Many Mac users have noticed an unusual process on their Activity Monitor that is consuming a lot of CPU power: “Corespeechd.”
This process can cause the CPU to spike anywhere between 20% and 100%, causing the computer's fans to rev like a jet engine. If you're wondering what it is, you are not alone.
What is corespeechd?
Corespeechd is an Apple process that is part of a larger framework known as CoreSpeech.
Simply put, this framework manages everything related to speech services on macOS.
Its responsibilities include voice recognition, dictation, and other speech-related tasks.
However, its exact purpose is unclear because “CoreSpeech” is a private framework, which means there is no official documentation available for developers other than Apple.
This makes it difficult to determine exactly what the process does behind the scenes, but we do know that it is required for speech-related functionality in macOS and iOS.
The problem occurs when Corespeechd starts to consume a lot of CPU power for no apparent reason.
It appears to spike randomly, causing substantial lag in your system. Some users have also reported that it continues to consume resources in the background, particularly when the computer is connected to the internet.
Even if you try to terminate the process manually, it almost immediately restarts.
To make matters worse, Corespeechd can consume memory in addition to CPU resources.
Some users report that it consumes a large amount of RAM, further slowing down their Mac.
While the severity of the problem varies depending on your macOS version, the fact remains: Corespeechd is critical to your system, but it is also causing performance issues for some users.
Why does Corespeechd use 100% of CPU?
One possible explanation could be related to dictation and speech recognition capabilities.
For example, if you plug in headphones with a built-in microphone (such as Apple EarPods with a 3.5mm headphone jack), your Mac will begin to recognize your voice.
In fact, there are hotkeys in macOS that automatically enable dictation, which is often used for accessibility.
However, it is unclear what causes Corespeechd to spike, particularly when these features are not actively used.
While Apple has added more voice recognition features to macOS in recent years, including improvements to Siri and dictation services, these changes appear to have had some unintended consequences.
Corespeechd's role in this system is still unclear; its background tasks could range from recording speech for dictation to processing voice data for Siri.
How to fix Corespeechd's high CPU usage
If you've noticed that the Corespeechd process is using up your CPU and slowing down your Mac, you're not alone.
Here are a few solutions to help cut down on this problem. Follow the steps below, and you should notice an improvement in your system's performance.
Method 1: Enable and disable Siri
Many people in Apple communities have suggested a simple fix: enable and disable Siri.
Siri is linked to the CoreSpeech framework, so turning it off and on may help reset the process and reduce CPU consumption.
Here's how to do so:
1. Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen.
2. Choose System Settings from the dropdown menu.
3. To open Siri's settings, click Siri & Spotlight.
4. To turn Siri off, toggle the Ask Siri option.
5. Allow enough time for the change to take effect.
6. Turn the Ask Siri option back on.
After you've turned Siri back on, restart your computer. This may resolve the high CPU usage issue.
Method 2: Turn off dictation
Dictation on macOS lets you control your computer with your voice by converting spoken words to text.
However, because this feature is directly related to Corespeechd, it can result in high CPU usage. Disabling dictation may help reduce the load on your system.
1. Head to the Apple Menu and select System Settings.
2. Scroll down and select Keyboard in the left sidebar.
3. Turn off the switch under the Dictation heading. This disables the dictation feature.
For the older macOS versions:
1. Open System Preferences and select Keyboard > Dictation.
2. Disable Dictation by selecting Off next to the Dictation option.
Method 3: Disable Siri completely
If you don't use Siri and don't mind turning it off permanently, disabling it will keep Corespeechd from consuming unnecessary CPU resources.
1. Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner.
2. Choose System Settings from the dropdown.
3. To open Siri settings, click Siri & Spotlight.
4. Turn off the Ask Siri option. This will stop Siri from running in the background, potentially reducing Corespeechd's CPU usage.
Method 4: Delete unwanted applications
Third-party applications can occasionally interfere with system processes such as Corespeechd, causing them to use more CPU than necessary.
Deleting unused or unknown applications may help to stabilize your Mac's performance.
1. Find that the app/s you want to delete is closed.
2. To access Launchpad, either click on the icon in the Dock or navigate to the Applications folder.
3. Type the app's name into the search field at the top of Launchpad.
4. Hold down the Option key (or click and hold on the app) until the icons begin to jiggle. Then, click the small X button next to the app to confirm its deletion.
Alternatively, you can use Finder to delete apps.
1. Make sure the app is closed before proceeding.
2. Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder. You can also navigate to Applications via the Go menu.
3. Drag the app to the trash, or select it and then choose File > Move to Trash from the menu bar.
4. To permanently delete the app, open Finder and select Empty Trash.
Method 5: Scan for malware
Malware may be the source of excessive CPU usage for a variety of processes, including Corespeechd.
Scanning your computer for malware is an effective way to ensure that no malicious programs are causing the problem.
We recommend scanning with Malwarebytes, here's how to do so:
1. Go to the official Malwarebytes website and download the Mac version.
2. Once installed, launch the app.
3. Click the blue Scan button to start scanning your system.
4. If Malwarebytes finds any threats, check the boxes next to them and then click Quarantine.
5. Following the scan, you will see a summary of any issues found. Click Done to return to the main dashboard, or view reports for more information.
Experts also recommend scanning your Mac for malware to keep it running smoothly and reduce CPU usage caused by malicious software.
With that, Corespeechd should have stabilized and should no longer be consuming a significant amount of CPU on your Mac computer.
In addition to the methods provided, we recommend updating your operating system to the latest version, which includes recent bug fixes and security patches to further secure your Mac.