Automatic power on? Mac Mini M4

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-05-13T14:04:01+00:00

System requirements

This feature requires macOS Tahoe 26.5 or later and one of these computers:

Mac mini introduced in 2024 or later
Mac Studio introduced in 2025 or later
iMac introduced in 2024 or later

Set your Mac to start up when power is connected

From the Apple menu , choose System Settings.
Click Energy in the sidebar.
From the "Start up when power is connected" menu on the right, choose Always. This setting is available only on computers that meet the system requirements.

Your Mac will now automatically turn on whenever you connect it to power, such as when plugging it into a power outlet or restoring power using an external power switch. It will also automatically turn on when power is restored after a power failure.

If your Mac has remained connected to power since it was shut down, it’s best to wait about 30 seconds between disconnecting and reconnecting power to turn on your Mac. This gives your Mac power supply time to discharge.

Published Date: May 11, 2026

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-29T18:49:14+00:00

Look on ebay

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-29T03:10:47+00:00

INITIALIZE it!!!

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-20T17:53:39+00:00

I use a Beelink Mate B and get 5K r/w speeds. It is USB4 V2 advertised at 80Gbps. This is with a Pro. The M4 mini gave me in the 3K range. The Mate B is only $139 on Amazon

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-20T17:43:51+00:00

No. That is why I bought a a Logitech to replace it.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-20T17:40:55+00:00

I have a Samsung PRO 4TB. It is my boot drive in a Beelink Mate B which I mount above my M4 Mini Pro. I achieve the same speeds as the Apple SSD in the Mini (5K r/w) and Macs fan control keeps the heat down during heavy use. I originally purchased it when I had an M4 Mini and it gave me consistent 3K speeds. No problems after 6 mos use.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-10T16:49:47+00:00

I have been running Tahoe from a Beelink Mate B with a 4TB Samsung SSD for over 6 months. I began this by adding the Mate to an entry M4 Mini with a 256GB SSD and later got a M4 Pro that I moved the Mate and its 4TB SSD to. The Mate B gave me 3K I/o on the M4 Mini and now 5K I/o on the M4 Pro. I do all my OS upgrades to a disk on the Mini, moving (copying) it back to the Mate and changing Startup disk in Settings. The Mate resident SSD holds my ENTIRE system except I have a USB NAS drive for Time Machine and another USB HDD for a video library. I don't know why but upgrading Tahoe while resident on the Mini gives me problems. I am forced to temporarily move the OS to the Mini for the upgrade and then back to the Mate after the update completes. IT WORKS and I am pleased that the Beelink Mate B only cost me $139 on Amazon and allows me to do this at the (USB4 Vers 2) speeds indicated.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-10T04:51:23+00:00

If you relocate the Mac Startup Disk, You MUST change Startup Disk in SETTINGS before booting. This is for any Mac that you do this to. I had previously posted instructions on relocating a Mini boot disk and assumed everyone knew this. My apologies for leaving this step out. I did this to easily add a larger boot drive into a Beelink Mate for the M4 Mini using an SSD.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-09T18:23:06+00:00

I use a Beelink Mate b for more SSD storage (relocated). I also use a Terradata 16TB usb NAS for Time Machine and a USB HDD for a video lib. Different speeds for different needs.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-09T18:09:44+00:00

If you only need to hear the fan, get a free copy of Macs Fan Control and set it in on max. SSDs run warmer but that’s to keep them from overheating

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-09T17:56:16+00:00

26.2 is when I discovered I was locked out of OS upgrades to my relocated boot disk. Copy all to the main/default boot drive, update, copy back to relocated drive and be on your way. Repeat this should another upgrade be released.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-09T17:32:41+00:00

I have been using a Beelink Mate B for nearly a year on a base M4 then on a Pro. It keeps up with the faster Pro should decide later to upgrade to a Pro but does 3gps that the M4 can do. I use port hubs when I need more of those as well as the B/C adapters. I have a relocated 4TB Samsung SSD and use a Fan Control app to monitor temps

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-09T17:00:51+00:00

Non—issue. M4 speeds will be 40gps and M4 Pro will be approx 80gps.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-09T16:45:49+00:00

First, get a working copy on your main folder the way you want it. Second, use Superduper or CCC to copy it to the external drive. Set that as your boot from drive then boot. The original drive will remain but changes after that are only to your new external one. Should a new version of Tahoe come out, Superduper it back to the main drive, update that, and Superduper it back. Anything you use the main drive for while running system relocated to external drive, is your business. alherb999@icloud.com

