Robert$
Level 1 (0 points)
iPhone

Q: Energy Saver won't Shut Down on Schedule

I have Energy Saver set to Shut Down every night at 10:30pm, which is long after I've stopped working. Ever since I upgraded from 10.6.8 to 10.8.3 my iMac ignores the Energy Saver schedule and remains on. It obeys the sleep schedule (display sleeps in 15 minutes; computer sleeps after 45 minutes of inactivity). Does anyone know why this happens?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.5), 27" 3.2Gz 8Mb RAM

Posted on Apr 7, 2013 4:21 PM

by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer
Linc Davis Linc Davis
Level 10 (207,936 points)
Applications
A:

What happens if the machine is awake at the scheduled shutdown time?

Posted on Apr 11, 2013 7:18 AM

Close
Robert$

Q: Energy Saver won't Shut Down on Schedule

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by arthur,

    arthur arthur Apr 7, 2013 4:33 PM in response to Robert$
    Level 5 (5,193 points)
    iBooks
    Apr 7, 2013 4:33 PM in response to Robert$

    This can happen when a preferences file becomes corrupt.

    Try this:

    1. go to /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and find a file called com.apple.PowerManagement.plist
    2. drag it to the trash
    3. restart
    4. this will generate a new .plist file so you will have to reenter your settings.

  • by Robert$,

    Robert$ Robert$ Apr 11, 2013 6:49 AM in response to arthur
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 11, 2013 6:49 AM in response to arthur

    Thank you for your reply.

     

    I've tried this several times in various permutations, and it hasn't worked.

    1. The first time it reset the Sleep settings but the Shut Down settings did not change.

    2. On my second attempt I dragged the .plist file to the Trash and then emptied the Trash before restart. The Shut Down settings reverted to a default. I reset them to my desired schedule, but the computer did not Shut Down as instructed.

    3. On my third attempt I proceeded as above, but also restarted immediately after resetting the Shut Down schedule. Again, the computer did not shut down.

     

    It is, however, obeying the Sleep settings.

     

    Is there, perhaps, some activity that is overriding my Shut Down settings?

  • by arthur,

    arthur arthur Apr 11, 2013 6:57 AM in response to Robert$
    Level 5 (5,193 points)
    iBooks
    Apr 11, 2013 6:57 AM in response to Robert$

    I found this article Mac OS X: Why your Mac might not sleep or stay in sleep mode  which has a lot of information and suggestions at the bottom. I wonder if some of this may apply to shutdown as well.

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Apr 11, 2013 7:18 AM in response to Robert$
    Level 10 (207,936 points)
    Applications
    Apr 11, 2013 7:18 AM in response to Robert$

    What happens if the machine is awake at the scheduled shutdown time?

  • by Robert$,

    Robert$ Robert$ Apr 14, 2013 9:27 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 14, 2013 9:27 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Linc -

    Your excellent question yielded a solution. I reset my Sleep instructions to "Never" and the Shut Down occurred as scheduled.

    Thank you!

  • by George Cassello,

    George Cassello George Cassello Feb 4, 2014 4:43 AM in response to Robert$
    Level 1 (26 points)
    Feb 4, 2014 4:43 AM in response to Robert$

    This doesnt make any sense. Im having the same issue. So you're saying you have to adjust your settings so your mac never throughout the day just so your auto shut down set for 10:30 pm works? That cant be right.

  • by aruncbe,

    aruncbe aruncbe Sep 10, 2016 2:42 PM in response to Robert$
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 10, 2016 2:42 PM in response to Robert$

    I had this same problem. And this solution from apple solved it. OS X: Setting a startup or shut down time - Apple Support

     

    When the mac is sleeping at the scheduled shutdown time, then it continues to sleep rather than shutting down. So if you want it to shutdown at a scheduled time, then you have to set it to restart shortly (say 3-5 min) before its scheduled shut down time! But then we will lose the option to have a scheduled start time everyday morning.