NOTE!
It is STRONGLY recommended that you make a backup of all the files being modified in this tutorial. These are core system files, and removing the wrong one could potentially result in a restore if backups are not made. Be sure to read through this ENTIRE tutorial thoroughly before taking any action or asking any questions.

So lets get started what are Launch Daemons
Quote:

"In Unix and other computer multitasking operating systems, a daemon is a computer program that runs in the background, rather than under the direct control of a user; they are usually initiated as background processes."
So what does this mean? This means that when your iPhone or iPod is turned on, it loads a bunch of background processes (over 60!) that allow it to do various things, like connect to the Internet and receive calls. Since these processes are in the background, they take up a sizable amount of your device's available RAM, and because they're system processes, they can't be killed with SBSettings or MemTool. The good news is that some of these daemons are completely unnecessary (for most people), and you can simply delete them and regain the RAM they were taking up.

First, SSH into your device and navigate to /System/Library. Find the LaunchDaemons folder and download the entire thing to your desktop. Rename the folder on your desktop to something like "LaunchDaemons.old" or "LaunchDaemons.backup" and reupload it to your device without making any changes to it (and keep a copy on your computer as well; you can never have too many backups). This will serve as our on-device backup, in case something goes wrong and you can't SSH into your device or connect via USB. Then, make all of the changes you want to make to the .plist files in the original LaunchDaemons folder.

To disable a daemon, simply delete or rename the extension of the plist (com.apple.XXXX.plist -> com.apple.XXXX.bak) to disable the corresponding .plist file.

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Safe Daemons
These can be deleted by any user, with no adverse effects on the device.

  • com.apple.DumpPanic.plist - Dumps crashes for evaluation by Apple. If you regularly run @p0sixninja's crash reporter to help for jailbreaks, do not remove this.
  • com.apple.ReportCrash.(Different Things).plist - There are 6 of these daemons, and they collect data about what caused a crash, what programs were running at the time, etc. If you regularly run @p0sixninja's crash reporter to help for jailbreaks, do not remove this.
  • com.apple.DumpBasebandCrash.plist - Dumps baseband crashes, which shouldn't happen during normal use. iPod touch users don't even have a baseband. If you regularly run @p0sixninja's crash reporter to help for jailbreaks, do not remove this.
  • com.apple.CrashHouseKeeping.plist - Cleans up old logs, safe to delete if already removing logging software. If you regularly run @p0sixninja's crash reporter to help for jailbreaks, do not remove this.
  • com.apple.aslmanager.plist - This daemon manages system logs.
  • com.apple.syslogd.plist - Logs system events.
  • com.apple.powerlog.plist - This is used to monitor any incompatibilities with 3rd party chargers.
  • com.apple.chud.chum.plist - This daemon is thought to relate to Apple's CHUD (Computer Hardware Understanding Developer) tools. Removing this daemon will have no adverse effects on your device, unless you are a developer.
  • com.apple.chud.pilotfish.plist - This daemon is also thought to relate to Apple's CHUD tools. Removing this daemon will have no adverse effects on your device, unless you are a developer.
  • com.apple.apsd.tcpdump.en0.plist - Logs push notification errors.
  • com.apple.apsd.tcpdump.pdp_ip0.plist - Also believed to log push notification errors.
  • com.apple.appsupport.cplogd.plist - Logs crashes of applications and 3rd party apple to /var/mobile/Library/Logs, and also tells the system if a symlink cannot be created.
  • com.apple.crash_mover.plist - Moves crash log files from where they originate to /var/Mobile/Library/Logs. Feel free to remove if you don't have your device log crashes.
  • com.apple.marcoagent.plist - Logs crashes related to iMessage, FaceTime and ect. Feel free to remove from your iDevice.
  • com.apple.mobile.softwareupdated.plist - Deals with OTA software updating. Feel free to remove, your jailbroken, you can't use it anyways.
  • com.apple.OTACrashCopier.plist - Moves crashes from Over the Air software updates to /var/mobile/Library/Logs. Feel free to remove the daemon.
  • com.apple.OTATaskingAgent.plist - Tells the device to periodically check for OTA updates. Feel free to remove.
  • com.apple.softwareupdateservicesd.plist - Tells iOS how to start and execute an OTA update, feel free to remove. Although DO NOT attempt an OTA update with this removed. I feel that it also stops the update from happening if the device is jailbroken.
  • com.apple.Springboard.SetupHelper.plist - Starts the iOS Setup app when the device first boots and after restores. Remove because it's no longer needed after your initial setup.
  • com.apple.certui.relay.plist - When you are on a public network (like my school) and Safari can't verify what website it is connecting to, it will say "This website is not verified" or something like that, and asks if you want to still continue. Feel free to delete this.
  • com.apple.sharktrace.plist Deals with developer crash logs, if you aren't a developer then feel free to delete.

