Put hard disks to sleep when possible

[hashsi99]

m1 mbp.

Where is this option? Cant seem to find it

also how do I turn these "wake" events off. Ive already turned of screen usage. thanks!

 

[Apple_Robert]

There is no need to put a SSD to sleep. That feature was used years ago for the platter drives.

 

[hashsi99]

There is no need to put a SSD to sleep. That feature was used years ago for the platter drives.

Thanks. But I saw it on Catalina 2020 intel?

 

[jazz1]

Would this feature be available if you were using a external hard drive connected to an M1?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks. But I saw it on Catalina 2020 intel?

I don’t know why Apple still shows it as an option.

I have the option on my 2018 Mac mini that I upgraded from Catalina to Big Sur. My Mac mini came with a SSD drive.

 

[hashsi99]

Can you guys verify if you have that wake instance for next scheduled wake?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Would this feature be available if you were using a external hard drive connected to an M1?

That is a good question. Maybe someone with a M1 and external drive(s) can test.

 

[jazz1]

That is a good question. Maybe someone with a M1 and external drive(s) can test.

I've got an old fashioned HD with enclosure coming in the next few days. That is why I asked as it is in my bedroom. I don't want the old boy to be winding up near my sleepy head Probably should have just gone with an SSD!

 

[tonyunreal]

I have the M1 mini and there is a "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" option in System Preference - Energy Saver. Not sure it applies to SSDs though.

 

[DeltaMac]

Even if you have the option on your Mac system, not all external drives respect that setting.
Depends on the manufacturer, and sometimes is a firmware issue (on the external drive, not the Mac)

 

[hashsi99]

I have the M1 mini and there is a "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" option in System Preference - Energy Saver. Not sure it applies to SSDs though.

I don’t even have an energy saver tab anymore.

 

[Zazoh]

Under Power Adapter I do have to prevent computer from sleeping when display dims, or it drops my VMWare Horizon app I use to do my day job.

There is no setting on Battery and when display dims it drops my WiFi connection for VM Ware.

 

[matrix07]

Where is this option?

 

[hashsi99]

View attachment 1691265

M1??

 

[jdb8167]

M1 MacBook Air doesn't have that setting. It also doesn't have any spinning rust to put to sleep so that makes sense.

Someone with an external drive on a MBA or MBP should check to see if the setting appears with an external drive.

 

[matrix07]

M1??

As you can see in my signature, Yep.

 

[bsmr]

So - also found within another thread, that some user do have that setting. Others (including myself) don't have that feature/menu item?!
MBA M1, 16GB, 1TB

 

[kitenski]

Would this feature be available if you were using a external hard drive connected to an M1?

You've got it!! I had an external drive connected yesterday, that option is not there now that device has been ejected.

@buddyspencer that explains why you don't have it!

 

[WebHead]

Just as an aside, what's the current thinking about this setting? My external drives spin up and down multiple times a day. Is this shortening their lifespan?

 

[rui no onna]

Just as an aside, what's the current thinking about this setting? My external drives spin up and down multiple times a day. Is this shortening their lifespan?

Depends on how often. Most consumer-level HDDs have ~300K load/unload cycles.

 

[WebHead]

Depends on how often. Most consumer-level HDDs have ~300K load/unload cycles.

Ah thanks. Probably 10-20 times a day, so I guess I have a while to go!

BTW if I was to turn the setting off would they still power down when the Mac itself went to sleep?

 

[DeltaMac]

Ah thanks. Probably 10-20 times a day, so I guess I have a while to go!

BTW if I was to turn the setting off would they still power down when the Mac itself went to sleep?

That would depend on the drive. If the drive gets power through the Mac (bus-powered), then the drive should always power down when the Mac is sleeping. But, if the drive is self-powered (with its own power supply), then it depends on the drive's firmware. Some self-powered drives do not ever spin down, unless actually unplugged from power.

 

[senttoschool]

M1 MacBook Air doesn't have that setting. It also doesn't have any spinning rust to put to sleep so that makes sense.

Someone with an external drive on a MBA or MBP should check to see if the setting appears with an external drive.

M1 Macbook Air here. Still see the setting. Don't have any external drives.

 

[haralds]

Thanks. But I saw it on Catalina 2020 intel?

There are Intel based systems with spinners still in the field.

 

[Argon_]

There are Intel based systems with spinners still in the field.

iMacs, mostly, AFAIK.