macOS 26 Tahoe - WindowServer taking chunks of CPU and Memory

Question

Level 1

16 points

macOS 26 Tahoe - WindowServer taking chunks of CPU and Memory

MB Pro Apple M2 Max | 96 GB | Tahoe 20.0.1

WindowServer is consuming a significant amount of Memory and CPU, as indicated by Activity Monitor. This has impacted using other large resource apps like Adobe Premiere Pro, essentially shutting down efficient usage of these apps (laggy performance, video stuttering, etc).

I have tried multiple solutions suggested, including minimizing or closing other running apps, restarting, clearing cache, etc. Left the computer running overnight with no apps other than Finder active, and WindowServer still came in at more than 700 MB of memory. This will balloon much higher if I crank up some apps like Adobe programs, browsers, etc.

Frustrating because this MB Pro kicked butt on these programs on prior OS's and I am reluctant to go through the process of rolling back to Sequoia.

Posted on Oct 7, 2025 5:24 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

53,913 points

Oct 7, 2025 7:30 AM in response to R_N_C

See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that corrects it, reboot normally. Personally, the windowserver process on my 16" M4 Pro MBP is generally ≤2% CPU (I have a large 5K:2K display and I use Spaces with 5 desktops, so I have lots of window open).

Reply

Answer 2

Bouscram

Level 1

9 points

Oct 9, 2025 7:49 AM in response to R_N_C

I had the same issue with an Intel Core i7 MacBook Pro. Starting in Safe Mode, then restarting normally seems to have removed the problem. A bit weird, but I guess it cleared something...

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 7, 2025 6:41 AM in response to R_N_C

Same here. I'm almost unable to user iTerm for example. And others too. The WindowServer remains using a lot of cpu.

Reply