---
title: "parsecd on Mac: Siri Suggestions and Spotlight network use · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-parsecd.html"
description: "parsecd supports Siri Suggestions, Spotlight Suggestions, Safari Suggestions and Look Up. Learn why it connects and how to turn suggestions off."
---

macOS processes

# What is parsecd on Mac?

`parsecd` supports search suggestions in Spotlight, Safari, Siri and Look Up. It connects when you type in those places.

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

## Where you see it

- `parsecd` is in the list in Activity Monitor › Network, in `nettop` or in Kilobat.
- A firewall or network monitor asks if `parsecd` can connect.
- Traffic appears when you type in Spotlight or in the Safari address field.

## What it is

The man page says that parsecd “manages access and data for Siri Suggestions, Spotlight Suggestions, Safari Suggestions, Lookup, #images, and Apple News article search”.

## Why it uses the network

- **Suggestions while you type.** Suggestions from the web need a request to a server.
- **Look Up and images.** Look Up and #images get their content from the internet.

## Is it normal?

Yes. Small requests while you search are usual.

## See how much it uses

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Click Network.
2. Type `parsecd` 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 parsecd -P
   ```

## Reduce or pause it safely

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Spotlight. Turn off the search results and suggestions that you do not use.
2. In the same place, turn off Help Apple Improve Search if you do not want to share search queries.
3. In Safari, choose Safari > Settings > Search. Turn off the suggestions that you do not use.
4. Do not quit `parsecd` 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 `parsecd`. 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 parsecd day
   ```
4. Through MCP, an AI agent gets the same history with `get_app_bandwidth` and the name `parsecd`.
5. The live view is free. History in the app needs Pro. Kilobat records history only while the app runs.

## Questions

**Does Spotlight send my local files to Apple?**

The parsecd man page covers suggestions and search. The Spotlight settings list what Help Apple Improve Search stores.

## Sources

- parsecd(8), man page installed with macOS 27.2
- [Apple Support: Spotlight settings on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/spotlight-settings-on-mac-mchl54d95e8a/mac)
- 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 assistantd on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-assistantd.html): assistantd is the Siri daemon.
- [What is locationd on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-locationd.html): locationd runs Location Services.
- [iCloud Private Relay breaks some websites](https://kilobat.app/guides/icloud-private-relay-sites.html): iCloud Private Relay sends Safari traffic through two relays.