Fix: CCXProcess Mac High Memory And High CPU usage [2023]

Do you dread the day when your Mac’s CPU is consumed by an unknown process?

If you’ve noticed a mysterious program called CCXProcess taking up your computer’s resources, not to worry.

We fixed this for a kind old client of ours yesterday, so thought it would be best if we educate you on it! 🙂

What Is CCXProcess.exe and what does it do?

CCXProcess is responsible for allowing and syncing things like files, fonts, libraries, and configurations between various Adobe programs and devices.

It’s a critical part of the Creative Cloud Experience Process that helps keep creative professionals organized and productive.

Unfortunately, it can cause serious performance issues on Macs running macOS Big Sur or later if it malfunctions. 

It may consume up to 100% of the CPU and memory, causing your computer to overheat, slow down significantly, and generate loud fan noise while draining battery life quickly.

To make matters worse, it can even congest the disk at an alarming rate.

If you’re seeing these symptoms on your Mac due to CCXProcess running out of control, there are ways to fix the issue.

Fixes For High CPU Usage On Macs

1. Check for Adobe Updates

To ensure that your Mac is running optimally, check for updates to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Launch the app and select the hamburger icon in the upper right corner. From there, choose Help followed by Check for App Updates.

This will allow any available updates to be downloaded and installed automatically.

Adobe has released an update that resolves CCXProcess’s high CPU usage on Mac, so make sure you have the most recent version of it installed.

2. Check Login Items

Checking your Login Items can help identify any programs that are running at startup and using up resources.

The culprit may be CCXProcess, an Adobe Creative Cloud toolkit component, or OSMessageTracer.

To remove either from the list of startup programs, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and select it. You may need to enter your admin password.

Both components may be outdated or unnecessary, so removing them should help free up CPU and memory.

3. Uninstall Any Ad Blockers

Uninstalling ad blockers can help free up resources.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Go to Finder > Applications and find the app that is causing interference.
• Control-Click the app and select Move to Trash.
• Turn off the Safari plugin AdBlock Plus.
• Delete any other programs or extensions that could be blocking ads or tracking your activity.
• To ensure these changes take effect, restart your computer.

4. Use kextunload

Try using kextunload to fix CCXProcess issues.

CCXProcess is a kernel extension that’s part of Adobe Creative Cloud, and it can take up too much of your Mac’s CPU if something is wrong.

To resolve this issue, you’ll need to access the System/Library/Extensions folder and look for files with ‘CCXProcess’ in their name and ending in ‘.kext’.

These files cannot be deleted by normal means, so you will have to use the ‘sudo kextunload’ command instead.

This process can be risky, so it should only be attempted by advanced users familiar with macOS.

5. Check your Mac for viruses and malware

Malware can disguise itself as a legitimate program such as CCXProcess, so running a scan to check for malicious software is essential.

To do so, look into third-party antivirus programs that specialize in detecting and removing known threats from your machine.

Additionally, you may want to try using manual methods of detection such as checking the list of installed applications for anything suspicious or out of place. 

6. Disable antivirus

To ensure compatibility with CCXProcess, it is recommended to temporarily disable your antivirus protection.

This will help prevent any potential conflicts between the two programs. By turning off real-time protection modules on your antivirus program, you can quickly free up system resources and restore normal functioning. 

This will also allow you to monitor which processes are using resources more efficiently, preventing lag or crashes in the future.

Disabling your antivirus program will improve CCXProcess performance as well.

Without the interference of an antivirus program running in the background, CCXProcess will run smoother and faster.

Additionally, disabling the antivirus program may help resolve any incompatibility issues that were causing errors before.

Once the antivirus has been disabled, you can proceed to uninstall CCXProcess.app if necessary.

7. Uninstall / Remove CCXProcess From Mac

If you’re having trouble with CCXProcess, uninstalling it might be the best option.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open your Applications folder.
2. Go to “Adobe Creative Cloud Experience”.
3. Attempt to send CCXProcess.app to the Trash.

