M1 And Sidecar Memory Leakage

[Tev11]

Has anyone else noticed that when using an M1 Mac (macOS 11.2.3) and with an iPad (any version on 14.4) that the avconferenced uses up an increasing amount of RAM?

For example, I would be using SideCar normally and it starts off at using 100 MB of RAM. After 10-20 minutes or so, the process would be at 2 GB of RAM. An hour passes, it would be at 4-5 GB of RAM.

Either through a wired or Wi-Fi connection.

I’m not sure if this is specific to M1 Macs, as I do not have an Intel Mac at the moment.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

I wonder if 11.3 will fix this.

 

[Gnattu]

Yes I can confirm this.
Extended usage of sidecar will use up all of your memory, your Mac will then become less responsive and the fan of your Mac(if you have one) will start to spin up and make huge noise(which is rare on M1 Macs).

I have to restart sidecar when I hear the fan spins up, and it is annoying.

 

[jdb8167]

Has anyone else noticed that when using an M1 Mac (macOS 11.2.3) and with an iPad (any version on 14.4) that the avconferenced uses up an increasing amount of RAM?

For example, I would be using SideCar normally and it starts off at using 100 MB of RAM. After 10-20 minutes or so, the process would be at 2 GB of RAM. An hour passes, it would be at 4-5 GB of RAM.

Either through a wired or Wi-Fi connection.

I’m not sure if this is specific to M1 Macs, as I do not have an Intel Mac at the moment.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

I wonder if 11.3 will fix this.

First I’ve heard of it. You might want to make Apple aware of the issue if you haven’t already.

 

[mj_]

I haven't noticed this yet but I will check this afternoon.

 

[Tev11]

First I’ve heard of it. You might want to make Apple aware of the issue if you haven’t already.

Yeah, I have reported it via Apple Support. They aren't aware of the issue, but I have seen other users from Reddit reporting the same thing.

I don't notice it because it'll be placed in SWAP memory and the ridiculous speed of the M1. I don't really know what possesed me to look at the Activity Monitor when using Sidecar, but it is still concerning.

 

[Gnattu]

Yeah, I have reported it via Apple Support. They aren't aware of the issue, but I have seen other users from Reddit reporting the same thing.

I don't notice it because it'll be placed in SWAP memory and the ridiculous speed of the M1. I don't really know what possesed me to look at the Activity Monitor when using Sidecar, but it is still concerning.

Eventually you will because your fan will spin up once sidecar used up all your memory

 

[mj_]

I can confirm your findings (MacBook Air M1, Big Sur 11.2.3, iPad 6th generation, iOS 14.0.1)

1:35 pm, right before connecting to the iPad:

1:45 pm, 10 minutes later:

1:46 pm, after disconnecting from the iPad:

Will update my iPad to iOS 14.4.1 now and try again. Where did you report the bug, did you use the default macOS feedback form on apple.com?

 

[mj_]

I am no longer able to reproduce the memory leak after updating my iPad to iOS 14.4.1.

3:09 pm, right before connecting to the iPad:

3:19 pm, 10 minutes later:

What version of iOS are you running? Maybe try updating to the latest version and see if that helps. I can positively say that it seems to have solved the problem in my case.

 

[Tev11]

I am no longer able to reproduce the memory leak after updating my iPad to iOS 14.4.1.

3:09 pm, right before connecting to the iPad:
View attachment 1748705

3:19 pm, 10 minutes later:

View attachment 1748707
What version of iOS are you running? Maybe try updating to the latest version and see if that helps. I can positively say that it seems to have solved the problem in my case.

I'm on the 8th generation iPad running iOS 14.4.1. My M1 is on 11.2.3.

I'm currently able to reproduce my results.

The only apps I have open is Edge and Activity Monitor and I can physically see avconferenced climbing up in memory usage. CPU usage remains below 3% however.

Before using Sidecar:

After using Sidecar for 2-3 minutes:

It is still increasing

 

[Tev11]

I am no longer able to reproduce the memory leak after updating my iPad to iOS 14.4.1.

3:09 pm, right before connecting to the iPad:
View attachment 1748705

3:19 pm, 10 minutes later:

View attachment 1748707
What version of iOS are you running? Maybe try updating to the latest version and see if that helps. I can positively say that it seems to have solved the problem in my case.

I just restarted the Mac into Safe Mode. It seemed to have resolved itself. Maybe Safe Mode repaired a broken file in the background. The process remains below 50 MB at all times now, wired or through a Wi-Fi connection.

Odd that it happened in the first place though.

