100% CPU usage-mdworker process problem
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009Yesterday I have noticed a problem with CPU usage. When the fans reached 6000 rpm on idle computer I started to think what actually was happening. Using Terminal and Activity Monitor I found that process called mdworker is taking 100% of my CPUs. mdworker is responsible for indexing disks for Spotlight and Time Machine. I usually use both, so I can’t simply turn indexing off. I tried to restart my Mac but it is pointless in this case. I figured out that is it probably scanning a folder which is constantly changing. For me that is “Downloads“, so I decided to exclude it from indexing and it actually helped.
How to exclude a folder from indexing:
1.Go to: System Preferences –> Spotlight
2. Open the tab “Privacy” and add or drag your folder to the list.
For now on mdworker is acting properly. Is takes 40-50% of my CPU for about 10-20 seconds after the boot and 1-5 secs in 20 minutes or so intervals.
