A Comprehensive Guide to Prevent Your Mac from Sleeping!

Whether you’re engrossed in a crucial project, streaming content, or downloading large files, learning to prevent your Mac from sleeping is the key to maintaining a seamless and uninterrupted computing experience.

In a world where every moment of productivity counts, the last thing you need is your Mac slipping into sleep mode at inopportune times.

This Detailed guide will help you unravel the techniques and strategies to keep your Mac awake, allowing you to take complete control of your device’s activity and optimize its performance according to your workflow demands.

Say goodbye to unnecessary interruptions and hello to a Mac that stays responsive exactly when you need it.

5 Ways to prevent Mac from Sleeping on macOS Ventura

Here are some of the easy ways to prevent your Macbook or Mac Desktop from entering Sleep Mode.

Note – Remember that preventing your Mac from entering sleep mode can impact energy consumption and battery life. Use these methods judiciously based on your specific needs and preferences.

1) Adjusting System Preferences for Customised Sleep Settings

The most straightforward and most user-friendly method to prevent your Mac from sleeping involves navigating System Preferences.

Begin by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner, selecting “System Preferences,” and then choosing “Energy Saver.” Within this menu, you’ll find options for adjusting sleep settings for battery and power adapter modes.

Change the “Computer sleep” duration to extend the time before your Mac enters sleep mode or set it to “Never” for an indefinite wakefulness period.

Here are the exact steps and images for the same.

a) Click on the Apple Logo

In the top-left corner of your screen, click on the Apple icon to open the Apple menu.

b) Select “System Preferences“

From the dropdown menu, choose “System Preferences.”

The other method to open system preferences is to use the Apple Dock to access the system settings.

c) Navigate to “Lock Screen”

In the System Preferences window, look for the “Lock Screen” icon and click on it.

The image shows you can also use the search box to find the Lock Screen in the system preferences tab.

d) Adjust Sleep Settings

Within the Energy Saver preferences, you’ll find options for both “Battery” and “Power Adapter” modes.

Adjust the “Sleep or Screen Saver” time to a longer duration or set it to “Never” if you want to disable sleep mode entirely.

e) Click “Apply”

If you are on a different macOS than macOS Ventura, click the “Apply” button to save the new settings.

However, on the macOS Ventura, the settings will apply on changing the time.

2) Terminal Commands for Fine-Tuned Control

For users comfortable with Terminal and seeking more granular control, here is another way to turn off sleep mode on Macbook or Mac Desktops.

a) Open Terminal

Launch the Terminal application. You can find it in the Applications > Utilities folder

, or use Spotlight by pressing Command + Space and typing “Terminal.”

b) Enter Terminal Command

To disable sleep, enter the following command.

Here, 3600 represents the number of seconds (60 seconds/minute x 60 minutes/hour), and you can adjust this value to your desired duration. After the specified time, your Mac will return to its normal sleep behaviour.

If you want to completely turn off the Screen Saver mode on your Mac, type the following command.

Press Enter and input your administrator password when prompted.

3) Leveraging Activity Monitor to Indirectly Prevent Sleep

While not a direct sleep prevention method, Activity Monitor, a built-in utility on macOS, can be leveraged to maintain wakefulness.

Keeping Activity Monitor open and visible on your desktop generates continuous system activity, preventing your Mac from entering sleep mode during periods of low user interaction.

4) Third-Party Applications for Enhanced Flexibility

Third-party applications come to the rescue for those desiring more granular control and a user-friendly interface.

Apps like Amphetamine, Caffeine, and KeepingYouAwake provide easy access to toggle sleep settings from the menu bar.

These applications allow users to prevent sleep for specific durations, indefinitely, or until a particular task is completed, offering a more dynamic approach to managing Mac wakefulness.

5) Using Network Activity as a Preventive Measure

To counteract the default sleep mode triggered by a lack of network activity, engage in tasks that generate continuous network traffic. Streaming music or videos and running network pings through the Terminal are effective strategies to simulate activity and keep your Mac awake when needed.

Here is a video showing how a Ping Test works.

Not to forget, I recommend trying out others methods mentioned in this list before you try out this way of keeping your Mac active.

Keeping Your Mac From Sleeping When the Lid is Closed

Certain activities, such as watching movies or giving presentations, might require extended wakefulness.

Th is comes handy when you have multiple monitors connected to your Macbook. Any external monitor connected to your Macbook will also go to sleep mode along with macbook if you close its Lid. You can use the below setting to prevent mac from sleeping.

In the “Displays” tab of “System Preferences,” you can check the option to “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.” This simple setting prevents Mac from sleeping even after closing the Mac’s Lid.

This ensures your Mac stays active even during periods of low user interaction.

Here are the exact steps to prevent Mac from sleeping when its Lid is closed

Here are the steps to prevent Mac from sleeping even when its Lid is closed. This will make sure that the external monitors connected with your macbook do not go to sleep.

1) Open System Preferences

The first step is to open system preferences.

You can open system preferences by either using the Dock, Spotlight search or browsing through Apple Menu.

Once you have opened the settings Tab, move on to the next step.

2) Navigate to Displays

Once in System Preferences, simply go to “Displays” section.

Use the search box in the settings and type Displays to make your task easier.

3) Use Advanced setting

Under “Displays”, click on the “Advanced” box.

Here, you will see different settings that you can change. On of them is to “prevent automatic sleeping power adapter when the display is off“. Click the toggle button to turn it either On or Off.

Best Apps to Prevent Mac from Sleeping

Here is a list of curated apps that can help you offer even more control over your mac. These third party apps can also help control the Sleep time on your Mac.

Remember to check the App Store or official websites for the latest versions and compatibility with your macOS version. When using third-party apps, make sure they come from reputable sources to ensure the security and stability of your system. Always read user reviews and check for updates to ensure compatibility with the latest macOS updates.

1) Amphetamine

Amphetamine is a free app available on the Mac App Store. It provides a wide range of options for keeping your Mac awake, including customizable triggers such as specific applications or time periods. Amphetamine runs in the menu bar for easy access and control.

2) Caffeine

Caffeine is a simple and straightforward app available on the Mac App Store. It adds an icon to your menu bar that, when clicked, prevents your Mac from going to sleep. Click it again to allow normal sleep behavior. It’s a quick and easy solution for short tasks.

3) KeepingYouAwake

KeepingYouAwake is an open-source app inspired by Caffeine. It’s available on GitHub and provides a similar menu bar icon for toggling sleep prevention. It’s lightweight and easy

to use.

4) Wimoweh

Wimoweh is a menu bar app that allows you to set a timer for sleep prevention. It also provides options to prevent the display from dimming and to keep your computer awake when certain applications are running.

5) NoSleep

NoSleep is an app that is specifically designed to keep your MacBook awake even when the lid is closed. It can be useful for scenarios where you want your MacBook to continue running tasks with the lid shut.

Conclusion

Ensuring your Mac stays awake when needed involves a combination of built-in settings, third-party applications, and occasionally diving into Terminal commands.

Each method has advantages and limitations, so choosing the one that best fits your needs is essential.

Whether you’re a professional working on a time-sensitive project or a casual user wanting to download large files without interruption, mastering the art of preventing your Mac from sleeping can significantly enhance your computing experience.

Experiment with the methods outlined in this guide and find the approach that aligns with your workflow and preferences.

Important – Remember to use caution when utilizing Terminal commands, and only download third-party apps from reputable sources to ensure the security and stability of your system. With these tips, you can keep your Mac awake and responsive whenever needed.