---
title: "AssetCache on Mac: Content Caching and its network traffic · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-assetcache.html"
description: "AssetCache is the macOS Content Caching service. Learn why it uploads to other devices, how to see its traffic, and how to turn caching off."
---

macOS processes

# What is AssetCache on Mac?

`AssetCache` is the Content Caching service. It keeps Apple downloads on this Mac and gives them to other Apple devices on the same network.

Process: `AssetCache` · Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for the System Settings path. Seen on macOS 27.2. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Where you see it

- `AssetCache` is in the list in Activity Monitor › Network, in `nettop` or in Kilobat.
- A firewall or network monitor asks if `AssetCache` can connect.
- The Mac uploads a lot on the local network while other devices update.

## What it is

The man page says that AssetCache speeds up Apple downloads by caching them on the local network. macOS starts it automatically.

Apple's settings let it cache software updates and apps, iCloud content, or both.

## Why it uses the network

- **Downloads from Apple.** It downloads content from Apple the first time a device on the network asks for it.
- **Uploads to other devices.** Other Apple devices on the network then download the content from this Mac. This is local traffic.
- **Registration with Apple.** Apple's list of hosts shows that a caching Mac contacts Apple servers to register.

## Is it normal?

Yes, if you turned on Content Caching. Large uploads on the local network are its purpose.

If you did not turn it on, a management profile from your organization can turn it on. Ask your administrator.

## See how much it uses

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Click Network.
2. Type `AssetCache` in the search field. The Sent Bytes and Rcvd Bytes columns show what it moved.
3. In Terminal, watch only this process. Press d to show the change per second, and q to quit.

   ```
   nettop -p AssetCache -P
   ```
4. Show the status of the cache and the amount of data it served.

   ```
   AssetCacheManagerUtil status
   ```

## Reduce or pause it safely

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Sharing.
2. Click the Info button next to Content Caching. Change the cache options, or turn Content Caching off.
3. On a hotspot, devices do not need this Mac's cache. Turn it off while you travel.

## With Kilobat

1. Open the Kilobat app list and search for `AssetCache`. Its row shows the live rate and the bytes it moved.
2. Kilobat puts this service in the System downloads group, with one line about what it does. Expand the group to see each service.
3. With the network filter on, click the service. The panel names the apps that the downloads were for, for example “For Music”.
4. Without the filter, macOS shows only the service. Then Kilobat cannot say which app a download was for.
5. Kilobat shows local network traffic apart from Internet traffic. Local uploads do not count toward a data budget.
6. In Terminal, see the same live list. Press / and type the name to search.

   ```
   kilobat status --watch
   ```
7. Show its traffic over one day. Names match `kilobat report --summary`.

   ```
   kilobat bandwidth AssetCache day
   ```
8. Through MCP, an AI agent gets the same history with `get_app_bandwidth` and the name `AssetCache`.
9. The live view is free. History in the app needs Pro. Kilobat records history only while the app runs.

## Questions

**Does Content Caching use my internet data?**

It downloads each item from Apple once. The uploads to other devices stay on the local network.

## Sources

- AssetCache(8) and AssetCacheManagerUtil(8), man page installed with macOS 27.2
- [Apple Support: Change Content Caching settings on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/about-content-caching-on-mac-mchleaf1e61d/mac)
- [Apple Support: Use Apple products on enterprise networks](https://support.apple.com/en-us/101555)
- nettop(1), man page installed with macOS 27.2

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [What is softwareupdated on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-softwareupdated.html): softwareupdated is the macOS Software Update daemon.
- [What are appstoreagent and appstored on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-appstoreagent.html): appstoreagent and appstored support the App Store.
- [Find the devices on your local network from a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/find-devices-on-network.html): macOS has two built-in ways to see other devices: the ARP table and Bonjour.
- [Find which app uses your bandwidth on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/which-app-uses-bandwidth.html): Activity Monitor and nettop show which processes send and receive data.