When my iMac goes into sleep mode and I touch the mouse or keyboard to wake it the screen is DIM so I have to reboot the iMac or try to put it to Sleep and wake it again.
I have my settings set to not Automatically adjust brightness. It does this at least 2-3 times a day while in use after letting it sleep for more than an hour. Any help would be appreciated.
iMac 24″, macOS 11.6
Booting into Safe Mode does the following:
• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files
The first and last items could fix the problem. Just reboot normally after getting into Safe Mode and run for a bit to see if there's any change.
Have you installed or run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up" or anti-virus apps on your Mac?
Hi ThrowinRocks,
To make sure we're on the same page, your Mac will go to sleep at its normal interval, however when you wake it the display will not brighten to the setting you've chosen unless you try to put it to sleep again or restart it, is that correct?
If so, can you confirm if your Mac is also fully updated to the latest version of Big Sur?
If you're already updated or the issue persists, are you able to manually adjust the brightness using the function keys at the top of the keyboard? Or via System Preferences > Displays?
Let us know, and we'll continue from there.
Cheers!
ThrowinRocks wrote:
I've already booted into Safe Me and performed a fresh/clean install of macOS 11.6 as suggested per Apple Support once they could not figure out the problem so that's why I came to the Forums.
That would be the Recovery volume, not the Safe Mode. When you reinstalled the system did you migrate your user data to the new installation? If you did you could have brought over the files that a Safe Mode might be able to remove.
Disable Sleep, unnecessary. Check “Prevent…” in Energy Preferences, uncheck everything else and set the time to off the display.
I have the same issue using a Mini M1 with external display. I just use the display brightness keys on the keypad to adjust back. I also now just sleep the Mac after about 3 hours and just use the screen saver to avoid this issue.
why not use auto shut down at night and auto start in the AM
Uncheck it. Screen wear is protected by the off timer, unrelated to Sleep.
Turning the screen off on timer has nothing to do with Sleep. Disable it (uncheck wake).
Why would I migrate user data? That defeats the purpose of performing a fresh/clean install.
A Senior Apple support advisor took control of the iMac while I was on the phone with him and he did all the things that it shows in the links they sent me. I originally followed the steps they provided and a week later it was still doing it. That's when I called them.
He practically did the exact same thing. Boot into safe mode and set it up for me to reinstall macOS. After it was all said and done it still performed the same. The forums was a last ditch effort before I boxed it up to send to Apple for them to look at it but I'm going to wait fresh/clean install macOS Monterey when it's released.
If it continues to do it after that I'll send it to Apple.
IMO I think it's hardware related because I have 2 M1 24" iMacs with the same specs, settings and everything the same on both but only one does it.
Just verifying.
It's set for "Wake for network access" and the screen sleeps at 15 minutes not the whole system. I don't leave it awake for hours because that wears the screen out over time. I don't replace my Macs when the newest ones come out. This 24" iMac replaced my 2013 iMac so I upgrade when Apple stops supporting that year model.
I've never installed or run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up" or anti-virus apps on any Mac I own.
I've already booted into Safe Me and performed a fresh/clean install of macOS 11.6 as suggested per Apple Support once they could not figure out the problem so that's why I came to the Forums.
It stays updated. Yes, I can adjust the brightness either way. It's not a settings issue but possibly software or hardware issue because my other 24" M1 iMac does not do it.
I don't let it stay on that long because I'm constantly up and down all day and might mot even return to the iMac until the next day.
I can’t disclose what my job is but I access it many times a day so I prefer to have it set to have the screen sleep
24" M1 iMac screen is dim after wake.
