Can't disable my mac´s automatic logout - (sleep mode or screen saver)

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Level 1

1 points

Can't disable my mac´s automatic logout - (sleep mode or screen saver)

Hi there. I hope you can help my with this "little" problem.

I use OS X 10.8 on my Mac Mini. As you possibly know OS X has this "automatically logout users after a special time" feature.

Although I´ve never used this feature (checkbox is not active and timelimit is set to 60 minutes) my Mac does automatically log me out when it goes to sleep or when the screen saver gets activated (screen saver after 10 minutes of inactivity, sleep after 15 minutes).

I wouldn´t really care because of 10.8´s autosave feature, but I work with VirtualMachines and after this "auto logout problem" happens, I have to restart my Mac to startup the VMs again.

If you have any ideas how to stop my Mac doing this autologout thing, please tell me.

(And please nothing like: "Open System preferences and disable automatic logout" I´ve already tried that and it didn´t change anything).

Thanks

Samuel

Mac mini (Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.3), i5, 8GB Ram, 500GB HD, Server

Posted on Jul 9, 2013 12:45 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

nbar

Level 5

7,019 points

Jul 9, 2013 1:03 PM in response to Samuel79

Are you logged in as admin or as a guest user?

Under system preferences >security & privacy > advanced >uncheck "automatically log out after X minutes"

If you are a guest user and Parental Controls are enabled you will be automatically logged out according to how the admin set the time limit.

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Answer 2

Samuel79 Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 9, 2013 1:17 PM in response to nbar

The "automatic logout" checkbox is unchecked (Have never changed the default setting)

(Screenshot is in german language)

I´m logged in as the admin user. It seems like the problem only affects me. When I log in as on of the other users the problem doesn´t "appear".

Oh and I forgot to mention: The Mac Mini is running as a server (Server.app installed and configured). Does that change anything?

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,027 points

Jul 9, 2013 1:54 PM in response to Samuel79

If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode. Shut down the computer and then power it back up. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application unistaller. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.

Safe Mode

Safe Mode - About

General information.

Isolating issues in Mac OS X

Troubleshooting Permission Issues

Step by Step to Fix Your Mac

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Answer 4

nbar

Level 5

7,019 points

Jul 9, 2013 4:43 PM in response to Samuel79

Oh and I forgot to mention: The Mac Mini is running as a server (Server.app installed and configured). Does that change anything?

Yes, it does. Server admin settings overriding local admin settings could be your problem. Not sure though. I would try asking the question in the "OS X server" section of the apple communities.

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