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The scheduling of automatic Mac restarts in macOS Ventura has changed, and not for the better. Here's how to do it.
We recommend that you schedule your Mac to shut down and restart automatically to keep your system updated and running more smoothly. This used to be easy to set up in the settings.
On macOS Ventura, you will need to use the Terminal.
What is pmset?
The terminal uses pmset, a command line tool to change power management settings . In this case, it is used to schedule your Mac to shut down and start up on its own.
Depending on which flags you have set with the command, you can customize the day and time of the reboot.
How to schedule an automatic reloading in macOS Ventura
In the Terminal app, type “pmset” with the appropriate flags and permissions, and press return. Below is a list of possible commands.
- pmset -g sched: View the current schedule.
- sudo pmset Repeat Cancel: Cancel the current schedule.
- sudo pmset repeat wake [enter day and time here].
- Use the 24-hour time format. The days of the week are listed below.
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- S – Saturday
- U – Sunday
For example, to set your Mac to turn on every Wednesday at 6:30 am, type: sudo pmset Repeat wake W 06:30:00
Entering the pmset command in the Terminal app
Things to know when scheduling an automatic reboot with macOS Ventura
Here are a few more things to know so you don't run into trouble. Your Mac must be active and you must be signed in for it to shut down at the scheduled time. If you're not signed in or your Mac is in sleep mode, it won't turn off.
If FileVault is enabled, you must log in again after a reboot, so make sure you know the password. Also, if you have open documents with unsaved changes, it may prevent them from closing at the scheduled time.
With a scheduled reboot, when you wake up and are ready for a new day, your Mac will be the same.
