TrackerD: What Is It & Why Is It Running on Your System?

Understanding the "trackerd" Process on Ubuntu

Have you observed high CPU usage by a process named "trackerd" while examining running processes on your Ubuntu system? This article addresses that very issue. Tracker is an integrated search tool within Ubuntu, and its default configuration often prioritizes indexing speed, potentially leading to significant CPU utilization. It can be adjusted to consume fewer resources, or completely removed if unused.

What is Tracker?

The Tracker Search Tool can be located under Applications > Accessories. It allows for full-text searches of your files, with the ability to refine results by category.

While not inherently flawed, this search tool can impact system performance.

Reducing Indexing Speed

To lessen Tracker's CPU demand, access the Indexing Preferences through System > Preferences > Indexing Preferences.

Within these settings, you have the option to disable indexing entirely by deselecting the "Enable indexing" checkbox.

Performance and File Exclusion

Navigate to the Performance tab to adjust the Indexing speed slider, reducing it from "Faster" to "Slower".

Additionally, you can select the "Minimize memory usage" option to further optimize resource allocation.

The Ignored Files tab allows you to specify file paths to exclude from indexing. If you have numerous files that you are certain you will never need to search, excluding them can improve performance.

After making these adjustments, close the dialog to implement the changes. If the indexing process remains problematic, consider terminating the process or rebooting your system.

Uninstalling Tracker via the Command Line

If you do not utilize the Tracker search functionality, you can remove it from your system using the terminal.

sudo apt-get remove tracker tracker-search-tool tracker-utils

Uninstalling Tracker with Synaptic Package Manager

Alternatively, you can use Synaptic Package Manager. Search for "tracker" within the application.

Then, deselect the Tracker packages from the list. Finally, click the "Apply" button to proceed with the uninstallation.

Is the Tracker search engine actually used by many Ubuntu users?