What is Core Audio driver host?
By Junaid, maker of Taskglass · Last reviewed
Runs an audio driver plug-in, often a virtual audio device from a meeting or recording app.
macOS runs some audio driver plug-ins in their own 'Core Audio Driver' processes, separate from the main audio service, so a faulty driver can't take down all sound. The name in brackets shows the driver, which often belongs to a meeting, recording or audio-routing app (for example a virtual microphone or speaker).
- Category
- macOS system
- Safe to quit:
- With care
Applies to processes whose name starts with "Core Audio Driver (".
Why is Core Audio driver host using so much CPU or memory?
- The app that owns the driver is using it (a call, recording or audio routing)
- A buggy or outdated third-party audio driver
What to do
- 1Identify the app from the driver name in brackets
- 2Quit that app if you're not using it
- 3Update or uninstall audio software you no longer need
Safe to quit? With care.
The related audio device stops working until macOS reloads the driver.
Part of the Taskglass Process Library