Conditional Daemons
These daemons can be disabled by certain users who have no need for some features of their device.


  • com.apple.searchd.plist - Disables Spotlight search if removed. The Spotlight page will still be there, but nothing will show up when you start typing. Disable this daemon if you don't use Spotlight.
  • com.apple.search.appindexer.plist - Indexes apps so they can pop up in Spotlight, remove this if you don't use Spotlight.
  • com.apple.backupd.plist - Reminds the device to back itself up at night when connected to WiFi. ONLY remove this daemon if you do not use iCloud for backing up your iDevice
  • com.apple.assitivetouchd.plist - Starts the process for the AssistiveTouch.app (Located under Accessibility). If you don't use this, then feel free to remove it.
  • com.apple.AddressBook.plist - If removed, Contacts in the Phone application will load slightly slower. Disable this if you don't care about that.
  • com.apple.accessoryd.plist - If removed, disables accessories like FM radio transmitters, iPhone docks, and AV cables. Accessories will be able to charge your device, but that is all they will be able to do. Remove this if you don't use any of these accessories.
  • com.apple.apsd.plist - If removed, Push Notifications will no longer work. Disable this if you don't use Push Notifications.
  • com.apple.iapd.plist - Functions like com.apple.accessoryd.plist, it deals with accessories that also come with companion apps.
  • com.apple.dataaccess.dataaccessd.plist - If removed, contacts will no longer sync via Exchange or Google Sync. Disable this if you don't use those services. (This will NOT disable Push notifications from Google Voice's app, only the push mail service.)
  • com.apple.gamed.plist - Used for GameCenter, remove if you don't use GameCenter.
  • com.apple.datamigrator.plist - Used to transfer contacts from SIM card to phone. iPod touch users can delete this.
  • com.apple.racoon.plist - Used for Virtual Private Networks. Disable this daemon if you do not use any VPNs.
  • com.apple.MobileInternetSharing.plist - Used for Internet Tethering. Disable this if you have an iPod touch or if you aren't interested in tethering.
  • com.apple.AOSNotification.plist - This daemon deals with iCloud syncing. If you do not use iCloud for backups, photostream, ect. then you can disable this.
  • com.apple.AdminLite.plist - This daemon tries to return control of your device to you if it thinks that you are waiting for a lengthly process to respond. It does this by force-quitting the process, so if you're tired of your apps crashing and you would rather wait a few seconds for them to finish what they're doing, disable this daemon.
  • com.apple.mobile.obliteration.plist - This daemon wipes the data partition of your device. (Source) This will be used if you remotely wipe your phone via Exchange, or if you use Settings > General > Reset, or if you set your device to wipe itself after a certain number of failed passcode entries. If you don't use these features, you can delete this daemon.
  • com.apple.scrod.plist - This daemon deals with Voice Control. If you don't use Voice Control, you can delete this daemon.
  • com.apple.VoiceOverTouch.plist - Another Voice Control daemon.
  • com.apple.voiced.plist - Yet another Voice Control daemon.
  • com.apple.vsassetd.plist - Starts the actual VoiceServices for Voice Control. Delete if you don't use Voice Control.
  • com.apple.mobile.profile_janitor.plist - This daemon apparently deals with provisioning profiles for ad-hoc app distribution. If that doesn't apply to you, or if you have no idea what that is, you can delete this daemon.
  • com.apple.daily.plist - Reminds the App Store to check for updates to installed applications, remove if you want to do this manually
  • com.apple.storage_mounter.plist - This daemon allows you to use the "iPad Camera Connection Kit". Remove if you don't use this.
  • com.apple.printd.plist - Starts the AirPrint launch daemon process, remove if you don't use AirPrint.
  • com.apple.twitterd.plist - Starts the "Tweet from Youtube, Safari, ect" process. Remove if you don't use the In-App Twitter addition.
  • com.apple.wapic.plist - Logs errors when trying to connect to a WiFi network with Chinese characters in the name. Remove this if you don't live in China.
  • com.apple.itunescloudd.plist - Deals with iTunes Cloud/Home Sharing. Delete if you don't use that.
  • com.apple.vibrationmanagerd.plist - Deals with custom vibration patterns. If you don't use those or you have an iPod touchy feel free to delete this.


