mac-mini-as-headless-server

Original：🇺🇸 English

Translated

Use when setting up a Mac (especially Mac Mini) for unattended 24/7 server operation, headless use, or remote-only access. Covers sleep prevention, screen saver, Wake-on-LAN, auto-restart, App Nap, and SSH enablement.

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Sourcesoulmachine/skills

Added on2026-05-20

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add soulmachine/skills mac-mini-as-headless-server

SKILL.md Content

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Configure macOS for Server Use

Overview

Configures macOS for unattended 24/7 server operation by disabling sleep, screen saver, screen lock, and App Nap, while enabling Wake-on-LAN, auto-restart after power failure, and SSH remote login.

Requires
sudo
. Target: Mac Mini or any Mac used as a headless server.

When to Use

Setting up a Mac as a home server, CI runner, or always-on machine
Preparing a Mac Mini for headless/remote-only operation
Troubleshooting a Mac that keeps sleeping, locking, or becoming unreachable

Quick Reference

Setting	Command	Effect
Screen saver off	`defaults -currentHost write com.apple.screensaver idleTime -int 0`	Disables screen saver activation
Screen lock off	`defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPassword -int 0`	No password on wake
Lock delay off	`defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPasswordDelay -int 0`	Immediate effect
System sleep off	`pmset -c sleep 0`	Never sleep
Display sleep off	`pmset -c displaysleep 0`	Never turn off display
Disk sleep off	`pmset -c disksleep 0`	Never spin down disks
Dim before sleep off	`pmset -c halfdim 0`	No pre-sleep dimming
Wake-on-LAN	`pmset -c womp 1`	Wake on network access
Auto-restart	`pmset -c autorestart 1`	Restart after power loss
App Nap off	`defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES`	Prevents app throttling
SSH on	`systemsetup -setremotelogin on`	Enables Remote Login

Implementation

Run as root.

REAL_USER

is resolved from

$SUDO_USER

to apply per-user defaults correctly.

bash

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail

# Require root
if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then
  echo "Error: run with sudo."
  exit 1
fi

REAL_USER="${SUDO_USER:-$USER}"

# 1. Disable screen saver
sudo -u "$REAL_USER" defaults -currentHost write com.apple.screensaver idleTime -int 0

# 2. Disable screen lock password
sudo -u "$REAL_USER" defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPassword -int 0
sudo -u "$REAL_USER" defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPasswordDelay -int 0

# 3. Prevent all sleep (charger profile — only profile on Mac Mini)
pmset -c sleep 0
pmset -c displaysleep 0
pmset -c disksleep 0
pmset -c halfdim 0

# 4. Wake-on-LAN
pmset -c womp 1

# 5. Auto-restart after power failure
pmset -c autorestart 1

# 6. Disable App Nap globally
sudo -u "$REAL_USER" defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

# 7. Enable SSH
systemsetup -setremotelogin on 2>/dev/null || {
  launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ssh.plist 2>/dev/null || true
}

# Verify
pmset -g

Common Mistakes

Running without sudo —
```
pmset
```
and
```
systemsetup
```
require root;
```
defaults
```
commands must run as the real user via
```
sudo -u
```
Forgetting
-c
flag — Without
```
-c
```
(charger/AC), settings apply to battery profile, which doesn't exist on Mac Mini
Expecting immediate effect — Screen saver and password changes may require logout/restart
FileVault blocking auto-login — Auto-login (System Settings > Users & Groups > Login Options) requires FileVault off

Reverting

To restore display sleep later: