WhySlow
What is Microsoft AutoUpdate on Mac?
Keeps Office and other Microsoft apps up to date.
Why is Microsoft AutoUpdate using so much CPU?
Brief activity while checking for or installing updates.
Should you quit Microsoft AutoUpdate?
Maybe. Microsoft AutoUpdate isn't part of macOS, but an app you use may need it. If you don't recognize what it's doing, quit the app it belongs to rather than the process itself.
Is Microsoft AutoUpdate a virus?
Not by itself. Microsoft AutoUpdate comes from software you or your company installed. If you don't recognize the app it belongs to, look it up before quitting it, and remove apps you no longer use.
How to check Microsoft AutoUpdate on your Mac
Open Activity Monitor (Applications › Utilities), choose the CPU tab and type Microsoft AutoUpdate in the search field. The % CPU column shows how busy it is: 100% means one full processor core. The Memory tab shows how much memory it uses. Activity Monitor shows numbers but doesn't say what they mean; WhySlow explains Microsoft AutoUpdate in plain English and only flags it when it is really slowing your Mac down.
What to do if Microsoft AutoUpdate stays busy
- Quit or update the app that Microsoft AutoUpdate belongs to. Updates often fix runaway helpers.
- If you don’t use that app anymore, uninstall it so Microsoft AutoUpdate stops running in the background.
- Check System Settings › General › Login Items for helpers you don’t need at startup.
How WhySlow helps with Microsoft AutoUpdate
- Shows how much CPU and memory Microsoft AutoUpdate is using right now, in plain English.
- Tells you when Microsoft AutoUpdate is the real cause of a slow Mac, and when it isn't.
Free to explain. $7 once for one-click fixes.