Keeping OriginsBot Running: A Guide to Unstoppable Automation
Configure your Mac for reliable, uninterrupted automation performance.
Published • Updated regularly
As the technical lead for OriginsBot, I want to help you get the most reliable performance from the bot. Your Mac's state—whether it's awake, asleep, or just has the display off—critically affects how the bot functions.
This isn't due to bugs, but rather a set of Apple security features that we must work with. Here's a simple breakdown of what to expect and how to set up your Mac for perfect automation.
Your Mac's Three States and How They Affect the Bot
Understanding these three states is the key to reliable automation.
1. Fully Awake (Display is ON)
What this is: Your Mac is on, and the screen is lit. It doesn't matter if the screen is locked or unlocked.
Bot Performance: Perfect. The bot has full functionality.
What works:
- Launching and closing game emulators.
- Controlling the BlueStacks app.
- Running all tasks (collecting, gathering, training).
- Taking screenshots and detecting objects.
2. Display is OFF (Mac is Still Awake)
What this is: Your Mac is on, but the display has gone dark to save power.
Bot Performance: Limited. This is the most important state to understand.
What works:
- The bot can continue running tasks on any emulator that is already open.
What breaks:
- The bot cannot launch new emulators or close existing ones.
- The bot cannot interact with the BlueStacks app itself.
Why? Apple's security stops all apps from controlling the user interface (like clicking buttons in other apps) when the screen is dark. However, the bot can still send network commands (ADB) to emulators that are already running.
3. System is Asleep
What this is: Your Mac is in sleep mode.
Bot Performance: Stopped.
What works: Nothing. The Mac's CPU and network are powered down, and the bot cannot run.
Best Practices for Uninterrupted Automation
Now that you understand the three states, your goal is to prevent your Mac from going to sleep and, for best results, keep the display on.
Here are the best ways to do this.
1. The "Must-Do": Prevent System Sleep
At a minimum, you must prevent your Mac from sleeping.
- Go to System Settings > Displays.
- Click Advanced....
- Turn ON "Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off." (On older macOS, this may be in Battery or Energy Saver > Power Adapter).
2. The "Easy Fix": Use a Helper App
This is the simplest and most recommended method. Free apps like Amphetamine (available on the App Store) give you one-click control.
How to use it: Install Amphetamine, click its icon in the menu bar, and create a session to "Indefinitely" or for a set time (e.g., "8 hours").
Benefit: This single click prevents both system sleep and display sleep, ensuring OriginsBot runs with 100% functionality.
3. The "Manual Way": Adjust System Settings
If you don't want to use a helper app, you can change your Mac's settings.
- Go to System Settings > Lock Screen.
- Set "Turn display off when inactive" to Never.
Note: This is less flexible than Amphetamine, as you'll have to remember to change it back.
Gold Standard Optimization Strategies
Using the best practices above, you can choose the setup that works best for you. Game UI lag, caused by system performance issues, can negatively impact the bot's ability to complete tasks. Here are the two best strategies.
Strategy 1: The "Pro" Setup (Display ON)
This is the most reliable, "set it and forget it" method. It allows the bot to use all its features, including Pro subscription settings, to actively manage game instances.
How it Works: Keep your Mac's display powered on at all times (using the best practices above).
Why it's the Gold Standard:
- Full Accessibility: With the display on, the bot can use Apple's Accessibility APIs to control the BlueStacks application itself.
- Pro-Level Management: This allows the bot to automatically manage your instances. It can use auto-shutdown and auto-relaunch features (only available with a Pro subscription) to restart game instances that become laggy or unresponsive.
- Peak Performance: The bot can ensure the optimal number of instances for your Mac are running, preventing system overload and reducing game-breaking UI lag.
Strategy 2: The "Display Off" Setup
This is a good compromise if you cannot leave your display on. You sacrifice automated instance management for privacy or power savings.
How it Works: You must manually launch all required game instances before you let the display turn off.
Key Settings:
- Ensure your Mac is set to stay awake (prevent system sleep).
- Turn OFF any auto-close or auto-relaunch settings in the bot, as they will fail.
What to Expect: The bot will continue to run tasks on all active and responsive instances. However, if a game instance crashes or becomes unresponsive, the bot cannot restart it for you.
Quick Reference Table
| Mac State | Run Tasks on Open Games? | Launch/Close Games? | Bot Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awake (Display ON) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Full Functionality |
| Awake (Display OFF) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Limited (Running tasks only) |
| System Asleep | ❌ No | ❌ No | Stopped |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I lock my Mac screen?
A: Yes! Locking your screen is perfectly fine. The only thing that matters is whether the display is lit. If you lock your Mac but the display stays on, the bot will have full functionality.
Q: What is the absolute best setup for the bot?
A: A Mac (especially a desktop Mac) that is plugged into power with the Amphetamine app set to keep it awake indefinitely. This enables the "Gold Standard" setup, allowing the bot to use all its Pro features to manage game instances for you.
Q: Why can't you just "fix" the bot so it works when the display is off?
A: This is not a bug in our bot; it's a core security feature of macOS. Apple intentionally blocks all applications from controlling the mouse or other apps when the screen is dark to prevent malicious software from acting without your knowledge. We cannot bypass this.
Q: My bot stops collecting after an hour. What's wrong?
A: Your Mac is likely either letting the display turn off (which stops emulator launching) or, more likely, going to sleep (which stops everything). Use Amphetamine or check your System Settings to prevent sleep.