If you get an error saying it can’t be moved because it’s open, find its executable in the Activity Monitor and force quit it there first.

The Adobe Creative Cloud kit may try to reinstall the app later on, but this tactic may help with any performance problems related to bloatware.

Individuals who do not utilize Adobe CC have the option to completely remove the entire program for a simple and lasting solution. 

8. Disable CCXProcess on Startup

You can easily disable CCXProcess on startup by following these three simple steps:

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings (or System Preferences).
2. Navigate to General > Login Items.
3. Remove CCXProcess or Creative Cloud Desktop from the Open at Login list.

By doing this, you can ensure that your Mac’s CPU is not being taken up unnecessarily when you don’t need to use Adobe Creative Cloud.

Now, let’s move on to addressing whether or not we can disable CCXProcess entirely.

FAQs

1. Can We Disable The CCXProcess On Mac?

Yes, you can.

CCXProcess is a function for syncing Adobe Creative Cloud files and settings across devices.

However, it may cause high CPU usage on certain Macs due to system glitches or clashes with other programs or extensions. 

To fix this, try upgrading Adobe Creative Cloud app or removing interfering programs and extensions. Disabling CCXProcess is not a permanent solution, as it interferes with Adobe apps and will be enabled each time you use Adobe Creative Cloud.

2. How To Get Rid Of CCXProcess On My Web Browser?

To get rid of CCXProcess-related web browsers, follow these steps:

1. Open Safari and go to the Safari menu. Select Preferences.
2. Under Advanced, enable “Show Develop menu in the menu bar”.
3. Expand the Develop menu and click on Empty Caches.
4. Now, go back to the Safari menu and select History. Choose Clear History.
5. Select all history to ensure maximum effectiveness and click Clear History.
6. Next, go to the Privacy tab at the top. Select Manage Website Data.
7. Confirm the removal when prompted and then restart Safari.

To reset Chrome settings:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the Customize and Control Google Chrome icon (⁝).
2. Select Settings and scroll down to the Reset settings section.
3. Confirm the actions on the dialog that pops up.
4. Relaunch Chrome to apply the changes.

For Firefox users:

1. Go to Help and select Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click on the Refresh Firefox button.
3. Restart Firefox for the changes to take effect.

After following these steps, you can be sure that any malicious interference caused by CCXProcess is gone from your Mac’s web browsers. 

How to Disable CcxProcess on Startup in Windows?

Disabling CcxProcess on startup in Windows is easy. Here are the steps you need to take:

• Press Windows + R at the same time to launch the Run prompt.
• Type regedit and press OK or Enter.
• In the User Account Control window, press Yes.

Next, open Registry folders (keys) in this order: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Adobe.

• Right-click the Adobe name and choose New Key – name it ‘CCXWelcome’.
• Then, right-click the CCXWelcome key (folder) you just created and choose New DWORD (32-bit) Value – name it Disabled.
• Double click Disabled, set its value to 0 (zero), then click OK.

That’s all! You have successfully disabled CCXProcess from starting up on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Potential Risks of Using Ccxprocess?

Using CCXProcess can potentially put your Mac at risk.

It could be using more of your CPU than necessary, resulting in slower performance and decreased battery life.

Additionally, it may leave your device vulnerable to malicious software, as outdated or unsecured versions of the program are more likely to be targeted by hackers.

To protect against these risks, make sure you always use the latest version of CCXProcess and update it regularly.

Is Ccxprocess a Virus or Malware?

No, CCXProcess is not a virus or malware. It’s a system process that runs on your Mac computer to help with certain tasks.

These tasks include loading fonts, managing windows and menu bars, and enabling functions in applications you use.

You can identify CCXProcess by looking for an application called ccexec in the Activity Monitor.

Still having issues? No worries! Our Mac experts can help fix any processes that seem to be taking a lot of your resources.