*helpd* Process Problem

[issi]

I have a problem with HELPD process. 2 days ago I did a clean install of Big Sur 11.1, and since then the process has not stopped consuming the CPU (see the screenshot).
I have seen that the process check the /Applications/ and /Applications/Utilities/ folders to index app's helps. Could it be a problem with a specific app?
Clean caches with Onyx, and emptied the /com.apple.helpd/ folder without success.

Many thanks for your help,

 

[heraldo_jones]

Same thing here, I haven't found anything about it. At the moment I just stop it when I log in.

 

[issi]

Same thing here, I haven't found anything about it. At the moment I just stop it when I log in.

I do the same, but after a few minutes the process starts again 🤷‍♂️

 

[Populus]

Same problem with helpd process. I'm considering reporting it on Feedback Assistant webpage, but I'm not sure if they will look into it.

 

[Marcopolo53]

Have read over HERE though it dates back to Lion. The helpd process is related to native Dameon looking for a help feature in another applications

 

[cuellar]

Same here. I reported it yesterday to Apple via chat and their solution was a system reinstall. I did it today and the helpd process is still there.

 

[issi]

Maybe it's a problem with a specific App, for now I still can't find a solution, I kill the helpd process, sometimes it takes hours to launch again, and other times it runs again in minutes.

Share a list of installed Apps now, if it helps:

• Affinity: Designer, Photo, Publisher
• Blocs
• DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials
• Firefox
• Keynote
• MonitorControl
• Numbers
• Onyx
• Pages
• Parcel
• Reeder
• RightFont
• SetApp: CleanMyMac, Forklift, IconJar, Mate Translate
• Silhouette Studio
• The Unrarchiver
• Twitter
• Vector Magic
• Visual Studio Code
• VMWare Fusion
• WhatsApp
• Wipr

 

[Populus]

From that list, I use Wipr.
Maybe I could try to use my computer without it (uhg) and see if helpd comes back

 

[cuellar]

From the list I don't use any but the Apple apps (Keynote, etc.)

 

[Populus]

Also, the crappy Epic Store that loads when I boot the system. After loading it, helpd starts. I’ve disabled it, and be keeping an eye to System Monitor to see if I spot helpd taking 98% of the CPU again.

 

[Populus]

I've been reading a bit, and I think there's a way to disable *helpd* process. There's a website where they specify a terminal command to disable this daemon to be triggered. But I'm not brave enough to try it for myself. Here's the website: https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/disabling-unnecessary-mac-osx-services/

In my case, just opening the help on Safari triggers it. And it stays there until you turn off the computer.

EDIT: I just found the helpd plist. Now, should I modify something in it, or should I just get rid of it?

 

[cfm56d7b]

Same here. I reported it yesterday to Apple via chat and their solution was a system reinstall. I did it today and the helpd process is still there.

The suggestion from Apple was to reinstall the entire OS? I find this troubling across so many categories. Was Big Sur rushed ...

 

[cuellar]

The suggestion from Apple was to reinstall the entire OS? I find this troubling across so many categories. Was Big Sur rushed ...

Yes, it was. You can reinstall the entire OS while keeping all your apps and data. Big Sur, yes. It took 60 mins to finish.

 

[cuellar]

Here is an explanation:

helpd uses 100% CPU after installing any application with documentation

I see that after installing a software that ships with documentation in OS X’s help document format, the helpd process uses 100% CPU for up to 5 minutes or so. I also see this when you first instal...

apple.stackexchange.com

 

[Marcopolo53]

Are most of you here all Upgrades from a Previous macOS. I have only one unit that can run Big Sur. I did an Erase of Catalina and Clean install of Big Sur so can not compare Apple to . .. But maybe there is something carried-over from previous macOS including the helpd daemon

 

[Populus]

Are most of you here all Upgrades from a Previous macOS. I have only one unit that can run Big Sur. I did an Erase of Catalina and Clean install of Big Sur so can not compare Apple to . .. But maybe there is something carried-over from previous macOS including the helpd daemon

Not in my case, I’m experiencing this on a M1 MacBook Air that came with Big Sur 11.0.1, now updated to 11.1

 

[Populus]

Ok, I found a new article on how a plist can be disabled. The command is Launchctl and the path of the helpd plist is: /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.helpd.plist

Now I should just apply that command on the plist to disable helpd

Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2635087

EDIT: I cannot unload, edit or delete the helpd plist. Damn... Now what? It takes a 15% of CPU and I have to force close it.

