What is Virtualization.framework VM on Mac?
By Junaid, maker of Taskglass · Last reviewed
A virtual machine run by Apple's Virtualization framework for apps like Docker, UTM or OrbStack.
This process is a virtual machine created through Apple's Virtualization framework. Apps such as Docker Desktop, UTM, OrbStack and other Linux or macOS VM tools use it. Its CPU and memory reflect everything running inside that virtual machine, so it can be large; the memory you allocated to the VM is often reserved here.
- Category
- macOS system
- Made by
- Apple
- Safe to quit:
- With care
Shown in Activity Monitor as com.apple.Virtualization.VirtualMachine
Why is Virtualization.framework VM using so much CPU or memory?
- Containers or a guest operating system doing work inside the VM
- A large amount of memory assigned to the VM in the app's settings
- Builds, databases or other heavy services running in containers
What to do
- 1Check which app started it (Docker, UTM, OrbStack, etc.) and look at what's running inside
- 2Stop containers or VMs you don't need
- 3Lower the VM's memory or CPU allowance in the app's settings
- 4Quit the app that owns the VM properly rather than force quitting this process
Safe to quit? With care.
Force quitting it is like pulling the plug on that virtual machine; unsaved data inside it can be lost.
Related processes
- Docker DesktopDocker's app for running containers on a Mac inside a lightweight Linux virtual machine.
- com.docker.virtualizationRuns Docker Desktop's Linux virtual machine, where your containers actually live.
- kernel_taskThe core of macOS itself. It also holds busy apps back on purpose to stop your Mac overheating.
Part of the Taskglass Process Library