Photos app maxing out CPU downloading iCloud Photo Library

[haruhiko]

My new MacBook Pro (15-inch, higher default config) has been quite warm whenever it's open or put to sleep. When I checked the Activity Monitor, it's obvious that the culprit is the Photos app. I understand that it needs to download all the originals from the iCloud, but does this really need to max out the CPU at 70-100% usage constantly for hours? It has put the CPU temperature at over 70'C constantly.

Unless I disable downloading the originals, I think the only way is to wait until it finishes downloading. But I am afraid that the constant high temperature will shorten the battery life.

 

[BorderingOn]

I would not worry about it. Are you suggesting the laptop can’t be used with built in apps?

The big CPU killer with Photos is the face recognition. That will take a while if you have a large number of photos.

 

[DeanL]

I would not worry about it. Are you suggesting the laptop can’t be used with built in apps?

The big CPU killer with Photos is the face recognition. That will take a while if you have a large number of photos.

It performs it only while the computer is not actively being used

 

[BorderingOn]

It performs it only while the computer is not actively being used

Not in my experience. I actually just reloaded one of my laptops and the photoanalysisd process did not relent. It may pause when actively using Photos but that’s about all.

 

[haruhiko]

Not in my experience. I actually just reloaded one of my laptops and the photoanalysisd process did not relent. It may pause when actively using Photos but that’s about all.

Exactly, it continued to run even when I closed the lid of the laptop (the PowerNap thing?) before sleep, and I woke up to a warm closed MBP in the morning. I need to completely turn off the computer to prevent it to get warm when I'm away.

 

[macintoshmac]

Nothing to worry. I am using 2016 MBP 13 and Mojave, Photos does the same here as well. Apple would be looking into it, most likely.

 

[haruhiko]

It finally finished downloading the photos, and the analysis of faces begins..