macOS processes › Security and privacy
What is searchpartyd on Mac?
searchpartyd is part of Find My. It manages the encrypted keys and data that let your Mac, and accessories like AirTags, be located through the Find My network.
What it does
Find My lets offline devices be found by nearby Apple devices, which relay an encrypted location to Apple without knowing whose device it is. searchpartyd handles the cryptography and bookkeeping for that on your Mac, including for AirTags and other accessories on your account.
Why it gets busy
- Generating and rotating encryption keys, especially after setup or a macOS update.
- Many AirTags or Find My accessories on your account.
- Syncing Find My data after a long time offline.
Why is searchpartyd using so much CPU?
searchpartyd is doing Find My cryptography, mostly after updates or setup. It usually settles within hours, and a restart helps if it doesn't.
Is it safe to quit?
macOS restarts it, and Find My keeps working.
The real searchpartyd is at /usr/libexec/searchpartyd.
How to calm it down
- Give it time after a macOS update. Key generation is a one-off burst.
- Restart your Mac if it stays busy for more than a day.
- Find My network can be turned off in System Settings › [your name] › iCloud › Find My Mac, but a lost Mac then becomes harder to find, so only do it knowingly.
In SystemWatch
SystemWatch's History shows how long searchpartyd has been busy, so you can tell a post-update burst from a process that's stuck.
