What happened to Computer Sleep slider?

Question

Level 2

448 points

What happened to Computer Sleep slider?

Hello!

Just got a refurb iMac (Retina 5k, 27-inch, 2019) 3.6 GHz Intel Core i9. I had to wipe the drive and install Mojave. I can't use Catalina... need to use Mojave to be able to use Final Cut Pro 10.3.4 (which doesn't work on Catalina). Long story... and unrelated to this issue. Anyway... why is it that this 2019 model doesn't have a 'Computer Sleep' slider in Energy Saver? My other iMac's, from 2012, have both a 'Computer Sleep' slider and a 'Turn display off after' slider. The 2019 model only has 'Turn display off after' slider. See the screen shot.

I installed Mojave via online after wiping the hard drive. But I have another Mojave installer that I used to install on the other iMac's many moons ago that do have both sliders.

Would it make a difference if I wipe my drive again and use the older Mojave installer I have to get both sliders back?

And before I get schooled as to why it's better to not have that option anymore, I found it to be very helpful. I'm a video editor and it can take an hour or more to export the videos I create. I don't need my screen to be on that entire time. And if I check the 'Prevent computer from sleeping automatically' button, I don't want my computer to stay on all night. For example, I may export a project just before bedtime. So I used to keep the 'Computer Sleep' slider set to 3 hours. That way I knew my project would export successfully, and the computer would go to sleep without manually having to do it.

This new computer is in my bedroom! So it's annoying for a screensaver to be on while the computer is doing it's work (annoying for the screen to be on at all when I'm trying to sleep). It was very helpful to have the screen go to sleep after a few minutes while there was a separate time for the computer to sleep so the machine could get some exporting work done.

Is there a way to get this back or is it just a 'thing' for 2019 iMacs? Would installing my older version of Mojave make any difference?

Thanks for any feedback!!

-Matt B.

Posted on Mar 11, 2020 7:20 PM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

136,121 points

Mar 11, 2020 8:25 PM in response to Matt13

I can't tell you when two separate sliders disappeared. They are not there on my 2015 iMac but are there on my 2012 iMac.

You can however go to System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Screen Saver and set a "Hot Corner" to put the display to sleep.

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Answer 2

Mar 11, 2020 8:51 PM in response to Matt13

You can also put the display to sleep with Control-Shift-Eject. ⌃⇧⏏︎

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Answer 3

Matt13 Author

Level 2

448 points

Mar 11, 2020 7:41 PM in response to rkaufmann87

This is not helpful at all. Not even sure why you replied.

I explained why I prefer having two separate settings. If I have to export a video project that's going to take two hours, and want to go to sleep (me, the human being) in my bedroom where this computer is, I can't put the computer to sleep until the export is complete. Thus, either the screen or a screensaver is on the entire time. And it's distracting to, um, going to sleep for the human being?

So it was nice to have two separate options so I could turn the screen off while the computer works in the background, then goes to sleep after a set period of time.

I'd rather not have to explain this again. I have no interest in this new Energy Saver setting. I like the old setting. No need to tell me I'm better off or should just 'go with it'. So if anyone can answer any of these specific questions, that would be great.

Is this new feature of not having a 'Computer Sleep' have anything to do with what kind of Mojave installer I'm using? Like I said, I installed Mojave on two other iMac's from 2012, and those DO have the 'Computer Sleep' slider option. But this 2019 model does not.... Mojave was installed online after wiping/reformatting the hard drive to get rid of Catalina.
If I tried the older installer that successfully gave me the 'Computer Sleep' slider on the older iMac's, will the 2019 machine also get both sliders? Or, again, is it just a hardware issue with this newer model?
How can I request to get this option back if it's currently not possible for this newer computer?

I'd appreciate answers if anyone has them!

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Answer 4

John Galt

Level 10

155,738 points

Mar 11, 2020 8:44 PM in response to Matt13

So if anyone can answer any of these specific questions, that would be great.

No
No
It will be a waste of time, but you could file Feedback.

I'd appreciate answers if anyone has them!

I already know that's not true, but those are the answers, whether you appreciate them or not.

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

155,738 points

Mar 12, 2020 8:51 AM in response to Matt13

Nobody likes hearing what they'd prefer not to hear. That tautology dissuades a lot of knowledgeable helpers from helping, but those who come to this site with questions deserve answers... even though they might not like them.

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