 

[xraydoc]

I plan on doing some work tomorrow with Sidecar. I'll report back if I see excessive memory usage. My 11" gen 1 iPad Pro is on 14.4.1 already.

 

[Tev11]

I plan on doing some work tomorrow with Sidecar. I'll report back if I see excessive memory usage. My 11" gen 1 iPad Pro is on 14.4.1 already.

Yes, please do!

The behaviour has returned to the excessive RAM use.

 

[j@son]

Same problem here. Starts at ~50MB usage and increases steadily every minute, ending up at over 1-2GB after only 5 minutes, and up to 10-12GB within an hour...

My brand new MacBook Pro M1 (2021) only has 8GB of RAM, so sidecar quickly reduces my Mac to rubbish. My current solution is to toggle Sidecar off and then on again every half hour or so. I can provide Activity Monitor screenshots, if people would like. Really hoping they release a fix/patch soon. It's becoming unbearable...

 

[jiehaopenpen]

I just restarted the Mac into Safe Mode. It seemed to have resolved itself. Maybe Safe Mode repaired a broken file in the background. The process remains below 50 MB at all times now, wired or through a Wi-Fi connection.

Odd that it happened in the first place though.

I am still struggling with the sidecar memory leak and I am running macOS11.3 + iPadOS 14.5. What do you mean by going into the safe mode and the problem resolved? Did you just boot into the safe mode and did nothing and reboot to the normal mode? Please help :-(

 

[CMMChris]

Report the issue to http://feedbackassistant.apple.com/

The more users report it, the more attention from Apple it gets.

 

[jiehaopenpen]

Well, I tried safe mode and reboot, the behaviour is still the same.... Now I'm desperate......

 

[miss.manson]

Anyone still having issues with this?

 

[AlcoholicFrog]

Anyone still having issues with this?

Yes. My M1 Mac mini is a few weeks old, and I tried sidecar for the first time today on a brand new iPad Pro.

During a Zoom call, my Mac basically self destructed, terrible responsiveness systemwide. I went looking at Activity Monitor, and the avconfereced process was at 33 GB of memory, and the machine was at 10 GB of swap.

Disconnected sidecar, and the system went responsive again.

8GB Mac mini, Big Sur 11.4, M1 iPad Pro running iPadOS 14.6.

 

[CMMChris]

You need to file a bug report using feedback assistant while this is happening. Spindump probably will take a while but this would be very helpful for Apple I guess.

 

[Jsee]

A bit late but any update? Own an M1 and plan to get an iPad for sidecar myself. If it's still and issue might hold off.

 

[Gnattu]

A bit late but any update? Own an M1 and plan to get an iPad for sidecar myself. If it's still and issue might hold off.

No, I have not seen this for a long time.

 

[Jsee]

No, I have not seen this for a long time.

So memory leakage issues are fixed?
Also one question, how does the battery fare for both the Mac and the iPad when using sidecar, I have not heard any information regarding this online no reviewer mentions it. I'd imagine it to be similar to say a zoom call since you have to be constantly compressing and transmitting a second display. So maybe halve the battery life?

 

[Gnattu]

So memory leakage issues are fixed?
Also one question, how does the battery fare for both the Mac and the iPad when using sidecar, I have not heard any information regarding this online no reviewer mentions it. I'd imagine it to be similar to say a zoom call since you have to be constantly compressing and transmitting a second display. So maybe halve the battery life?

It seems like it is fixed, at least for me it is.

I don't use sidecar on battery so I cannot really help you on that. One thing to note is that your Mac will charge your iPad, so the battery for Mac will go away quick.

 

[Jsee]

It seems like it is fixed, at least for me it is.

I don't use sidecar on battery so I cannot really help you on that. One thing to note is that your Mac will charge your iPad, so the battery for Mac will go away quick.

Ah right, thanks for the response!

 

[SmittyMc'Westurbergin]

Ah right, thanks for the response!

I highly recommend getting sidecar, it is a game changer if you like to work at coffeeshops, having a dual monitor setup anywhere is AMAZING! I have an M1 air with a 2nd Gen Ipad Pro 12.9 I got used and it works great.

I use sidecar with zoom at the coffeeshop, no battery, for about ~2 or ~3 hours a day, and my battery will drop from ~75% to ~45% in this time.

It can be periodically finicky, especially when all the gadgets are connected (hotspot, airpods) and can drop out. It's not game-breaking though it can be quite annoying if you're on a time crunch (like taking a test).

I noticed today it was at ~10GB of ram, but my Mac didn't slow down or anything, it just seemed weird. If you're wondering if it's worth it, it is!