---
title: "identityservicesd on Mac: iMessage and FaceTime network use · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-identityservicesd.html"
description: "identityservicesd is part of Apple's Identity Service for iMessage and FaceTime. Learn why it connects, how it appears in nettop, and how to reduce it."
---

macOS processes

# What is identityservicesd on Mac?

`identityservicesd` is part of the Apple Identity Service. iMessage and FaceTime use this service to find the keys and devices of the people you contact.

Process: `identityservicesd` · Applies to: All current macOS versions. Seen on macOS 27.2. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Where you see it

- `identityservicesd` is in the list in Activity Monitor › Network, in `nettop` or in Kilobat.
- A firewall or network monitor asks if `identityservicesd` can connect.
- `nettop` and Kilobat show it as `identityservice`, cut to 15 characters.

## What it is

Apple publishes no man page for identityservicesd. The program is in the IDS framework of macOS: `IDS.framework/identityservicesd.app`.

Apple Platform Security describes the Apple Identity Service (IDS). It is a directory of public keys and device addresses for iMessage.

## Why it uses the network

- **Messages and calls.** Apple says that a device asks IDS for the keys and push addresses of each device of the person that you message.
- **Your own devices.** Each device registers its public keys with IDS.
- **Local links.** On this Mac, `lsof` also showed a connection to another Apple device on the local network.

## Is it normal?

Yes, when you use Messages or FaceTime. The lookups are small. The messages and calls themselves can show under other processes.

## See how much it uses

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Click Network.
2. Type `identityservicesd` 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 identityservice -P
   ```
4. `nettop` shows only the first 15 characters of a name. So use `identityservice`, as above.

## Reduce or pause it safely

1. If you do not use iMessage on this Mac, open Messages. Choose Messages > Settings > iMessage and sign out.
2. If you do not use FaceTime on this Mac, open FaceTime. Choose FaceTime > Settings and sign out.
3. Do not quit `identityservicesd` in Activity Monitor. It is part of macOS, and other features depend on it.

## With Kilobat

1. Open the Kilobat app list and search for `identityservicesd`. Its row shows the live rate and the bytes it moved.
2. In Terminal, see the same live list. Press / and type the name to search.

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

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

## Questions

**Why does nettop show identityservice?**

`nettop` shows at most 15 characters of a process name. Kilobat uses the same names.

## Sources

- [Apple Platform Security: How iMessage sends and receives messages securely](https://support.apple.com/guide/security/how-imessage-sends-and-receives-messages-sec70e68c949/web)
- lsof(8), man page installed with macOS 27.2
- 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 apsd on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-apsd.html): apsd keeps one connection open to the Apple Push Notification service.
- [What is rapportd on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-rapportd.html): rapportd lets your Mac talk to your other Apple devices.
- [Video calls stutter or freeze on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/video-call-stutter-mac.html): Calls need steady latency and steady upload more than high speed.