macOS processes › Browsers and web content
What is Safari Graphics and Media on Mac?
com.apple.WebKit.GPU, shown in Activity Monitor as Safari Graphics and Media, draws web page graphics and plays video and audio for Safari and other apps that use WebKit.
What it does
WebKit moves graphics and media playback into this separate process, so web pages never touch the graphics or media hardware directly. Each app that uses WebKit gets its own, which is why you may also see Mail Graphics and Media.
Why it gets busy
- Video playing in a tab, especially 4K or a format decoded in software.
- WebGL, canvas animations, browser games or 3D maps.
- Video calls in the browser.
- Many animated tabs at once.
Why is Safari Graphics and Media using so much CPU?
This process handles graphics and media for web pages. Video, browser games and video calls are the usual reasons it's busy.
Is it safe to quit?
Safari starts a new one. Video and animations on open pages may stop or reload.
How to calm it down
- Pause or close tabs with video or animation.
- Lower the video resolution on the site.
- Close browser tabs with video calls when you're done.
In SystemWatch
SystemWatch labels this process as web page graphics, so you can see it belongs to Safari or Mail and not to an unknown app.
