Changing your Mac's energy saver settings allows you to optimize power consumption, extend battery life (for laptops), and customize sleep behavior for both desktop and portable models. The process varies slightly depending on whether you're using a desktop Mac or MacBook, and the macOS version may affect where these settings appear. On macOS Ventura and later, energy settings are primarily found in System Settings > Energy for desktops or System Settings > Battery for laptops, while older versions use System Preferences > Energy Saver. Key adjustments include managing display sleep timers, enabling Low Power Mode, configuring Power Nap, and scheduling automatic startup/shutdown.

• Access path: Desktop Macs use System Settings > Energy (Ventura+) or System Preferences > Energy Saver (older versions), while MacBooks use System Settings > Battery ^[1][2][4]
• Critical settings: Low Power Mode, display sleep timers, Power Nap, wake for network access, and UPS options for desktops ^[1][3]
• Scheduling: Advanced scheduling (startup/shutdown) now requires Terminal commands in Ventura, replacing the previous GUI option ^[2]
• MacBook specifics: Battery section includes "Prevent automatic sleeping when display is off" and optimized charging ^[4][10]

Adjusting Mac Energy Saver Settings

Accessing and Navigating Energy Settings

The location of energy settings depends on your Mac model and macOS version. For desktop Macs running macOS Ventura or later, navigate to Apple menu > System Settings > Energy in the sidebar (scroll if needed) ^[1]. On MacBooks, these options appear under System Settings > Battery, with separate tabs for "Battery" and "Power Adapter" modes ^[4]. Older macOS versions (Big Sur and earlier) use System Preferences > Energy Saver, identifiable by a lightbulb icon ^[6]. If you cannot locate the Energy Saver icon, ensure you’re checking the correct system preferences pane—MacBooks after macOS Big Sur no longer show a dedicated Energy Saver icon ^[8].

Key navigation steps:

• Desktop (Ventura+): *Apple menu > System Settings > Energy* (sidebar) ^[1]
• MacBook (Ventura+): *Apple menu > System Settings > Battery* (with mode tabs) ^[4]
• Older macOS (Catalina/Big Sur): *Apple menu > System Preferences > Energy Saver* ^[6]
• Terminal scheduling: Ventura removed GUI scheduling; use pmset commands for automation ^[2]

Once in the settings pane, you’ll see options categorized by power source (battery/power adapter for laptops) or general energy preferences (desktops). The interface may vary, but core functionalities like sleep timers and Power Nap remain consistent.

Configuring Core Energy Settings

The most impactful adjustments involve sleep timers, Power Nap, and Low Power Mode, each serving distinct purposes. For display sleep, drag the slider to set how quickly the screen turns off during inactivity—shorter times save energy but may disrupt workflows ^[3]. The "Prevent automatic sleeping when display is off" option (MacBooks only) keeps the system active for background tasks while the lid is closed, useful for downloads or remote access ^[10]. However, disabling this can significantly reduce power draw when the display is off ^[5].

Power Nap, available on both desktops and laptops, allows your Mac to perform light tasks (e.g., email checks, backups) while asleep. Enable it via:

• Desktop: Energy settings > Enable Power Nap ^[1]
• MacBook: Battery settings > Power Adapter tab > Enable Power Nap ^[4]

For Low Power Mode (macOS Monterey+), toggle it in Battery settings to reduce system performance and background activity, extending battery life by up to 2 hours in testing ^[1]. Additional advanced options include:

• Wake for network access: Allows remote wake-up (e.g., for File Sharing) but consumes standby power ^[2]
• Start up after power failure: Automatically restarts the Mac if power is restored unexpectedly ^[1]
• UPS settings: Configures shutdown behavior during prolonged power outages (desktop-only) ^[1]

Hardware-specific tweaks can further optimize energy use:

• Put hard disks to sleep when possible: Reduces noise and power draw but may cause slight delays when accessing files ^[3]
• Optimized battery charging: (MacBooks) Learns your charging patterns to reduce battery wear ^[4]
• Peripheral management: Disconnect unused USB/Thunderbolt devices to minimize power drain ^[9]

Scheduling and Advanced Management

macOS previously included a GUI for scheduling startup/shutdown times, but Ventura removed this feature, requiring Terminal commands instead ^[2]. To schedule a daily shutdown at 11 PM and startup at 7 AM, use:

sudo pmset repeat shutdown MTWRFSU 23:00:00
sudo pmset repeat wakeorpoweron MTWRFSU 07:00:00

sudo shutdown -h +60  Shuts down in 60 minutes
sudo pmset schedule wake "08/15/2024 09:00:00"  Wakes at specified time

Third-party tools like Power Manager offer graphical interfaces for scheduling and advanced energy rules, including:

• Conditional triggers: Sleep after specific apps close or CPU usage drops ^[7]
• Multi-Mac synchronization: Coordinate power states across devices
• Energy reporting: Track historical power consumption patterns

For presentations or long tasks, temporarily override sleep settings:

• Use caffeinate in Terminal to prevent sleep for a duration:

caffeinate -u -t 3600  Keeps Mac awake for 1 hour

• Or enable "Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off" in Battery settings ^[6]