TL;DR
To stop a Mac from sleeping:
- Click the Apple logo > System Settings
- Open Displays or Lock Screen (depends on your macOS)
- Enable Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off
- Close System Settings.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Want to keep your Mac awake and ready? The steps below show you simple, effective ways to prevent your Mac from sleeping, so you can stay focused on what matters.
Remember that continuously preventing your Mac from sleeping can consume more power and potentially reduce lifespan. It’s always a good idea to strike a balance based on your needs.
What Are the Different Sleep Modes on Mac?
Here’s a breakdown of the various sleep modes on Mac:
| Sleep Mode | Description |
| 💤 Standard Sleep | – Most common sleep mode with low-power state. – RAM remains powered, retaining all unsaved contents. – Quick wake-up as current data is still in RAM. |
| 🛡️ Safe Sleep | – Combines features of Standard Sleep and Hibernate. – RAM remains powered for quick wake-up times. – Startup drive saves a copy of RAM’s data for data safety. |
| 🌑 Hibernate Mode | – RAM is powered down. – Startup drive saves all data from RAM before hibernation. – Wake-up takes longer as data is copied back to RAM from disk. |
How to Turn Off Sleep Mode on Your Mac
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Below, I’ve shared the steps to turn off sleep mode on Mac:
1. Use System Settings
Use the built-in System Settings to quickly turn off sleep mode. This method is ideal if you prefer a simple, integrated approach with no extra tools.
- Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner and select System Settings.
- Go to Displays or Lock Screen—the option depends on your macOS version.
- Look for an option like “Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off” and turn it on.
- Close System Settings. Your Mac will now stay awake as long as you need.
2. Adjust Energy Saver (Older macOS Versions)
Take advantage of Energy Saver preferences to keep your Mac awake. If you’re using an older OS, these familiar sliders make it easy.
- Click the Apple logo > System Preferences > Energy Saver.
- Move the Computer Sleep slider all the way to Never.
- If you want, also move Display Sleep closer to Never or a longer time.
- Close the window. Your Mac won’t go to sleep unless you command it.
3. Use the Terminal with caffeinate
Use the caffeinate command in Terminal for a no-nonsense solution. Perfect if you’re comfortable with simple command-line tasks.
- Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type
caffeinateand press Enter. As long as this window stays open and running, your Mac stays awake.
- Press Control + C to end the command and let your Mac sleep again.
4. Third-Party Apps
Install an app like Amphetamine for one-click sleep prevention. It’s a hassle-free option that lets you control when and how long your Mac stays awake.
- Download Amphetamine or a similar keep-awake tool from the Mac App Store.
- Open the app and click the Stay Awake button.
- Some apps let you choose conditions—like staying awake only while downloading.
- Turn it off when you’re finished, and your Mac will return to normal sleep behavior.
How to Stop a Mac From Sleeping When Closing the Lid
Here’s how to stop a Mac from sleeping when closing the lid:
1. On macOS Ventura and Later
- Click the Apple logo and choose System Settings.
- Click Displays in the left sidebar.
- Scroll down the right pane and click the Advanced button.
- Toggle on the Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off option.
- Click Done to save the changes.
On Older macOS Versions
- Click the Apple logo and select System Preferences.
- Go to Energy Saver.
- Check the Prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off option to enable it.
Stop Your Mac From Sleeping
Now that you know how to stop a Mac from sleeping, you may want to learn a few more things about improving your Mac experience. Here are some more tips for you:
- If your Mac won’t turn on after waking, it likely has a hardware issue.
- To fix a frozen Mac, try force-quitting apps, restarting, resetting the SMC, or booting into Safe Mode.
- MacBook screen flickering is often caused by software conflicts, GPU problems, loose cables, or SMC issues.
