I open Spotlight Search it is indexing, I left it running for hours but only little progress.


Already restarted the computer, removed Google Drive, OneDrive etc.

When starting up in Safe-Mode I have the same problem.

"



My machine:

Apple M2 Pro

Mac OS 14.3.1 (23D60)



It does NOT fix the issue to go into activity monitor and try force quitting `fileproviderd`, `Finder`, or anything seemingly related. All that happens is that the processes then restart with the same issue. It does NOT fix the issue to boot it up in safe mode, the same problem exists. It does NOT solve the problem to install a software update — my computer is unable to restart itself when Finder is not responding!!


I also even unchecked iCloud, completely removing its sync from my computer, and the same problem persists after multiple reboots and resets.


Please help fix this issue and report it as a bug internally to the hardware teams. This is incredibly blocking and I can't use my computer anymore.

Thanks

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Mar 21, 2024 07:32 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 2, 2024 07:51 AM

This worked for me (solution at the bottom of the page) https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/474017/unbearably-slow-icloud-sync-serious-problem-fileproviderd

Similar questions

9 replies

Aug 2, 2024 08:14 AM in response to benjaw

benjaw wrote:

This worked for me (solution at the bottom of the page) https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/474017/unbearably-slow-icloud-sync-serious-problem-fileproviderd


the essence of what that does for you is delete the database that is keeping track of your 'stuff' on iCloud, and have fileproviderd rebuild that database, hopefully without whatever problems it had created in there.

May 30, 2024 01:53 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

That's all unrelated to what I was responding to.


My computer was running fine, without issue, until Microsoft Auto Updater (as in, the app that is installed by Microsoft 365 - Word, Excel...) updated, and then everything came to a standstill.


Removing the Microsoft Auto Updater and restarting the computer twice (the first time in Safe Mode), fixed this issue.


I will never install MS 365 from outside of the App Store again...and will avoid most MS Software if I can avoid it.

May 30, 2024 01:37 PM in response to patnir41

I found that removing Microsoft Auto-Updater and any trace of it from my computer solved the problem. The main files were found in the Library folder at the root of the System Software, not the Library folder inside of the User Account.


I deleted everything and anything related to Microsoft 365. You can later install the apps from the App Store and use the same account for MS 365.

May 30, 2024 01:49 PM in response to patnir41

By far the easiest way to cause poor performance, instability, overheating and crashing is to install ANY third-party speeder-uppers, Cleaners, Optimizers, or Virus scanners, Bit Torrent, or a VPN that you installed yourself. The main reason is that they are relentless in scanning your files, non-stop, looking for virus-like patterns in Everything, or looking for files that have changed. When completed, they do it all again.


Third-party file Sync-ers such as DropBox, BackBlaze, OneDrive, or GoogleDrive can ruin performance, but are not inherently dangerous. These can cause additional spikes like the one you describe, because that may be running the file system as fast as it will go, looking for files to be sync-ed. if you also have a virus scanner going, it will be FAR worse.

Jul 18, 2024 03:29 AM in response to patnir41

Im facing the same issue, its common these days, not sure what Apple is doing and how they program their Finder. i tried using this command in the terminal "sudo killall fileproviderd" and i killed everything and after 10 seconds everything went back to high usage, its like i did nothing. i tried so many things, and nothing is working. you may try this command in the terminal, it might help you. who knows.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Fileproviderd >95% CPU usage + Finder not responding

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.