NTKDaemon - DO NOT remove from login items on mac!!

drummersteve

Hi all,

In an attempt to speed up my machine (MacMini 2018, usually no issues), I removed NTKDaemon from Login items (along with a bunch of other apps) in an attempt to reduce background processes.

I knew NTK daemon had something to do with native access, and just assumed that if it needed to be running (ie when using native access), the process would just boot up upon opening native access, and perhaps wasnt necessary to be running from login in the background (other software updaters can sometimes do a similar thing, and arent necessary to have running 24/7 in the background necessarily.)

BIG MISTAKE!

I've spent the past 3 hours trying to fix my mac. Upon booting, Finder would continually crash. I was unable to boot in Safe Mode - Mac would just beachball.

Running Disk Utility in Recovery mode would not work - beachball when finding the disks.

Even after resetting PRAM (helped inasmuchas Finder wouldnt just hang upon a normal startup), Finder would still be weird - not allow me to copy/move files, open files. The keyboard would randomly stop typing (it would work for other non-character functions like Command-Tab between apps, but unable to type characters in search boxes, safari, etc).

Suspecting an issue with NTKDaemon/Native Access, I Zapped all existence of Native Access from machine, and re-installed from most recent download on NI website. Still nothing - it was not re-installing the NTKDaemon.

Thankfully on a backup, I had an old version of Native Access. I copied this across, opened it, and was them prompted to install the update. Upon doing this, it promted me to re-install NTKDaemon. The issues have seemingly dissapeared...

I dont know what the exact functionality of NTKDaemon is, but removing it from login items caused some really serious problems with the entire functionality of the OS (not just NI-related software). It was pretty damn scary. NI should definietly look into this, to make sure someone else doesnt have the same issue.

Jeremy_NI

@PoorFellow thanks for pinging me.

@drummersteve The only effect of removing the NTKDaemon from login items is that the Mac Os will not start the NTKDaemon automatically from this location when you boot up your system:

Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Native Instruments > NTK > NTKDaemon.app

That should only be noticeable when you open NA

In an attempt to speed up my machine (MacMini 2018, usually no issues), I removed NTKDaemon from Login items (along with a bunch of other apps) in an attempt to reduce background processes.

It looks like more was deleted and removed than just the daemon entry from the Login items. How did you remove these files? Did you use an "app cleaner" or similar? This happens frequently with property list cleaners, Clean My Mac and similar apps. We strongly recommend NOT using these kind of applications as they can damage systems permanently and sometimes require a full OS reinstallation, we have a little article about the topic: Notes on Using Registry or Property List Cleaning Utilities

Scoops

I disabled the NTKdaemon at startup on my win10 machine

Works like a charm, and no ill side effects

Native access doesn't work anymore, but I don't need NI Bloatware infesting my environment

Maciej Repetowski

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/28746/ntkdaemon-do-not-remove-from-login-items-on-mac

I feel for you. I had this problem once with Corsair iCue login item. I needed to boot into safe mode to remove it properly, otherwise computer refused to start.

I think that NI should provide uninstaller for NTKDaemon.

PoorFellow

@Jeremy_NI , some Mac feedback to get processed ! (Original thread starter)

Jeremy_NI

@PoorFellow thanks for pinging me.

@drummersteve The only effect of removing the NTKDaemon from login items is that the Mac Os will not start the NTKDaemon automatically from this location when you boot up your system:

Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Native Instruments > NTK > NTKDaemon.app

That should only be noticeable when you open NA

In an attempt to speed up my machine (MacMini 2018, usually no issues), I removed NTKDaemon from Login items (along with a bunch of other apps) in an attempt to reduce background processes.

It looks like more was deleted and removed than just the daemon entry from the Login items. How did you remove these files? Did you use an "app cleaner" or similar? This happens frequently with property list cleaners, Clean My Mac and similar apps. We strongly recommend NOT using these kind of applications as they can damage systems permanently and sometimes require a full OS reinstallation, we have a little article about the topic: Notes on Using Registry or Property List Cleaning Utilities