Self-Edit Daemons
These daemons require you to do additional steps to remove them.

com.apple.BTServer.plist - The back-end for bluetooth on the device. REMOVING WITHOUT DOING THE BELOW WILL CAUSE A RESTORE!!!
HTML Code:

To disable first open settings and make sure bluetooth is turned off(Settings>General>Bluetooth) Then go to /System/Library/CoreServices/Springboard.app and open your N**AP.plistN18AP-iPod touch 3GN81AP-iPod touch 4GN82AP-iPhone 3GN88AP-iPhone 3G[S]N90AP-iPhone 4 GSMN94AP-iPhone 4 CDMAThen look for the <key>bluetooth</key> string.change <true/> to <false/>.
Then remove the daemon.


com.apple.locate.plist - When the device tries to locate itself, this daemon is called. REMOVING WITHOUT DOING THE BELOW WILL CAUSE A RESTORE!!!

HTML Code:

To disable first open settings and make sure location services are turned off(Settings>General>Location Services or Settings>Location Services) Then go to /System/Library/CoreServices/Springboard.app and open your N**AP.plistN18AP-iPod touch 3GN81AP-iPod touch 4GN82AP-iPhone 3GN88AP-iPhone 3G[S]N90AP-iPhone 4 GSMN94AP-iPhone 4 CDMAThen look for the <key>location-services</key> string.change <true/> to <false/>.Then look for the <key>gps</key> string.change <true/> to <false/>
Then remove the daemon.

com.apple.locationd.plist - When the device strores "locationgate" data, this daemon is called. REMOVING WITHOUT DOING THE BELOW WILL CAUSE A RESTORE!!!
HTML Code:

To disable first open settings and make sure location services are turned off(Settings>General>Location Services or Settings>Location Services) Then go to /System/Library/CoreServices/Springboard.app and open your N**AP.plistN18AP-iPod touch 3GN81AP-iPod touch 4GN82AP-iPhone 3GN88AP-iPhone 3G[S]N90AP-iPhone 4 GSMN94AP-iPhone 4 CDMAThen look for the <key>location-services</key> string.change <true/> to <false/>.Then look for the <key>gps</key> string.change <true/> to <false/>
Then remove the daemon.

Device-Specific Daemons
These daemons have different functions for different devices. Be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that these daemons are safe to delete from your specific device.


