Memory: The second tab reflects how much RAM every process is taking up, which could be the most useful indicator of all.
Similarly, 'mds' and 'mdworker' help index files for the Spotlight search, which sometimes spikes their appetite. As a result, it might seem like one of the heaviest processes on the list. Don't panic and don't shut it down! The process simply ensures your CPU isn't working too hard by forcing other memory-intensive Mac processes out. There's a process you might notice in the CPU tab called 'kernel_task' that could be taking a large share of resources. But don't worry, here's a quick breakdown of all Activity Monitor's features.ĬPU: The first tab in Activity Monitor lists all the processes that are currently taking up your Mac's CPU, displays the exact percentages of power they are consuming, and notes how long they have been running.
If you've never used this task manager for Mac before, it can be quite a lot to take in. Activity Monitor is basically the OSX Task Manager, a utility that shows how much memory your Mac processes are using and which apps are currently active (even if they aren't open), letting you force quit stalled ones if you can't close them the usual way.
