Short answer: a Mac mini makes a good phone farm host because it is small, quiet and meant to stay on. On the 2024 model, use the three rear Thunderbolt/USB-C ports for powered hubs, one hub per port, and put the Mac on Ethernet. In System Settings → Energy, turn on "Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off" and "Start up automatically after a power failure." The limit on phones is USB power and bandwidth, not the Mac's processor.
Why a Mac mini
Automation on real iPhones needs a Mac: the runner app that drives each phone is installed with Xcode, which only runs on macOS. Any Mac on macOS 14 or newer will run Farmero, including a laptop you already own. A Mac mini is the usual choice for a dedicated host because it has no battery to wear, no lid to close by accident, and it sits on a shelf next to the phones.
Ports on the 2024 Mac mini
From Apple's tech specs for the Mac mini (2024), checked 17 September 2026 (Apple Support):
| Location | M4 model | M4 Pro model |
|---|---|---|
| Front | Two USB-C ports, USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) | Same |
| Back | Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (up to 40Gb/s) | Three Thunderbolt 5 ports (up to 120Gb/s) |
| Back | Gigabit Ethernet (10Gb optional), HDMI | Same |
Older Mac minis have different port layouts; check the tech specs for yours.
How to use them on a farm:
- One powered hub per rear port. Each hub gets its own upstream port rather than chaining. See USB hubs.
- Front ports for one-off jobs — plugging in a new phone to set it up, or a keyboard.
- Ethernet for the Mac. Keeps its traffic off the phones' Wi-Fi.
- Faster ports do not make Lightning iPhones faster. Those phones transfer at USB 2 speed on any port.
Settings that keep it running
In Apple menu → System Settings → Energy, Apple lists these options for Mac desktops (Apple Support):
| Setting | Set to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off | On | A sleeping Mac stops driving phones |
| Wake for network access | Your choice | Useful if you connect remotely |
| Start up automatically after a power failure | On | The Mac comes back after an outage |
Newer desktops also have Start up when power is connected. Apple says it applies to Mac mini (2024 and later) on macOS 26.5 or later; set it to Always (Apple Support).
Also worth doing:
- Automatic login for the account that runs the farm, so apps can start after a restart. Weigh that against physical security where the Mac sits.
- Open the automation app at login (System Settings → General → Login Items).
- Schedule macOS updates by hand. An overnight restart ends runs in progress. See iOS update policy — the same staged approach applies to the Mac.
- Remote access with Screen Sharing if the Mac runs headless.
How many phones per Mac mini?
No one has published a controlled number for this, and we won't invent one. Farmero has been run on four phones at once on one Mac — the largest we've measured. Past a handful, power and USB bandwidth are the limit, so a well-powered hub matters more than the chip.
| Farm size | Host approach |
|---|---|
| 1–2 phones | Straight into the Mac's ports |
| 3–8 phones | Mac mini plus powered hubs |
| Larger | Split across several Macs; see scaling to 50 phones |
With Farmero
Farmero runs on macOS 14+, and plans set how many Macs one licence covers: one on Solo, two on Rack, five on Studio, ten on Agency. It resumes after crashes and disconnects, so a Mac that restarts after a power cut picks up again once the app is open. Setup steps are in the Mac setup guide.
FAQ
Do I need an M4 Pro Mac mini for a phone farm?
Not for the phones' sake. Lightning iPhones run at USB 2 speed either way, and the practical limit is USB power. Buy for your other work.
Can the Mac mini run without a monitor?
Yes. Many people run it headless and connect with Screen Sharing. Make sure it is set not to sleep.
Will the Mac mini turn back on after a power cut?
Turn on "Start up automatically after a power failure" in Energy settings. A UPS is still worth having — see power outages.
Can I use a MacBook instead?
Yes, if it runs macOS 14 or newer. Keep it on power and stop it sleeping when the lid is closed, or leave the lid open.