What is mdworker on Mac?
By Junaid, maker of Taskglass · Last reviewed
A Spotlight worker that reads files and extracts searchable details for the index.
mdworker is the metadata server worker: mds starts mdworker processes to scan and index files when a drive is mounted or files change. Each one reads files of certain types and extracts text and details for Spotlight. Several can run at once and they quit when the work is done.
- Category
- Apple service
- Made by
- Apple
- Safe to quit:
- With care
Shown in Activity Monitor as mdworker
Why is mdworker using so much CPU or memory?
- Lots of new or changed files to index
- Large documents, PDFs or mail archives
- A file that a Spotlight importer struggles with
What to do
- 1Let indexing finish
- 2Exclude folders you don't need searchable in System Settings > Spotlight > Search Privacy
- 3Restart your Mac if the same worker stays busy for hours
Safe to quit? With care.
mds simply starts a new worker; quitting doesn't stop indexing.
Related guides
Related processes
Part of the Taskglass Process Library