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MajorFubar

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 27, 2021
2,167
3,792
Lancashire UK
It's likely that pro and semi-pro users of screenless Mac desktops (Mini/Pro/Studio) could have the actual Mac itself buried away in an inaccessible place, such as under the desk, in a cupboard or even in another room. So with that in mind, and mourning the loss of the much missed power-switch on the keyboard, I sure wish it was possible to set something up in the Mac's equivalent of its BIOS which booted the machine as soon as you switched on the mains.

It seems the closest option is the option to 'Start up automatically after a power failure'. But for that to work you have to cut the power to the Mac while still logged in, which really is not a great thing to do, especially repeatedly over time. As well as being told off by the OS when it reboots, you're playing Russian Roulette with the SSD ToC. And if you corrupt it, you're screwed.

Everything else in my studio is turned on by one remote control, which triggers a relay that supplies power to a surge-protected power-strip. I'd like my Mac Studio to also automatically boot at this point. But no. Even though my Mac Studio is in an accessible place precisely for this reason, I still have to fumble like a blind man for the flush-fitted power switch, which Apple don't even considerately locate on the front panel, even though they could.

There's not much I miss from the days of running my studio on a Windows PC; mostly it was a traumatic experience I'd rather forget, but this was certainly one benefit. Couple of ticks in the BIOS and it would boot into Windows as soon as you turned on the mains.

(EDIT: I know there's options to have it turn on and off at fixed times. That's not really what I'm looking for.)

Moan over.

(Slight aside...what this Mac Desktop subforum lacks is a 'general' section to discuss issues that aren't specific to just one type of Mac desktop. I had to pick one subforum, so I chose Studio because that's what I own, but my 'grievance' equally applies to the Mini and probably also to the Pros.)
 
Last edited:

chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,432
9,292
Plug the Studio into an unswitched outlet, let everything else be switched, but let the Mac stay on 24/7, sleeping when not in use.
 

Ladd

macrumors member
Aug 1, 2014
58
18
I second the answer to let your Mac sleep. I'm still running a 2009 Mac Pro purchased new and I never shut it down, only sleep, and have had zero issues. If you are concerned about electricity use, I'm guessing the Mac uses only a penny or two per night. If you are concerned about electricity overload, well, that's a different issue ...
 

MajorFubar

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 27, 2021
2,167
3,792
Lancashire UK
Plug the Studio into an unswitched outlet, let everything else be switched, but let the Mac stay on 24/7, sleeping when not in use.
That's what I do at the moment, but it is by no means ideal. I realise I'm not going to get what I want because the Mac just simply does not facilitate it.

I don't want to leave literally everything on in my studio because all my gear is quite a current-draw to just sit idling. Also there are certain problems if I turn everything off except the Mac: I have a couple of audio interfaces which are 'bridged' as multi-output devices via the Audio-Midi app. If they're not on by the time the Mac boots, or if they are turned off and on with the Mac still booted, they don't mount properly unless I go back into Audio-Midi and reassign them to the multi-output virtual device.

Seems that what I'm asking it to do is such a really really simple thing - boot upon receiving power - considering the power switch doesn't physically interrupt the power in the traditional sense. Yet, it's not possible. PC = yes (motherboard dependent, very likely). Mac = No.
 

chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,432
9,292
That’s right. It’s not possible to make that machine boot with power. You’ll have to find a workaround, even if it means relocating the computer so you can more easily reach the power button. At least you’ll only have to do it once per day.
 

R3k

macrumors 68000
Sep 7, 2011
1,521
1,501
Sep 7, 2011
Yeah, I don't have a solution to your liking either.

FYI; My setup, I have 2 x Furman power switches. One runs the computer, monitors, audio interface, external drives- Anything that needs to be connected for the computer to run correctly, say the audio interface as the system will change configurations if it boots without it connected, just like with you

The 2nd switch for speakers, external rack gear, external synths, etc. All that power sucking stuff that I don't need on unless Im actively producing. They can all be off while I run a Backblaze backup overnight.

Opening the machine room / cupboard door in the morning and Pressing 2 or 3 buttons over the course of 8 seconds is no biggie imo.

I actually like having the option for the computer to turn on separately as I like to have all the peripherals turn on and get sorted before I boot the Mac so they're all 100% ready to handshake by the time the Mac goes looking for them.
 
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Ashbash75

Cancelled
Dec 17, 2017
310
519
PC's have been able to this for years and why mac's can't really bugs me, sad I know!

Having your mac sleep 24/7 is a waste of energy. Using a smart extension lead to switch the monitors on, I measure 3W from the wall.

On my other mac which is only used as a htpc/web browsing machine, I just switch it off without shutting down. Basic M1 mac and it's been fine doing this for over a year, touch wood.
 
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