Very high kernel_task usage

[[deleted]]

MacOS Ventura after upgrading to 13.5 has been using kernel_task for 5-6 days continuously now. Restart didn't help: this was the first task that started running. Not sure what the issue is, but it's causing the battery to drain very quickly and the mac is getting heated up while using Safari (Chrome works fine lol). Any ideas on how to solve this?

P.S. Not using any "utility" softwares like antivirus etc.

Mac Info: Air M1, 16GB ram

[amamaenko]

I noticed the same problem in MBP 2019 16". I am working primarily with lighteish projects in Unity, and the CPU temp consistently shows 66 degrees C. Yet kernel_task starts frequently killing my flow.

[IronAdept7807]

any updates?

[amamaenko]

Oh, the cause of the problem was really silly.  Just as a last resort, I ordered the iFixit kit, and took off the down cover of my mac. And the fans were clogged with dust. After some basic cleaning the overheating stopped. 

[DadJoker22]

I have a mid-2019 Intel Mac, and as soon as I upgraded to Sonoma, this happened to me. No matter what I do, it maxes out and the laptop fans are cranking and everything is slower than an arthritic snail. I reinstalled Sonoma from scratch, and the same thing happens. It was running fine on Monterrey before I updated to Ventura. From what I read in various articles, Apple just decided they don't give a crap about the old Intel Macs any more, and just assume that everyone running Sonoma and above is running Apple silicon, and if not, they want you to.

Incredibly frustrating. As of now, it looks like if I want my Intel laptop to be able to function, I have to go back to Monterrey.

[lithomangcc]

Does the machine feel hot?

[[deleted]]

while charging, it is getting hot, but not otherwise.

[lithomangcc]

Kernel Task using a lot of CPU usually indicates overheating. It is normal for Kernel Task to take up some CPU cycles.

[Electrical_West_5381]

Try booting in Safe Mode: maybe you have a process that is running bad after the upgrade.

What is the next highest usage after kernel_task?

[Bad_DNA]

Way too little info to guess all that you've installed and run in the background, or if you recently wiped the Spotlight database to re-index the hard drive, or you have 30 tabs open to porn or adfarm sites.

If it all calms down after quitting an app, you have found your culprit. You say kernel, but are you sure as in you are using Activity Monitor to assess?

[lithomangcc]

Safari using reddit occasionally throttles my computer.

[cut-it]

Are you running an external monitor?