How to restore scheduled wake-up and custom login screen after macOS Tahoe update?

Hi everyone,

I recently updated my iMac to macOS Tahoe, and ever since the upgrade, my system no longer wakes up at the scheduled time. I am aware this feature was removed for a reason I don't understand, since I've used it since 2003, and now even the Terminal option doesn't work!!! This is a feature I need to have restored, as I rely on it daily.

How can I schedule to start on its own again?

Also, another issue that arose with Tahoe is that I can no longer use my own photos for the login screen! How do I fix this and use my own photo for the login screen? In the previous version I was able to do that, and for some unexplained reason, this was also removed!

WHY is Apple removing the BASIC features we use daily??? What is the reasoning behind that? Who was bothered by these features? And why?

And on iPhone, the snooze no longer works. I woke up late all week after I did this stupid update. Please point me toward the link on how to downgrade back to the previous version.

TIA

Please advise.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: After the Tahoe Update

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Dec 12, 2025 3:05 AM

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,120 points

Posted on Dec 12, 2025 6:26 AM

The same feature that scheduled startup restart shut down and everything else still exists, it was not removed at any time. The GUI interface was removed, but as others have noted, you can replace that with third-party software if you can’t copy and paste a sentence into terminal.

If it is still not starting up at the time set, you are most likely suffering from another addition to the Tahoe installer which enables FileVault. With FileVault enabled, you will see a startup screen that cannot be changed and if you do not login shortly after it appears the Mac will shut back down because it has not decrypted the drive.

You can disable FileVault in the privacy and security system settings. That will enable you to set the lock screen picture and allow it to continue the startup process on a schedule.

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24 replies

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,120 points

Dec 12, 2025 12:27 PM in response to LuciaGiamanco

LuciaGiamanco wrote:

YES that is exactly what is happening!! It comes on and if I don’t log in instantly it shuts off! This is horrible!!!!!! I will try to see if I can disable that! This is anti people!

Well, yes, it is very much anti bad people

dialabrain

Level 10

135,725 points

Dec 12, 2025 12:30 PM in response to Barney-15E

Barney-15E wrote:

dialabrain wrote:

I'm curious as to how you can set a Lock Screen image that is different than your Desktop Wallpaper?

I wouldn’t know as I’ve never tried.

Okay. Thought maybe I had missed something.

Dec 12, 2025 4:18 PM in response to Barney-15E

What I mean by this being "anti-people" is this: Most of us work, so there's no way for us to mind-read Apple's engineers' minds; we just want to have the computer come on and work, not troubleshoot. The assumption that we all just sit on the recliner and do nothing all day and have ample time to deal with unnecessary updates is completely unrealistic. These issues have turned my week upside down. I work three jobs, and I don't have time to troubleshoot issues that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,120 points

Dec 12, 2025 9:25 PM in response to LuciaGiamanco

LuciaGiamanco wrote:

What I mean by this being "anti-people" is this: Most of us work, so there's no way for us to mind-read Apple's engineers' minds; we just want to have the computer come on and work, not troubleshoot. The assumption that we all just sit on the recliner and do nothing all day and have ample time to deal with unnecessary updates is completely unrealistic. These issues have turned my week upside down. I work three jobs, and I don't have time to troubleshoot issues that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

Well, the reality is when someone uses no password and their identity is stolen, they blame Apple. So, they enable a more secure system which requires the user to actively weaken the system.

Dec 12, 2025 5:20 AM in response to dialabrain

Except it is not the same as the desktop wallpaper. Mine defaults to some OS image I don't want to see. I want to see my kids on the screen, and now I can't.

[Edited by Moderator]

dialabrain

Level 10

135,725 points

Dec 12, 2025 3:44 AM in response to LuciaGiamanco

Have I, no. I use it for other things which do work well. I've never scheduled my Macs to startup or shutdown automatically in 20+ years. I've never felt a need, like most users.

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,072 points

Dec 12, 2025 4:53 AM in response to LuciaGiamanco

I use Onyx all the time. The clock is a 24HR system so if starting up at 1:00 pm you would set to 13.

Dec 12, 2025 5:14 AM in response to LuciaGiamanco

Dec 12, 2025 7:43 AM in response to Barney-15E

YES that is exactly what is happening!! It comes on and if I don’t log in instantly it shuts off! This is horrible!!!!!! I will try to see if I can disable that! This is anti people!

How to restore scheduled wake-up and custom login screen after macOS Tahoe update?