What is handwritingd?

handwritingd is a process for handwriting recognition on macOS.

What is handwritingd?

handwritingd turns handwritten input into typed text. It powers the Trackpad Handwriting feature and handles handwriting from Apple Pencil when you use Sidecar (your iPad as a second screen for your Mac).

What features use it?

• Trackpad Handwriting: drawing characters on the trackpad (especially useful for Chinese, Japanese, and other character-based languages)
• Sidecar with Apple Pencil: handwriting on an iPad used as a Mac screen
• Scribble: turning handwritten text into typed text in supported fields

When is it active?

handwritingd starts when you use a handwriting input method. If you type with a normal keyboard, it is not active.

Does it use many resources?

During handwriting recognition, it uses a fair amount of processor time for the recognition work. When not in use, it sits idle.

Should you worry?

No. It is a normal macOS input process. Handwriting recognition happens on your Mac. No handwriting data is sent to Apple.

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