macOS processes › Display and graphics
What is replayd on Mac?
replayd handles screen recording and screen capture on macOS. It runs when you record the screen or when an app captures it, for example to share your screen in a video call.
What it does
replayd belongs to Apple's screen capture system. Screen recordings and apps that capture your screen through Apple's capture tools use it, and those apps need your permission in Privacy & Security. While capture is running, macOS shows an indicator in the menu bar.
Why it gets busy
- Recording the screen, especially at high resolution or across several displays.
- Screen sharing in Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord and similar apps.
- An app that keeps a capture session open in the background, like a screenshot, streaming or productivity tool.
- Encoding a recording into a video file as it's saved.
Why is replayd using so much CPU?
replayd uses CPU while the screen is being recorded or shared. If it's busy when you aren't doing either, an app is capturing in the background. Check Screen & System Audio Recording in Privacy & Security.
Is it safe to quit?
Any recording or screen share in progress stops. macOS starts replayd again the next time something captures the screen.
How to calm it down
- Stop recordings and screen shares you're done with, using the stop button in the menu bar.
- Check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording and remove apps that don't need it.
- Record a single window or part of the screen instead of every display.
In SystemWatch
SystemWatch's History shows when replayd was busy, so you can match it to the meeting or app that was capturing your screen.
