What is Code Helper (Renderer) on Mac?
By Junaid, maker of Taskglass · Last reviewed
Draws a VS Code window or webview: the editor, panels and extension views.
Code Helper (Renderer) processes draw VS Code's interface: each window gets one, and some extension panels (webviews) get their own. They grow with open files, very large files and extensions that add rich views.
- Category
- Developer tools
- Made by
- Microsoft
- Safe to quit:
- With care
Shown in Activity Monitor as Code Helper (Renderer)
Why is Code Helper (Renderer) using so much CPU or memory?
- Very large files open in the editor
- Many windows or tabs
- Extensions with heavy webviews (previews, notebooks, dashboards)
- Themes or extensions that decorate code heavily
What to do
- 1Use Help > Open Process Explorer to see which window or webview it belongs to
- 2Close large files and unused windows
- 3Disable extensions with heavy panels
- 4Reload the window (Developer: Reload Window) or restart VS Code
Safe to quit? With care.
Quitting one crashes that VS Code window; you'll need to reload it.
Related processes
Part of the Taskglass Process Library