Energy Usage on OSX

[dylanz]

• I have tried with the latest version of my channel (Stable)
• I have uploaded Diagnostics
• Diagnostics ID: C58F8A02-6CC5-48F0-9737-47777B1E9898/20200228233832

Expected behavior

Running Docker Desktop with no running containers, and Running Docker Desktop/Kubernetes with no running applications, should not have such a high Energy Impact on OSX.

Actual behavior

The Energy Impact on OSX is quite high even with no containers running.

Information

• macOS Version: 10.14.6

Running just Docker Desktop

Running Docker Desktop and Kubernetes

... in both cases, no containers are running

Diagnostic logs

Docker for Mac: 2.2.0.3 (42716)

Steps to reproduce the behavior

1. Install Docker Desktop

[dylanz]

Side anecdote: after spinning down my local Kubernetes cluster, about an hour later and docker ps still shows no containers running, my machine started getting super loud/hot and Activity Monitor showed this:

Some more detail on the specs of the machine I'm working on:

[cculianu]

I see the exact same thing on my system. Consistently. No containers are running. com.docker.hyperkit eating 20% CPU every few seconds all day, every day, for no reason.

[AzaubaevViktor]

The same

[Radren]

I've had the same situation since last week, started suddenly

[cramhead]

Same on docker desktop 2.3.0.2(45183) with macOS 10.15.4

[StefanSchubert]

Same on Docker Desktop 2.3.0.3 (45519) with macOS 10.15.5
I have given Docker only 2 CPUs but the machine ist still getting hot.
I regret to have performed the latest update :-(

Please fix this.

Thanks for the docker port
Stefan

[Rykus0]

Same here. Energy impact is around 440 (other apps peak around 25, normally around 2-3).
I can't keep docker running. My battery drains when plugged in.
Problem is, when I close docker, my apps have a hard time coming back up after restart.
Plan is to move away from Docker, in part because of this, but wanted to give this another bump.

[Radren]

I updated OS a couple of times (out off laptop now, can't check the version), it solved energy issues.

[acyuta]

Same situation. com.docker.hyperkit eats a lot of energy.

[nkarim496]

same here

[infolock]

Ditto. My energy impact is insane with docker running. My Laptop (while plugged in) can be at 100% with docker not running. When I start docker. I can watch the % just drop. in 2 hours time, it went from 100% to 71% (this is while still plugged in).

I'm not sure what to do. I've tried new AC adapters and everything hoping this was just a mac problem, but it isn't. Just as soon as Docker is closed, I can watch my battery % go back up. Not sure what to do about this either =\

FWIW, I'm currently on v19.03.13. I've been updating it any time a new update comes in. This has been a problem since earlier this year I want to say.

[infolock]

The other thing I have found is this.

• If I set the CPUs value to 1, it drops down to a 100+ energy impact, and 54%-115%+ CPU.
• If I set the CPUs value to 2, it jumps to a 200+ energy impact, and a 112%-240%+ CPU
• If I set the CPUs value to 5, it jumps to a 500+ energy impact, and a 160-530%+ CPU

I'm not sure if the Docker gods agree, but this seems to either be working as expected (depending on the CPUs setting) or Docker is taking WAY more resources than it actually needs simply because we've given it access to those things.

Not sure which they'll go with, but I'm betting it's door number 1

Either way, this doesn't resolve the issue of the battery being drained. Even with CPU's set to 1 and lowering the energy impact to the 100's level, my battery continues to drain. Closing Docker though - results in battery being charged. =\

[simone-baldini]

Same here, please fix this.

[pipozzz]

Same problem for me :(

[cculianu]

They're never going to fix this. I have given up. I just load up docker, use it for what I need, then quit it immediately when my containers are done. Don't leave docker running -- you will have a bad time.

[Aniket-Singla]

It got even worsen on my mac after updating to big sur.

[sunbit-zackz]

Did anyone found a workaround yet? something to at least slow the discharge rate? I heavily rely on docker and this keeps me from working...

[infolock]

There is no workaround. I mean - you could change the CPU value to 1 - but then you may (like me) find that your containers no longer work.

The only option I personally have found is to do this:

• close docker out
• wait until your machine goes to 100%
• re-open docker
• use it until your battery gets to critical 10%
• repeat

I know the above sounds obvious... but unfortunately there seriously isn't much else you can do until they get this fixed.

Again - the same issue was raised almost a month ago in this ticket and they closed it. The current ticket has been opened since Feb so that's good news at least. Both are related to the HIGH CPU usage & the HIGH ENERGY usage.

[infolock]

Good news. Sounds like they may have finally tracked down the issue and are addressing it in #5044 (as mentioned in the last comment on #5070 )

[infolock]

FWIW I also recently discovered that the AC Adapter provided to me for my Macbook is a 61W where the needed one is a 87W min. While that solves the issues surrounding the battery being drained while docker is open, it doesn't resolve the fundamental issue with docker having a 240+ energy impact (which is roughly 20x+ more than the average application). not sure if there is anything that can even be done about it - but if it can, it should.

[docker-robott]

Issues go stale after 90 days of inactivity.
Mark the issue as fresh with /remove-lifecycle stale comment.
Stale issues will be closed after an additional 30 days of inactivity.

