Having a problem accessing the information because columns are missing in the Mac activity monitor? This tutorial will guide you on what you can do when your Mac Activity Monitor not showing columns, and this affects your work.
Activity Monitor is a useful feature to determine CPU activity status and disk & memory consumption. You can analyze resource & energy usage, cache storage, and network communication. Missing columns means lacking information about these facts.
More About Activity Monitor
Not just in monitoring and analyzing the performance indicators, Activity Monitor also helps in killing processes. Mac may behave erratically due to macOS or an ancillary service-related process. You can identify the problematic process in the Activity Monitor.
Kill the process by clicking process and tapping X in the toolbar. However, if you’re experiencing port-related errors, you can kill the process actively running on that particular port. Your Mac kill process on port using Terminal.
Why Are Columns in Activity Monitor Missing?
Well, there is no specific reason why the columns in Mac Activity Monitor disappear. It could be due to the fact that the first column covers the entire window. This makes other columns hide. It might also be possible that the column is disabled.
Another possible reason you’re not seeing the column of the Activity Monitor is the macOS version. Some bugs in the macOS version you’re using can affect the Activity Monitor’s interface layout.
Adjust Column and Window Size
To uncover the hidden columns, it is important to adjust the column size by expanding the Activity Monitor window. It will open up the window on the full screen. Resize the window by tapping the green button. It will show all hidden columns.
Scroll content to the right by swiping two fingers on the trackpad to the left. Now, drag the separator or divider next to the Process Name column to the left. It will help in moving and finding the hidden columns.
Remove Preference File via Finder
Preference list (plist) files sometimes get corrupted. The corrupted files can cause the app to crash, freeze, or stop working. So, delete them through Finder. Open the ‘Go to Folder’ window on your desktop by pressing Command, Shift, and G shortcut.
Alternatively, choose ‘Go to Folder’ by clicking Go on the menu bar. Copy and paste ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist and tap Go. Right-click the file dubbed com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist. Choose Move to Bin.
Delete Plist Files via Terminal
You can delete the Plist files of Activity Monitor using Terminal. Open the Utilities folder on the desktop by pressing Command, Shift, and U shortcut. Or, hit Go and choose Utilities. Tap twice in the Utilities folder.
Close the Activity Monitor and use the command sudo rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist in the Terminal console. Click Return on the keyboard. Add the administrator password and launch the Activity Monitor.
Reconfigure View Settings
If resizing the columns doesn’t reveal the missing columns, then reconfigure the view settings of the Activity Monitor. Before you proceed, go to the Settings menu and ensure the missing columns are checked.
Open Activity Monitor and tap View. Move the cursor on Columns and choose the missing column from the menu. If this option is enabled but doesn’t display the column in the Activity Monitor, disable it. Wait for 3 to 4 seconds and enable it again.
Use the Latest macOS Version
Another method to fix the Mac Activity Monitor not showing columns issue is to update to the new macOS version. Check for the latest update and install it. To check the update, click the Apple menu on the Mac screen.
Now, tap on System Preferences and then click on Software Update. If any update is pending, install it by following the instructions recommended. The above solutions will restore the missing column after updating their macOS to a new version.
Ask for Professional Apple Support
If none of the above methods will reveal the missing column of Activity Monitor, ask for professional Apple support. It is recommended to visit Apple Service Center to get professional assistance and get your Mac examined.
You can also interact with an Apple Support expert or representative via call. They will guide you on every step to bring back the missing column. If you can’t reach a representative, you can also try force-quitting Activity Monitor and restarting your Mac device.
Conclusion
Using the Activity Monitor, you can find resource-consuming applications and easily get rid of them. This will eventually help in better optimizing Mac’s battery life and performance. So, it’s crucial to fix the problem of the Mac Monitor Activity missing columns.
Try to resolve the issue yourself with the above tips before going to the nearest Apple store. However, if you are finding that your Mac Activity Monitor app is not working properly, force-quit the app and reopen it.