Darkbloom provider on a Mac: setup checklist
Updated
Darkbloom’s own guide covers installing the provider. This checklist covers what keeps a Mac earning afterwards, which is where most lost hours come from.
Before you start
- An Apple Silicon Mac. For new providers, Darkbloom’s setup page (September 2026) asks for 48 GB or more of memory and macOS 26 or later, and recommends macOS 27.
- Install the provider with Darkbloom’s setup guide, sign in (darkbloom login) and start a model.
Keep it online
- Keep the Mac awake: in System Settings, stop it from sleeping automatically while on power, or run caffeinate in Terminal while it serves.
- Keep a user logged in at the screen: turn on automatic login and turn off log out when idle. Darkbloom’s verification needs a logged-in session, so a reboot to the login window stops paid work.
- Keep it on AC power. Loading models is heavy work.
- Give it good airflow. A hot Mac throttles and answers requests more slowly.
- Use a wired connection or strong Wi-Fi. Dropped connections interrupt requests.
Check it’s serving
- Run darkbloom status: running, signed in, model loaded, and a Trust line of hardware / online. Anything else means the Mac is not verified yet (see the verification article).
- Find your Mac in the provider list on the Darkbloom console.
- Watch your credits over the first hours. Nothing for a long stretch while online usually means a routing stall.
After updates and restarts
Since Darkbloom 0.9.9, restarts drain first and can take up to 10 minutes when requests are in flight. Let them finish, then check darkbloom status again. The provider updates itself (it checks every 30 minutes by default), so check the Trust line again after an update or a macOS upgrade.
How BloomGauge helps
BloomGauge watches all of this from the menu bar: live earnings, whether work is arriving, temperature and power, and it can pick and switch models for you.
Questions
Does my Mac need to stay awake for Darkbloom?
Yes. A sleeping Mac drops off the network and receives no work. Prevent automatic sleep while on power, or run caffeinate while it serves.
How do I check my Darkbloom provider is working?
Run darkbloom status, confirm your Mac appears in the provider list on the Darkbloom console, and watch your credits over the first few hours.
Related
- Why is my Mac online but not getting Darkbloom jobs?
- Darkbloom verification pending: MDM, App Attest and trust on macOS 27
- Darkbloom provider stuck draining after a restart
- Running Darkbloom on a headless Mac: no monitor, SSH and automatic login
Updated 2026-09-29. Still stuck? Ask in #bloomgauge on the Darkbloom Slack or contact us. BloomGauge is independent and not affiliated with Darkbloom.