Using a Mac mini as a server

What people use a Mac mini server for

• A file server for a home or small office.
• A Time Machine backup target for the other Macs.
• A media server such as Plex.
• Home automation, scripts and scheduled jobs.
• A build machine or an AI agent box for a developer.

You do not need special software. Apple discontinued the macOS Server app on April 21, 2022. File sharing, caching and Time Machine sharing now live in the Sharing settings of macOS itself.

Step 1: stop it from sleeping

A Mac mini sleeps by default. A sleeping server answers nothing. In System Settings, open Energy. Turn on "Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off". Turn on "Wake for network access" too. Or set the same things in Terminal.

sudo pmset -a sleep 0
sudo pmset -a disksleep 0
sudo pmset -a displaysleep 10
sudo pmset -a womp 1

Run pmset -g afterwards to check that the values stuck.

Step 2: come back after a power cut

By default, a Mac that loses power stays off when power returns. One setting fixes that. It is called autorestart in pmset.

sudo pmset -a autorestart 1

Starting up is only half of it. Many apps and services start only when a user logs in. Turn on automatic login in System Settings, under Users & Groups, with "Automatically log in as".

Apple notes one catch. Automatic login is not available while FileVault is on. So you choose between disk encryption and an unattended restart. If the Mac holds sensitive files, keep FileVault on and plan to log in by hand after an outage.

Step 3: wired ethernet and a UPS

Use a cable, not Wi-Fi. Ethernet is faster for file transfers, and it does not drop when the router is busy. Give the Mac a fixed address on your router, so other devices always find it.

A small UPS is worth it. It rides out short flickers, which are the most common outage. macOS can also shut down cleanly when a supported UPS runs low. Plug the UPS into the Mac with its USB cable and check the Energy settings for the UPS options.

Step 4: run it headless

A headless Mac mini server has no monitor or keyboard. Set it up with a screen first. Then turn on Screen Sharing and Remote Login under General, then Sharing, in System Settings. After that you can unplug the display and manage it from another computer.

Some apps act oddly with no display attached. A few people add an HDMI dummy plug, which makes the Mac think a screen is there. Try without one first.

Step 5: reach it from outside safely

Do not open SSH or screen sharing to the internet through port forwarding. Those ports get scanned all day. Use a private network tool instead, such as Tailscale or a VPN on your router. Then only your own devices can reach the Mac.

Keep macOS updated, and use a strong password on the admin account. Our always-on Mac guide has a fuller checklist, written for agent machines.

Hosted Mac mini: when someone else runs it

Mac mini hosting means the Mac lives in a provider's rack. They handle power, cooling, network and repairs. You reach it over the internet. This is worth it when you have no good spot for a server, or you travel and cannot reset it by hand.

There is a limit, though. Apple's macOS license lets a hosted Mac be leased for developer services only. That means builds, CI, testing and developer tools. So a hosted Mac mini cannot be your Plex box, file server or backup target. Those belong on a Mac you own.

MacRun is a hosted Mac mini dedicated server for developer work. You get a whole M6 Mac mini for $139 a month, with admin rights and Xcode installed. It never sleeps, and it runs in our own private facility in New Jersey. Our Mac server rental page has the full details.

Who should not use a hosted Mac mini from us

• You want a media server, file server or home backup target.
• You want to host a public website or a mail server.
• You need a static public IP or an inbound port.
• You already own a Mac mini and have a wired, always-on spot for it.

If you are buying a Mac mini for this, a base M6 lists at $899 on apple.com. That is a little more than 6 months of our runner plan.