Prevent issues from auto-closing with an /lifecycle frozen comment.

If this issue is safe to close now please do so.

Send feedback to Docker Community Slack channels #docker-for-mac or #docker-for-windows.
/lifecycle stale

[hannahchan]

/remove-lifecycle stale

[hhimanshu]

I have same issue for months

[korbin-up]

Same here...

[korbin-up]

/remove-lifecycle stale

[bramses]

/remove-lifecycle stale

[cscetbon]

It's so annoying ... is there anyone who's working on this issue ? I've heard they've been working on it but it's been at least a year for me now with this issue ...

[angelomelonas]

Experiencing very high CPU and energy usage and it seems to get worse on each Docker Desktop update.

MacOS Big Sur 11.4

[keitorin]

had to open activity monitor then select CPU tab and search docker then force quit related services, the docker will not show in Using significant Energy then. And i thought quit is enough. lol fyi: my os is macOS Big Sur v11.4

[cculianu]

You know -- i have been in this thread for at least a year now.

I just want to say that the state of programming in general is an absolute disgrace. So many crappy developers working for big companies like Docker. Let me say this loudly and clearly: THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR AN IDLE APP TO USE EVEN 0.1% CPU, LET ALONE 20%!!!.

You have extremely shoddy developers working for you, Docker. You suck. This is a disgrace.

[ienliven]

Still happening with latest docker and OSX versions to date. Incompetents

[hungluu]

Docker desktop keeps destroying my Macbook battery every single day :(

[briceburg]

I also suffer from this on a fresh 2019 MBP.

IMO it has to do with the [linux] hyperkit VM running in the background where containers get scheduled. It would be very cool if we could suspend this VM if no containers are running. Or could toggle it from the status dropdown without having to close app.

Outside of that, I've seen better battery behavior by disabling the gRPC FUSE feature for sharing files and using "legacy osx filesharing" instead.

[MickL]

Are there any lighter alternatives to Docker? I just need to run images like MongoDB or Redis and it slows down my whole machine and drains my battery SO fast.

[JeromeDesseaux]

With Docker intention to make money on Docker Desktop, it might be a good idea to fix these bugs first.

[redrockltd]

It's not much, but when gc is disabled and CPUs resources is set to max 2, battery consumption fall down by 90%. I regret, I figure out this after total destruction of my mac battery... OSX message (Service Recommended), and max lifetime 1h. Thank you Docker :(

[docker-robott]

Issues go stale after 90 days of inactivity.
Mark the issue as fresh with /remove-lifecycle stale comment.
Stale issues will be closed after an additional 30 days of inactivity.

Prevent issues from auto-closing with an /lifecycle frozen comment.

If this issue is safe to close now please do so.

Send feedback to Docker Community Slack channels #docker-for-mac or #docker-for-windows.
/lifecycle stale

[hannahchan]

/lifecycle frozen

[hungluu]

Are there any updates or plans on the improvement / fixes tho? :(

[vishnun]

Facing the same issue still. Hoping someone has an answer.

[vishnun]

Not sure of the root cause for the battery killer state but after running docker system prune command, it stopped sucking up the batter faster than I can charge..It's no longer the highest energy impact app on my mac.

[aofarrel]

This seems to have gotten worse over time. My 2020 Pro which has never had any battery issues was charged to 90% when I unplugged it. One hour after unplugging it, during which time I didn't use Docker at all, I was at 15%.

[jorgt]

Came here with the same issue.

[notacoat]

someone please fix this. i will buy you lunch.

[Lorenzschaef]

Same issue. 2+ years later. Is there really still no solution?

[futurewebsites]

same issue even with my charger plugged in docker takes more power then goes in - like others I have to quit docker desktop wait for 100% charge then re-open, its killing my productivity.

Can this please be addressed as a matter of urgency !

[krokicki]

I just noticed this as well. My 24hr energy impact metric for Docker desktop was 171 (!) even though I wasn't using it for anything. During that time frame, Firefox's energy impact was only 13 even though I was mainly web browsing.

[its-miller-time]

+1 At least now that we are entering winter months, i can use my mac as a space heater....dont even need to wear sweaters anymore....

[stefkohub]

Still no news on this, i suspect.
I hope someone will find a solution before my battery will be totally damaged...

[pedrokohler]

I'm also having the same issue. Power consumption is sky high.

[Vorob-Astronaut]

any fix?

[mianbilalashraf]

Well, Somehow I succeed in lowering the energy impact of docker on my Mac 😌

I tried updating docker, but it could not even start after the update.
so I got stuck with this error.

then I completely removed docker from the Mac like this. (lost containers and images too 🤷🏻‍♂️)
downloaded docker setup and installed it (kept default configs)

current docker version: Docker Desktop 4.20.1 (110738)

then recreated containers.
It's more than 40+ hrs since and I noticed my mac isn't heating up much like before.

Before(usually)
CPU: 300-400%
Energy Impact: 7K - 10K (sometimes even more)

Now(usually)
CPU: 100-200%
Energy Impact: 1.3K - 1.8K (rarely goes up to 4K+ and that too for short period)

*above values are taken from activity monitor app

My docker configs are below.

(Resources depend on your need)

The device I'm using is: Macbook M1 Pro

It might be helpful for you guys as well 😇❤️