`SystemUIServer` & `configd` Using 100% CPU Since Upgrade

[l008com]

I recently upgraded my 2018 Mac mini from Ventura to Sequioa. Its a well equipped Mac, 6 core CPU, 32 GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD.

Since the update, the two processes `SystemUIServer` and `configd` have been going nuts. It's subtle on a fresh boot up. But slowly over the next day or two, it start to happen more and more. After a few more days, you start getting the beachball and the Mac's fan is revving constantly.

CPU usage for the two processes adds up to 100% (but thats apple math, so thats 100% out of 600% total). But thats curious, they don't use 100% EACH, they always together add up to 100% - when they are misbehaving. Somehow they are tied together.

This is a clean system. Theres a lot of software, but software I use. Theres no malware, I don't keep things running I'm not actively using. I did run through all of my LaunchAgents and LaunchDeamons and delete a bunch of old stragglers, but that had no effect.

I went to the Apple forum with this but got no useful advice. They're only advice was to wipe the system and start from scratch, which is absurd in my opinion.

The two basic diagnosing steps to take here would be A) to do a clean install of Sequioa on a USB SSD and see if that system has the same problem. And B) make a new user on this computer, log out of my regular user, log in to the new user, and see if that user has the problem.

HOWEVER because it takes a day or two to start acting up, that is an extremely inconvenient thing to do here. I'm hoping someone else out there has had this exact problem. Or that someone knows enough about these two processes that we might be able to figure out what is causing the problem.

I do have 3 monitors on this Mac, and I use 7 different virtual desktops, so 21 total virtual displays. I wonder if there isn't some bug that is causing this, that only happens when you have a lot of displays, so most people don't see it. But this is my primary computer so its not going to be easy for me to handicap it for multiple days to see what does and doesn't cause the problem :/

I'm open to suggestions/ideas.

 

[eugenios]

Hi there,
Try to use only the main monitor.
I have this similar behaviour (not related to those specific processes, and disconnecting the external display reduce the fan blow.
I guess that Sequoia make heavier use of GPU.

 

[nmt1900]

What happens if you deactivate "Displays have separate Spaces" option?

 

[l008com]

What happens if you deactivate "Displays have separate Spaces" option?
View attachment 2517227

I've always had that deactivated.

 

[l008com]

Hi there,
Try to use only the main monitor.
I have this similar behaviour (not related to those specific processes, and disconnecting the external display reduce the fan blow.
I guess that Sequoia make heavier use of GPU.

If its not using those specific processes, then its really not similar behavior. And ditching two display will be a huge hassle using this machine. Also I keep my GPU usage window open at all time in Activity Monitor and its not using much of anything unless video is playing.

 

[genexx]

I think there were some issues with VPN and other network tools that caused this problem.

If you did a Time Machine import, you should uninstall and reinstall new version of all network-altering apps like VPN, firewall, and antivirus software if you have any.

Disable Internet Sharing.

If you don’t want to reboot, you can try the following:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type the command below and hit Enter.

3. sudo killall configd

4. Input your administrator password and hit Enter.

 

[gilby101]

`SystemUIServer` and `configd`

SystemUIServer is involved in the display of User Interface elements, in particular the menu bar and other things at the top right. Excessive CPU can be due to interaction with 3rd party software and hardware (e.g. battery, monitors, network) which display status up there. Standard advice is to remove or disable third party software and to disconnect hardware which might be flakey.

configd is looking after configuration changes (a bit obvious from the name). So high CPU suggests that your configuration is changing rapidly.

So my first, not very educated guess, is that some of your hardware (monitors, network, printers, etc.) are misbehaving. So, when it happens, try disconnecting hardware (start with the monitors) and see if the processes calm down.

Secondly, in case it is a software interaction, make sure that all apps which use the menu bar are updated to the most recent version. And that they are supported with Sequoia.

Sadly, troubleshooting this is going to be a pain and disrupt your work.

There are others on these forums that likely know more than I do about issues with these processes.

 

[l008com]

If you did a Time Machine import, you should uninstall and reinstall new version of all network-altering apps like VPN, firewall, and antivirus software if you have any.

Disable Internet Sharing.

Internet sharing isn't turned on. And I don't use any 3rd party VPNs, firewalls, or antivirus except malwarebytes in passive mode.

So my first, not very educated guess, is that some of your hardware (monitors, network, printers, etc.) are misbehaving. So, when it happens, try disconnecting hardware (start with the monitors) and see if the processes calm down.

Secondly, in case it is a software interaction, make sure that all apps which use the menu bar are updated to the most recent version. And that they are supported with Sequoia.

Unplugging monitors while the system is running is a huge problem. I've had this Mac for 4 years now and its been nothing but trouble getting it to work reliably with three displays. If I unplug one, it causes huge hassles. I'd honestly rather let systemuiserver and configd go crazy then deal with the monitor issue again now thats its mostly stable. Early on I actually had to have apple replace the logic board in this thing because my displays would switch positions every time it would wake up from display sleep. So like every few minutes. It was a nightmare. It still does it once in a while but not nearly as often.

Also the only 3rd party menubar item I'm using is MacsFanControl and it is up to date. I can try quitting it next time the processes are acting up and see if it has any effect.

 

[l008com]

Turns out I had two 3rd party programs in my menubar extras area, MacsFanControl and a mediakey app that directs keyboard play-pause buttons to Music.app at all times, no safari videos stealing it. But I quit both and it had no effect.

This probably pretty consistently is not there for the first 24 hours after booting, then starts to come on after that, then by a day and a half, it's pretty much constant.