How to Fix System UID CPU Usage in macOS Tahoe 26.2
Is a process named syspolicyd or trustd pinning your CPU at 100% on macOS Tahoe?
The full fix is in The Fix section below. Verified on macOS Tahoe 26.2.
Recommended Troubleshooting Tool
Before proceeding with manual fixes, we recommend using CleanMyMac X. Quickly identify high CPU apps and optimize system memory with one click.
The Symptom
The Mac becomes hot and sluggish. Activity Monitor shows high CPU usage for system security daemons after installing a new app.
The Fix
- Clear the Security Policy Database
The syspolicyd daemon can get stuck checking app signatures. Run:
sudo spctl --master-disable
sudo spctl --master-enable
*(This toggles the Gatekeeper engine off and back on to reset its state.)*
- Purge the Trust Cache
Clear the certificate trust store:
sudo killall -9 trustd
sudo rm -rf /Library/Keychains/crls/*
- Check for "Translocation" Issues
If you run apps directly from the "Downloads" folder, macOS uses extra CPU to run them in a virtual sandbox. Move the app to /Applications to stop this behavior.
Pro Tip
If the CPU usage stays high, look for a "Legacy System Extension" in System Settings > General > Extensions. Old kernel extensions are the #1 cause of syspolicyd hangs.