What is NSURLSessionD? The NSURLSessionD process on macOS is responsible for background data transfer, including syncing with iCloud and other services. However, sometimes this process can consume an excessive amount of resources. This leads to rapid battery drain. That is why we are going to look at how to reduce the impact of NSURLSessionD on your Mac’s battery life.
Data Usage on Mac. How to Check
To understand which processes consume the most resources and to know how to check data usage on Mac, you can use the built-in tools of macOS.
To use System Monitor
- Open Activity Monitor. It’s located in Programs > Utilities.
- Click the Network tab.
- In the Bytes Received and Bytes Sent columns, you can see which processes are using the most network resources.
This way, you can more easily determine if NSURLSessionD is one of the processes with high data consumption.
How to stop NSURLSessionD on Mac
If you notice that NSURLSessionD is consuming an excessive amount of resources, then you should consider stopping it temporarily. If not, then at least partially restricting its activity. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this on the specialized resource by simply entering a request for how to stop NSURLSessionD on Mac. This way, you will be able to get acquainted with step-by-step recommendations on how to stop or restrict NSURLSessionD Mac activity. You will also understand which system settings may affect its operation. After reviewing the proposed solutions, you can more effectively control the network activity of your Mac.
iCloud Settings. Optimization
Since NSURLSessionD is closely related to iCloud services, optimizing their settings can reduce the load on your system.
Disable unnecessary iCloud services
By doing so, you can reduce the amount of data that is synchronized in the background. And, accordingly, the load on NSURLSessionD.
- Open System Preferences.
- Click on Apple ID.
- Select iCloud.
- Uncheck the boxes for the services you do not use.
Usage of Third-Party Apps for Optimization
There are reliable trusted optimization apps. They can do the following.
· They help control and limit the consumption of system resources by background processes,
· They automatically detect and stop processes that consume excessive amounts of resources, thereby extending battery life.
Updating and Reinstalling Applications
Sometimes the reason for high NSURLSessionD resource consumption can be errors in the operation of certain applications.
Check for updates
It can resolve compatibility issues and optimize application performance.
- Open the App Store.
- Click the Updates tab.
- Update all apps to the latest versions.
Uninstall and reinstall problematic apps
If you find that a particular app is causing a high level of NSURLSessionD activity, you may want to uninstall and reinstall it.
- Drag the application from the Applications folder to the trash.
- Empty the trash.
- Download and install the latest version of the application from the official website or the App Store.
Process Activity Check via the Terminal
If you want to get detailed information about NSURLSessionD and its impact on the system, you can use Terminal.
- Open Terminal (Finder → Programs → Utilities → Terminal).
- Run the following command to view all active processes and search for NSURLSessionD: ps aux | grep nsurlsessiond
- If NSURLSessionD is using a lot of resources, you will see it in the CPU and Memory columns.
- To end the process, run sudo killall -STOP nsurlsessiond
- This command will temporarily suspend NSURLSessionD.
If you want to terminate it completely, use sudo killall -9 nsurlsessiond
Resource Utilization Control
High CPU utilization. How to reduce it
If you notice high CPU usage via NSURLSessionD, try the following steps.
· Clear the Safari cache
In case the problem is related to the Internet connection.
· Restart your Mac
This can fix temporary problems.
· Update macOS
Newer versions often fix performance issues.
Monitor your internet activity. Use Firewall
Restricting network access for some processes is another way to reduce NSURLSessionD activity. This will minimize Mac data usage and the impact of NSURLSessionD on battery life.
- Open System Preferences. Then Security & Privacy. Then click Firewall.
- Turn on Stealth Mode for more control over your connections.
Unnecessary Background Downloads. Disabling
To reduce NSURLSessionD activity, you should limit automatic downloads of the App Store, system updates, and other services.
To disable automatic updates
- Go to System Preferences → General → Software Update.
- Turn off automatic downloads of macOS updates.
You can also disable app updates. This will help reduce Mac data usage and battery drain.
- Open the App Store.
- Go to Settings.
- Turn off Automatically download updates.
Summary
NSURLSessionD is an essential system process. It manages the network. However, in some cases, it can overload the system. And because of this, the battery life of the Mac decreases. Using the methods described in this article, you can reduce its impact and extend the life of your Mac without recharging. Namely, check process activity, limit background data usage, and optimize iCloud and update applications.