  • com.apple.CommCenter.plist
  • com.apple.CommCenterClassic.plist
  • com.apple.CommCenterMobileHelper.plist
  • com.apple.CommCenterRootHelper.plist - These 4 daemons deal with making and receiving phone calls and connecting to the cellular data network. iPod touch users and wifi-only iPad users (confirmed on the first-gen iPod, assumed on all the others) can delete this daemon with the effect of having "Searching" in there statusbar. If it doesn't bother you then go ahead and remove the daemon. iPhone and iPad 3G users should not delete this daemon under any circumstances.
  • com.apple.awd_ice3.plist - Deals with initial iPhone activation on the iPhone 4 (Only confirmed on the GSM version, not sure if the CDMA version has a different daemon). Feel free to remove this sense your jailbroken, and you can't do OTA Updates. Also feel free to remove this because when you restore the daemon automatically gets put back on your device.
  • com.apple.aggregated.plist - It is believed that this performs some function related to Audio-In. If you have an iPod touch and do not intend to use Audio-In, disable this. iPhone users should leave this alone.
  • com.apple.aggregated.dbservice.plist - Creates database files (thumbs.db, DS_Store.db ect.) for voice input services. Remove if you don't use audio input (com.apple.aggregated.plist).


Leave-Alone Daemons
These daemons are crucial to the operation of your device and should not be modified in any way.

  • com.apple.fairplayd.plist - This checks the DRM on your legitimately-acquired music and apps.
  • com.apple.installd.plist - Deals with app installation.
  • com.apple.configd+pm.plist - Deals with system configuration.
  • com.apple.configd-pm.plist - Also deals with system configuration.
  • com.apple.gmmd.plist - A debugging service for your device.
  • com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist - DNS. Disable this, and your Internet is completely gone.
  • com.apple.mDNSResponderHelper.plist - Also deals with DNS.
  • com.apple.usbptpd.plist - Allows your device to connect to your computer and charge.
  • com.apple.mtmergeprops.plist - Appears to have something to do with the touchscreen. After I deleted this daemon, my screen was unresponsive. This is why you make backups!
  • com.apple.SCHelper-embedded.plist - Appears to be a part of the SystemConfiguration framework (Source), so I don't recommend deleting it. If some brave soul wants to try it, go ahead and report back.
  • com.apple.SpringBoard.plist - This daemon ensures that SpringBoard launches when you turn your device on. Without this daemon, SpringBoard will not launch. Also, this daemon ensures that you are able to respring your device. If you disable this daemon and attempt to respring, the SpringBoard process will be killed but will not start again.
  • com.apple.mobile.lockbot.plist - This daemon's function is currently unknown, but several users have removed it (based on my advice; sorry about that, guys!) and have had to restore as a result. However, I think it's worth noting that I have removed this daemon on my first-gen iPod touch and have encountered no problems. For the time being, however, leave this daemon alone.
  • com.apple.mobile.Lockdown.plist - Deals with SIM and network authorization. iPod touch users, even though this daemon seems like it deals with iPhone-only operations, have still had to restore after deleting this daemon. I have removed this daemon on my first-gen iPod touch and have encountered no problems, but apparently I'm the only one who has been this lucky.
  • com.apple.itdbprep.plist - When syncing music and videos to the device this daemon is called to allow for USB editing of the iTunesDataBase (The place where all the information about songs and videos you have is store). DO NOT MESS WITH THIS DAEMON.
  • com.apple.itunesstored - Messing with this daemon will cause it to use 100% of your device's CPU periodically. Leave it alone.
  • com.apple.mediaserverd.plist - I don't know, I don't care. It will SERIOUSLY screw up UIKit(Your Animations, your device will be come VERY laggy and slow) LEAVE THIS ONE ALONE!!!
  • com.apple.UIKit.pasteboard.plist - Supposedly deals with Copy and Paste functionality... I've never had a good experience with it. If anybody wants to prove me wrong then be my guest
  • com.apple.hpfd.plist - I think it has to do with helping to install and remove stuff. It's best not to touch this daemon.
  • com.apple.cvmsCompAgent_armv7.plist - Deals with OpenGLES. If you delete this you're iDevice will lag like crazy.
  • com.apple.cvmsServ.plist - Also deals with OpenGLES.
  • com.apple.powerd.plist - Keeps your device on. DO NOT TOUCH.