Activity Monitor


The Activity Monitor app is a built-in system utility on macOS that provides detailed information about the processes and resource usage on your Mac. It’s a powerful tool for monitoring and managing system performance and troubleshooting issues. You can access Activity Monitor by going to the “Utilities” folder within the “Applications” folder or by using Spotlight Search.

Use Cases:

  • Monitoring Performance: Activity Monitor is used to keep an eye on CPU, memory, and disk usage to ensure smooth performance.
  • Troubleshooting: It’s an essential tool for diagnosing and resolving system issues, such as unresponsive applications or high resource consumption.
  • Identifying Resource Hogs: Activity Monitor helps identify resource-hungry processes that might be causing system slowdowns.
  • Network Analysis: It’s used to monitor network activity, diagnose connectivity problems, and view data transfer rates.
  • Energy Management: MacBook users use Activity Monitor to check the energy impact of running applications to maximize battery life.
  • System Optimization: Activity Monitor aids in optimizing system performance by identifying and managing processes efficiently.
  1. Introduction to Activity Monitor:
    • Description: Learn what Activity Monitor is and its role in monitoring and managing system resources on a Mac.
  2. Opening Activity Monitor:
    • Description: Understand how to access and open the Activity Monitor application on your Mac.
  3. Activity Monitor Interface Overview:
    • Description: Explore the various tabs and sections within the Activity Monitor interface.
  4. Monitoring CPU Usage:
    • Description: Learn how to use Activity Monitor to track CPU usage and identify resource-hungry processes.
  5. Managing Memory Usage:
    • Description: Discover how to monitor and optimize memory usage with Activity Monitor.
  6. Checking Disk Activity:
    • Description: Understand how to view disk activity and identify processes that might be causing high disk usage.
  7. Network Monitoring with Activity Monitor:
    • Description: Learn how to use Activity Monitor to track network activity and troubleshoot network-related issues.
  8. Viewing Energy Impact:
    • Description: Explore the “Energy” tab in Activity Monitor to assess the energy impact of running applications.
  9. Monitoring GPU Usage:
    • Description: Understand how to check GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) usage using Activity Monitor.
  10. Activity Monitor and System Information:
    • Description: Find out how to access detailed system information, including hardware and software details.
  11. Viewing System Processes:
    • Description: Learn how to identify and manage essential system processes using Activity Monitor.
  12. User-Level Monitoring:
    • Description: Understand how to monitor resource usage on a per-user basis with Activity Monitor.
  13. Killing Unresponsive Applications:
    • Description: Discover how to force quit unresponsive applications using Activity Monitor.
  14. Creating Activity Monitor Shortcuts:
    • Description: Learn how to set up keyboard shortcuts for quick access to Activity Monitor functions.
  15. Customizing Activity Monitor Columns:
    • Description: Find out how to customize the displayed columns to focus on specific resource metrics.
  16. Activity Monitor Filters:
    • Description: Explore how to filter processes in Activity Monitor to narrow down your focus.
  17. Log and Save Activity Monitor Data:
    • Description: Understand how to log and save Activity Monitor data for analysis or troubleshooting.
  18. Resource Allocation and Prioritization:
    • Description: Learn how to adjust resource allocation and prioritize processes in Activity Monitor.
  19. Activity Monitor for Performance Optimization:
    • Description: Discover how to use Activity Monitor to identify and resolve performance issues on your Mac.
  20. Real-time Monitoring with Activity Monitor:
    • Description: Explore how to set Activity Monitor to update in real-time for immediate resource monitoring.
  21. Monitoring Disk Usage:
    • Description: Learn how to check disk space usage and identify large files or folders using Activity Monitor.
  22. Activity Monitor for Network Troubleshooting:
    • Description: Understand how to use Activity Monitor to diagnose and resolve network issues.
  23. Resource Efficiency Tips:
    • Description: Get tips on improving resource efficiency based on Activity Monitor data.
  24. Activity Monitor for IT Professionals:
    • Description: Explore how IT professionals can use Activity Monitor for troubleshooting and maintenance in a business environment.
  25. Resource Monitoring Best Practices:
    • Description: Learn best practices for effective resource monitoring and management with Activity Monitor.

These topics cover a wide range of uses and features of Mac’s Activity Monitor, making it a valuable tool for system monitoring and troubleshooting during service and support activities