Various M4 Mini Issues...

Question

Various M4 Mini Issues...

Never had this issue with my Mac Pro 2009, but I just got a M4 Mini. Have been experimenting with using sleep instead of shut down, but I had to do something that made it necessary to shut the machine off. On booting back up, low and behold everything I had open relaunched and only one (Mail) had I set to launch. Checked everything I could but I find no issues with the other apps which should not be launched on a fresh boot.

I remember when a macOS system was in sleep mode, the power button slowly blinked. Not doing it... I only know it's in sleep if my wattmeter shows it >1.0 watts. Is this how it's supposed to NOW work? Seems a big downgrade.

I also thought a short press on the power button would put the system to sleep. Doesn't seem to be happening. Again, is this something they took away from us with the latest hardware?

Another one is I put the machine to sleep last night. Confirmed it was drawing >1W. When I got to it today, I saw it drawing 20 watts... which is unusually large, I have yet to see it draw so much. Turned on the monitor and I see the screen saver going. Looks like everything came back to life. Huh?

Mac mini

Posted on Dec 29, 2024 10:07 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 29, 2024 10:37 AM in response to Riverside_Guy

Take a tour of Mac mini - Apple Support

❝Status indicator light: If the light is on, your Mac mini is awake or in sleep; when there’s no light, your Mac mini is turned off.❞

RE: "On booting back up, low and behold everything I had open relaunched and only one (Mail) had I set to launch. Checked everything I could but I find no issues with the other apps which should not be launched on a fresh boot.

If an app is open when you shut down the Mac, it will reopen IF this:

Fifteen (!) years is plenty of time for things to change. 🙂

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Answer 2

Dec 31, 2024 11:32 AM in response to hcsitas

Thanks for the advise. I fixed the power button issue by putting some adhesive silicone buds on it, so all I have to do it press down on the corner. Boot up is very fast and apps launch so fast it seems to make no sense to "minimize" them. The power draw is amazingly low...

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Answer 3

hcsitas

Level 6

13,958 points

Dec 29, 2024 10:16 AM in response to Riverside_Guy

Sleep is unnecessary on later Macs and should be disabled. Shut for long absences/idle overnights, and for regular operation, use the settings exactly as shown below: (reboot after setting):

Also, do not manual-sleep for brief absences, use instead the Lock Screen settings to switch the display off on timer:

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Answer 4

tbirdvet

Level 6

16,721 points

Dec 29, 2024 11:05 AM in response to hcsitas

+1

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Answer 5

Dec 29, 2024 10:57 AM in response to hcsitas

Interesting... I've read tons if posts (in many places) going on about how everyone seems to always sleep their machines rather than shut down. This was in all the chatter of the placement of the power button. One "solution" of a sort I've implemented, I put a couple of adhesive silicone buttons on the switch, hoping that all it will take is a press down on that corner. I'v e been used to shutting down systems since the Jurassic era, think I'll try that.

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Answer 6

hcsitas

Level 6

13,958 points

Dec 29, 2024 11:05 AM in response to Riverside_Guy

Sleep had value in the 2010s and prior when power-hogging mechanical disks were king. Today it’s mostly about stubborn folks unwilling to shed old habits and a few who like mystery problems that never lead anywhere.

As for the placement of the power button, IMO much ado over nothing. Shuts don’t need it, on’s - lift and press. Shrug.

Bottom line: there’s no downside to disabling Sleep, so just do it!

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Answer 7

hcsitas

Level 6

13,958 points

Dec 31, 2024 11:34 AM in response to Riverside_Guy

Great, thanks for updating.

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