EDIT2: More interesting info: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3209466

 

[cuellar]

Ok, I found a new article on how a plist can be disabled. The command is Launchctl and the path of the helpd plist is: /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.helpd.plist

Now I should just apply that command on the plist to disable helpd

Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2635087

EDIT: I cannot unload, edit or delete the helpd plist. Damn... Now what? It takes a 15% of CPU and I have to force close it.

EDIT2: More interesting info: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3209466

Modifying the com.apple.helpd.plist file as in your EDIT 2 might be the solution. The problem here is that this file has read only permissions and in Big Sur you cannot override them. Now we have to find out a way to make the file writeable in Big Sur.

 

[cuellar]

Mounting System writeable in Big Sur: https://apple.stackexchange.com/que...root-system-filesystem-as-writable-in-big-sur

 

[Marcopolo53]

Not in my case, I’m experiencing this on a M1 MacBook Air that came with Big Sur 11.0.1, now updated to 11.1

Ok - Running Intel MBA Retina with T2 - Clean install 11.0.1 BS and upgrade to 11.1. Yours M1 MBA with 11.01 then 11.1 The only System Difference is M1 will get Rosetta 2 when required to run Non-Native Apps. The helpd Daemon connected to Rosetta 2 which Intel will not have?

 

[Populus]

Ok - Running Intel MBA Retina with T2 - Clean install 11.0.1 BS and upgrade to 11.1. Yours M1 MBA with 11.01 then 11.1 The only System Difference is M1 will get Rosetta 2 when required to run Non-Native Apps. The helpd Daemon connected to Rosetta 2 which Intel will not have?

I can reproduce the issue each time I open the help menu, from the menu bar, on ANY app, even on System Monitor. Any help menu triggers the helpd process, taking 98% of the CPU, and a total of 15% of total CPU usage. There's no way to disable it, no way to prevent it, the only solution is to be constantly checking Activity Monitor and killing it when I see it.

I'd write a feedback on Feedback Assistant, but I reported an iOS 14.3 bug days ago and I don't want them to forget about that one if I submit a new one...

 

[cuellar]

I have reported it again to Apple after the OS reinstall didn't work. Now a call with Apple. They have asked me to format the disk and reinstall the OS again. I'm almost sure that if I do it the problem will still be there.

What seems strange to me is that almost nobody is reporting this issue...

 

[Populus]

I have reported it again to Apple after the OS reinstall didn't work. Now a call with Apple. They have asked me to format the disk and reinstall the OS again. I'm almost sure that if I do it the problem will still be there.

What seems strange to me is that almost nobody is reporting this issue...

Maybe they don't look at the System Monitor? and that level of CPU usage don't overheat the Mac, so it may be unnoticeable for many.

 

[joedec]

I have 3 installations none of which have this issue. The process helpd doesn't start until Help is invoked by an application. It runs while running Help, when you exit Help, helpd goes to sleep.

I will give you one clue. The process is owned by the the user. Try creating a new user account and see if the problem exists, then at least you'll know reinstalling the OS is a waste of time.

 

[Populus]

I have 3 installations none of which have this issue. The process helpd doesn't start until Help is invoked by an application. It runs while running Help, when you exit Help, helpd goes to sleep.

I will give you one clue. The process is owned by the the user. Try creating a new user account and see if the problem exists, then at least you'll know reinstalling the OS is a waste of time.

Ok, tried with a secondary standard account and it happens as well. I will try with a less privileged account because this standard account had access to the same installed software.