Automations: switch scenes automatically

An automation is a rule: when something happens, switch to a scene. Mainspring watches for eight kinds of trigger in the background and makes the switch for you.

First, make a scene

Automations switch to scenes, so you need at least one. Until then, the Automations screen says Save a scene first. See Scenes.

Add an automation

1. Click Automations in the sidebar, below your scenes.
2. In the NEW AUTOMATION card, open the menu after When and choose a trigger.
3. If the trigger needs a detail — a battery level, a time or an app — set it.
4. Open the menu after switch to and choose a scene.
5. Click Add automation.

The rule appears in the list above, in plain English — “When I unplug”, for example, with “Switch to ‘Travel’” beneath it.

The triggers

For An app opens, the list shows the apps at the top level of your Applications folder and Apple's built-in apps. Apps inside subfolders — Terminal and Activity Monitor in Utilities, for example — aren't listed. Add automation stays grey until you pick one.

Manage automations

• The switch on each rule pauses or resumes it without deleting it.
• The trash icon deletes it.
• If you delete the scene a rule points to, the rule says “deleted scene” and does nothing — delete the rule or add a new one.

How and when rules fire

• Mainspring has to be running. It watches from the menu bar, so closing the window is fine — but quitting Mainspring stops all automations.
• Displays, app launches and waking are noticed the moment they happen. Power source, battery level and the time are checked every 20 seconds, so those can take a few seconds.
• Plugged in and On battery fire when the power source changes — not just because you're plugged in when Mainspring starts.
• Battery below… fires once as the level drops past your threshold, not over and over while it stays low.
• At a time fires once a day, within two minutes after the time you set. If your Mac is asleep through that window, it doesn't run late.

An automation switches scenes exactly as clicking the scene would — see Scenes for what that changes.