Problem with background tasks (login items) after upgrade to MacOS 26.4

[ritchey]

Hi there,

after upgrading to MacOS 26.4, my MBP M1 14" stopped to work properly. I have found, that no apps, that were set to start on system start-up (like DropBox, Alfred etc.) are properly running. When I checked Activity monitor, I found there is a process called backgroundtaskmanagementd, that is taking high amount of CPU (sometimes more than 400 %). I had to force quit this process several times in a row in order to let those login item apps to run properly again. But when I try to remove those login items from system settings or (un)check the "start on system startup" option in the very app, the backgroundtaskmanagementd start to take CPU again, the app freezes (as well as Dock and Mission Control) and I have to force quit that process several times again in order to remove the login item and unfreeze my comp.

I have tried to reinstall the whole MacOS from recovery unit. I have tried to start it in Safe Mode. But the problem still stays there (even in SafeMode).

Anyone has the same problem? Or any solution?

Thanks.

 

[nmt1900]

Are these items active in both "open at login" (if applicable) and in "App background activity" sections in System Settings -> General -> Login items & Extensions? If corresponding "App background activity" item is not activated, it might lead to unexpected behavior.

 

[bogdanw]

A reset might help. From Terminal

sfltool resetbtm

"Resets login and background item data. If you use this command between tests, it’s recommended that users also restart their computer."
https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/manage-login-items-background-tasks-mac-depdca572563/web

 

[ritchey]

Are these items active in both "open at login" (if applicable) and in "App background activity" sections in System Settings -> General -> Login items & Extensions? If corresponding "App background activity" item is not activated, it might lead to unexpected behavior.

Thanks. Some of the affected apps were both in Login Items as well as in App background activity, but not all of them. Some were only in login items. And the apps didn't work no matter what was the case (listed in both instances or only in one).

 

[ritchey]

A reset might help. From Terminal

sfltool resetbtm

"Resets login and background item data. If you use this command between tests, it’s recommended that users also restart their computer."
https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/manage-login-items-background-tasks-mac-depdca572563/web

Solved!

I was just about to use your suggestion, but first I checked the internet for the prompt. It showed me some discussion about risks of deleting all background items and long way to reinstall them. And from there I ended up in other discussion on Apple Support Comunity, where someone suggested (for slightly different purpose) deleting BTM databases (original discussion here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254341579?sortBy=rank). I don't know if your prompt does the same, but my problem has been solved by deleting all the files at /var/db/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagement/.

 

[bogdanw]

I don't know if your prompt does the same,

It’s not my prompt, it’s provided by Apple in the documentation.
sfltool resetbtm does not delete /private/var/db/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagement/BackgroundItems-v16.btm it removes the user added values from that database.