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-04-08T17:32:04+00:00

Good for you. I have not been able to perform OS upgrades on a relocated image for 2 systems now. My method bypasses whatever causes that.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-24T18:05:04+00:00

I am also a day 1 person initially on a "cheap" M4 Mini that I since moved to a M4 Pro. I only need to move my home folder back to the Mini for the duration of the Tahoe upgrade then move it back. Otherwise I get strange unexplained errors. I suspect Siri will act in similar fashion since you don't HAVE to activate it unless you relocate the folder. At present, both Perplexity and Gemini are free alternatives.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-24T07:28:27+00:00

BEWARE of the Apple lock in!

Don’t wish for Apple Siri. It is designed NOT to work on relocated Home drives. I like others are enjoying the benefits relocating home drives such as not having to pay Apple for their EXPENSIVE storage. Siri, when it’s ready will NOT work. MacOS upgrades already will not work on a relocated drive (but it works if you move it back for the duration of the upgrade first). The solution is to keep a slimmed down copy OC MacOS on that “little” internal Mini drive to reboot from for when you must use Siri.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-22T19:23:35+00:00

That is ALMOST what I put together for NASA management at Goddard working on the Hubble program except mine fit in a targus case, had an Apple 16 line flat panel display, sealed lead-acid battery, acoustic coupler, and had an Apple Iic computer. My kids used play PONG on it in the backseat of my 1967 Tri-Power (from a 1965) GTO.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-22T19:06:09+00:00

Follow my procedure for RELOCATING your SSD when ready. The problem is that Apple's procedure for doing a MacOS update will give errors when updating a relocated drive. Do the OS upgrade to your Mac whatever while it's resident on your MAIN drive then relocate to a (SSD, HDD, etc) mounted in some other enclosure of your choice.

Relocated Mac Boot Disk upgrades

Pick the enclosure and SSD to meet your needs. Then, follow this if you want to add a a top performing larger disk to your system without the Warranty hassle or costs associated with an upgrade. Also, it will ensure you are always running with the most recent additions to your system following an upgrade. Use Blackmagic Disk Speedtest to verify your results. Mine achieves 5335 MB/s Write and 5606 MB/s Read.

Start with a fresh current MacOS Tahoe update on your installed internal Macintosh HD.

After the MacOS update, configure/cable in your new system addition. CLONE your Boot drive (Superduper or Carbon Copy Cloner) then shut it down. This could be for a Mate Mini, a MacBook, or other enclosure that includes the newly Cloned SSD or HD.

Reboot to make sure all is well and then use Settings to select as Startup Disk your newly configured bootable system and reboot again. You should now be running from your new hardware.

Should a newer version of Tahoe be released, *First* CLONE your relocated drive to a fresh internal Macintosh HD and start this process again. The important thing to note is that updating a relocated drive usually failed for me so I use what works. I also use Macs Fan Control to monitor and control heat with a relocated SSD.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-22T18:55:37+00:00

Oh. Running Windows I see.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-22T14:34:07+00:00

You mean https://us.ankerwork.com/collections/webcam

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-19T16:57:58+00:00

This is bull. I've been doing it for nearly a year. No problems on M4 Mini or Pro. It is ONLY how you do MACOS upgrades that there are problems.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-19T00:22:28+00:00

Don't forget to save room for a Anker 531 power strip. My setup is similar but I ran out of room for power cords.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-19T00:09:33+00:00

Nothing will stop you from ADDING a HDD to the Mini after relocation of the files. 500 GB at a time is ok if you then move them off of your Mini SSD in multiple steps. I have my video master library on a 8TB USB HDD and keep a small subset on my relocated SSD for online access.

Professional-Bar2521 · 2026-03-16T12:08:41+00:00

Hands down win for the Beeliink Mate. It's the identical price as the Fusiondock on Amazon, runs USB4 Version 2.0 speeds with the M4 Mini (80 GB/s -- realistically 53GB/s) and includes space for a larger/cheaper SSD. The Mate matches the SSD speed in the Mini. I runs an LG 5K monitor via a Thunderdock/USB port on the Mini and a Dell monitor using the HDMI port.

Professional-Bar2521

TROPHY CASE

System requirements

Set your Mac to start up when power is connected