Mac Power Outage Protection: Set Up Your UPS for Safe Shutdown and Data Security
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can protect your Mac from power surges, spikes, brownouts, and outages. But what happens if you are not at your Mac when the power goes out? Even with a UPS, the battery may run out before you—or the power—return. That’s why it’s crucial to save any open documents before stepping away from your Mac to prevent losing changes.
If you connect your Mac to the UPS using a USB cable, macOS can detect power outages and automatically shut down your Mac safely. You can configure this in System Settings > Energy Saver > UPS Options, where you have three ways to trigger a shutdown:
- After using the UPS battery for a set amount of time.
- When the remaining battery time hits a specified number.
- When the battery level drops below a certain percentage.
For added security, consider setting all three options. Remember, it can take a minute or two for your Mac to shut down completely, so it’s best to err on the short side. Apple supports most UPS models from major manufacturers, such as APC, CyberPower, and Tripp Lite.
More tips for protecting your tech from power issues can be found here.
(Featured image by Adam Engst)
