Mac Mini on Ventura won't turn off display without killing USB/downloads/music too

Ever since updating to Ventura, my 2018 Mac Mini power save features don't work right.


I've always had my Mac desktops turn the display off after 20 minutes, which I have this set to, but it doesn't just turn off the display, it shuts the whole computer down. Any downloads/uploads or background processes get killed, music I'm listening to shuts off, all USB power gets shut off.


Once this happens, I can't bring the computer back up from the keyboard or USB mouse. Bluetooth works so poorly on this machine that a BT mouse is basically unusable, so I have to use my Logitech dual-mode mouse in USB mode, but to bring the computer back up I have to switch the mouse to BT, then once to the computer is up I can then select USB and use my mouse again.


I listen to music on my computer all day while I am working and doing things around the house, but now every 20 minutes the music shuts off with my display. Do I really have to waste a bunch of electricity and shorten my display's life by leaving it on all day (literally all day, 9am to 12am) just so my computer will play music or not kill whether I have downloading/uploading?


But then when I go to bed at night, I really need my display to turn off after 20 minutes, after whatever I fall asleep watching concludes, or else i wake up in the middle of the night to the TV on the process of finding the remote and turning it off messes up my sleep.


So now I am having to change my power save features multiple times a day just to get the computer to do what it used to be able to easily do by default, except I can never remember to change the setting because its pretty ridiculous and non-standard to require changing power settings multiple times a day, and now I'm just frustrated constantly.


Applying a screen saver doesn't help, as even a blank one still leaves the display backlight on. Also, who still uses a screensaver in 2023?


Do I need to bring my 2009 Mini back into service just as a media player? Adding an entire 2nd machine just to do what a single computer used to accomplish seems excessive.


Why does Apple keep insisting on making their stuff worse with needless, backward changes like this?


Please tell me there is some fix for this.

Mac mini, macOS 13.5

Posted on Sep 15, 2023 1:35 PM

Reply
6 replies

Sep 16, 2023 1:35 PM in response to VincentBrick

Hello VincentBrick,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities!

We understand you're having an issue with your Mac shutting down instead of going to sleep.

With what you're experiencing and what you've tried so far, the next step is to reach out to Apple Support directly. You can use this link to connect with them: Get Support


Let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Take care!


Sep 16, 2023 3:24 PM in response to VincentBrick

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?


First give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing 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


NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.


Sep 17, 2023 9:31 AM in response to VincentBrick

VincentBrick wrote:

Thank you very much! Not sure if it will work yet but it definitely looks like the setting I am looking for. I have it set now and we'll see how it goes!

I'd still like it to sleep after maybe an hour or something for power saving, but not even sure if it even matters, it still randomly cycles the fan when sleeping.

Thanks again!

If you're sleeping it at night just shut it down and boot back up in the morning. With all solid state drives it shouldn't take much more than 30 seconds if that much. Also a benefit of shutting down each night is that is clear out temporary system and application cache and swap files which, if they get corrupted/damaged they can cause all sorts of problems.



Mac Mini on Ventura won't turn off display without killing USB/downloads/music too

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