Are you tired of your Mac going to sleep while you’re in the middle of something important? It can be annoying, right? Luckily, there’s a way to stop your Mac from sleeping, and it’s quite simple. By tweaking a few settings, you can keep your Mac awake for as long as you need it to be. Let’s jump right into the steps you need to take to prevent your Mac from taking those untimely naps.
How to Stop Mac from Sleeping Tutorial
Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re trying to achieve. Following these steps will adjust your Mac’s energy settings to prevent it from going to sleep automatically. This is particularly useful if you’re downloading large files, rendering videos, or simply don’t want the interruption of having to wake your Mac up repeatedly.
Step 1: Open System Preferences
Open the System Preferences on your Mac by clicking on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and selecting “System Preferences.”
Opening System Preferences is your gateway to customizing various aspects of your Mac’s functionality, including energy-saving features.
Step 2: Click on Energy Saver
In System Preferences, find and click on the “Energy Saver” icon.
The Energy Saver section allows you to control how your Mac uses energy, which includes its sleep behavior.
Step 3: Adjust Sleep Settings
Once in the Energy Saver section, you’ll see a slider for “Computer Sleep” and “Display Sleep.” Drag the “Computer Sleep” slider to “Never.”
Setting the Computer Sleep to “Never” tells your Mac to stay awake indefinitely until you manually put it to sleep or shut it down.
After completing these steps, your Mac will stay awake and not automatically go into sleep mode. This means your tasks can continue without interruption, and you won’t have to keep waking your Mac up.
Tips to Prevent Your Mac from Sleeping
- Make sure your Mac is plugged into a power source when changing the sleep settings to “Never” to avoid draining the battery.
- If you’re using a MacBook, adjust the “Battery” tab settings in Energy Saver as well to prevent it from sleeping when not plugged in.
- Use the “Hot Corners” feature to quickly put your Mac to sleep manually when needed without navigating through settings.
- Consider using third-party apps like “Amphetamine” or “Caffeine” to keep your Mac awake for specific durations or tasks.
- Remember to revert your Mac’s sleep settings back to a normal duration when you no longer need it to stay awake to conserve energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I only want to stop my Mac from sleeping temporarily?
You can use the “Hot Corners” feature or third-party apps to keep your Mac awake temporarily without changing the system settings.
Will stopping my Mac from sleeping damage the computer?
No, it will not damage your computer, but it is good practice to let your Mac sleep or shut it down periodically to conserve energy and allow updates.
Can I stop my Mac from sleeping when the lid is closed?
With default settings, closing the lid will put your Mac to sleep. However, third-party apps can override this function.
Is it possible to keep the display awake but allow the computer to sleep?
Yes, you can adjust the “Display Sleep” settings independently from the “Computer Sleep” settings in the Energy Saver section.
Can I schedule my Mac to sleep at a certain time?
Yes, you can schedule your Mac to sleep and wake at specific times in the Energy Saver settings under the “Schedule” button.
Summary
- Open System Preferences.
- Click on Energy Saver.
- Adjust the Computer Sleep slider to “Never.”
Conclusion
Keeping your Mac awake when you need it can significantly boost your productivity and ensure that long tasks are completed without interruption. Whether you’re working late into the night or simply want to leave your computer on to finish a download, following the steps outlined above will stop your Mac from sleeping and keep it running as long as you need it.
Remember, while it’s convenient to keep your Mac awake, it’s just as important to let it rest. Just as we need sleep to function correctly, our Macs benefit from a little downtime. But when the situation calls for a tireless machine, you now have the knowledge to prevent your Mac from dozing off. Happy computing and may your Mac stay awake as long as your heart desires!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.