How to Stop Your Mac From Going to Sleep

To stop your Mac from sleeping, open System Settings and set the screen to stay on longer or never turn off. On a MacBook, also open Battery, then Options. For a one-off job, you can also use a keep-awake app such as Amphetamine, or the built-in Terminal command caffeinate.

When a Mac goes to sleep at the wrong moment, downloads pause, video exports stop and video calls drop. The default settings favor battery life, but you can change them.

Method 1: Change the sleep settings

These steps work on macOS 13 Ventura, 14 Sonoma and 15 Sequoia:

1. Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
2. Click Lock Screen in the sidebar.
3. Set Turn display off on battery when inactive to a longer time or Never. This option appears on MacBooks.
4. Set Turn display off on power adapter when inactive to a longer time or Never.
5. To keep the Mac itself running when the screen turns off: on a MacBook, open Battery, then Options. On a desktop Mac, open Displays, then Advanced (on macOS 13, Energy Saver). Switch on Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off.

Method 2: Use a keep-awake app or the caffeinate command

A keep-awake app such as Amphetamine puts a switch in your menu bar. You turn it on for a download or a meeting and off afterwards.

macOS also has a built-in command for this. Open Terminal and type caffeinate. It keeps your Mac awake for as long as that Terminal window stays open and the command is running. Press Control + C to stop it.

Method 3: Keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed

To use a MacBook with its lid closed, as a desktop:

1. Plug the MacBook into its charger.
2. Connect an external display.
3. Connect an external keyboard and mouse or trackpad.
4. Close the lid. The external display becomes your main screen.

Without both a charger and an external display connected, closing the lid puts the MacBook to sleep.

A warning about battery wear

A MacBook that stays awake and plugged in for weeks can spend a lot of time at a full charge and warm, which wears the battery faster. Turn on Optimized Battery Charging in System Settings, Battery, Battery Health. Your Mac then learns your routine and holds back from charging past 80% when it expects to stay plugged in.

Watching your battery while your Mac stays awake

Tegaro Power includes a keep-awake switch (since version 0.1.31): for 30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours, until a time you pick or until you turn it off, or automatically while chosen apps are open, an AI agent works, the Mac downloads or is busy, you are on a call (these four since 0.1.32), an external display is connected or the adapter is plugged in. Closing the lid still sleeps the Mac. It also shows battery and charging information in your menu bar. Power stays free after the 14-day trial.

Frequently Asked Questions