Apple fixes M4 Mac mini power button

Apple has added a software workaround for one of the most criticized design choices in the latest Mac mini. In macOS Tahoe 26.5, released on May 11, the company introduced a setting that lets some desktop Macs start automatically when power is connected, removing the need in some cases to reach for the physical power button. (support.apple.com) Apple documented the feature in a support article published the same day. The change applies to eligible Mac mini, Mac Studio and iMac models running macOS Tahoe 26.5 or later. ### Which Macs get the new startup option? Apple Support said the feature requires macOS Tahoe 26.5 or later and works on “Mac mini introduced in 2024 or later,” “Mac Studio introduced in 2025 or later,” and “iMac introduced in 2024 or later.” That list covers the M4-era Mac mini that drew complaints over the position of its power button. (support.apple.com) The company did not frame the change as a hardware redesign. Apple instead described it as a configurable startup behavior for supported desktop Macs. ### What exactly changed in macOS 26.5? (support.apple.com) macOS Tahoe 26.5 adds a menu in System Settings that can make an eligible Mac start when power is connected. Apple’s support page says users should open System Settings, click Energy in the sidebar, and then choose “Always” from the “Start up when power is connected” menu. 9to5Mac reported on May 11 that the same update also adds broader power-state controls for desktop Macs through switches and third-party accessories. (support.apple.com) Apple’s support documentation tied the consumer-facing setup to the Energy settings panel rather than to a separate utility. ### Why does this address the Mac mini complaint? Apple’s support article said the feature “can be helpful when you don’t have easy access to the computer’s power button.” That language tracks the criticism that followed the Mac mini redesign, in which users and reviewers focused on the button’s placement on the underside of the machine. (support.apple.com) Cult of Mac, which highlighted the change this week, said users “may never need to lift the M4 Mac mini to press its power button again.” Apple itself did not mention the Mac mini criticism in the support note, but it described the feature in terms of physical access to the button. (9to5mac.com) ### Is this a full replacement for the button? Apple’s documentation describes one specific trigger: connection to power. The company did not say the setting eliminates the physical button, and the support page presents the option as a startup convenience rather than a universal replacement for all power controls. (support.apple.com) The release materials also show the feature is limited by model year. Older Mac mini systems are not listed among supported devices in Apple’s published requirements. ### Where did Apple publish the change? (cultofmac.com) Apple listed macOS 26.5 on its developer releases page on May 11 with build number 25F71. Apple Developer also published macOS Tahoe 26.5 release notes, though the support article provides the clearest consumer instructions for turning the feature on. Apple’s public “What’s new” page for macOS Tahoe tracks update-level changes and says Tahoe updates are recommended for all users. (support.apple.com) The company’s support article on startup behavior is the document that names the supported Mac models and the System Settings path. ### What can users do next? Users with a Mac mini introduced in 2024 or later can install macOS Tahoe 26.5 and check System Settings > Energy for the “Start up when power is connected” option. Apple published the instructions on May 11, and the company’s support page says selecting “Always” enables the feature on eligible machines. (developer.apple.com) (support.apple.com 1) (support.apple.com 2)