imac keeps defaulting to "Automatically Log Out of a Mac After a Period of Inactivity"

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Level 1

8 points

imac keeps defaulting to "Automatically Log Out of a Mac After a Period of Inactivity"

2019 iMac, 16GB RAM.

Just got a new iMac from my employer. I am admin on this iMac, campus admin is also. I have all privileges - I can install and remove software, authorize non-apple developers etc.

In my profile, I change the setting "Automatically Log Out of a Mac After a Period of Inactivity" from 30 mins to none, turned off. (path: System preferences>Security & Privacy>General (unlock)>advanced) I use the proper method - authenticate lock to make changes, etc.

This defaults back to "Automatically Log Out of a Mac After a Period of Inactivity" (it auto sets the time as 30 mins) whenever it likes - but which I mean sometimes it doesn't do this. I have tried this by putting the machine to sleep manually, and found a hour or so later that it has logged me out despite the setting being turned off. It also reverts and logs me out if I do not put it to sleep.

This is very frustrating. The machine takes ages to restart and reopen apps, sometimes loses work and is running slower already because I need an external display (the problem has repeated without the display plugged in).

Anyone know how I can override this and make sure it doesn't keep defaulting? I have never had this problem occur after using Macs since 2000. Any help is very much appreciated.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 19, 2020 12:14 PM

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Answer 1

Mac_puzzles Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 19, 2020 12:47 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks @den.thed. This is precisely what I was referring to. In your second image, that option ("log out after...) defaults back to 30 mins, even - and every time - after I have deselected it and clicked the lock to save changes.

I check the setting regularly while I am using the machine, and it appears to be what I want, but when I walk away and come back a little while later (1 hour +), it has logged me out, and the setting is back to that described above.

Any ideas? I have no screen saver set. I will set one and see if that is the bug, if so I will report back here.

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Answer 2

Mac_puzzles Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 19, 2020 1:31 PM in response to den.thed

This is a good question. Campus does use Norton and it is on every machine. I removed it from my laptop, and that increased speed. I'll find that out and report back here in case anyone else has this problem...thanks!

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