Stay Alert: Don't Sleep On Your Mac

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The Don't Sleep app for Mac is a portable program that prevents system shutdown, standby mode, hibernation, and restart. It also stops the computer from logging off, the monitor from deactivating, and the screensaver from activating. The app features a simple on/off switch in the Menu Bar, allowing users to prevent their Mac from sleeping for a set duration. It is important to note that Don't Sleep will not stop a laptop from sleeping when the lid is closed. Similar apps with the same functionality include Caffeine, Jiggler, NoSleep, and Amphetamine.

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Don't Sleep app overview

Don't Sleep is a free, portable program that prevents your Mac from going to sleep. It blocks screen dimming, the screen saver, and sleep. It also prevents system shutdown, standby, hibernate, turn off, and restart. The app is designed to save time and effort by consolidating various power-saving settings into one simple interface.

The app features a small icon that lives in the Menu Bar at the top of your screen. Clicking it will open up a menu that lets you prevent your Mac from sleeping for a set amount of time. You can also manually activate and deactivate the app by right-clicking or ⌘-clicking the icon. When the icon is red, the app is active and will keep your Mac awake. When it is black, the app is inactive, and your Mac will enter sleep mode as per your system settings.

Don't Sleep also has a timer function, allowing you to control when your computer unblocks or shuts down. It does not need to be installed and can be executed from the desktop or a USB stick.

It is important to note that Don't Sleep will not stop your laptop from sleeping when you close the lid. This is to prevent your Mac from overheating.

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Don't Sleep app features

Don't Sleep is a simple yet effective app that prevents your Mac from going into sleep mode. It blocks screen dimming, the screen saver, and sleep. It is useful when you need to leave your computer to complete a task, such as downloading large files or uploading data to the cloud.

The app sits in the Menu Bar, where you can change its settings. For example, you can enable the Don't Sleep option for 5 minutes, 4 hours, or indefinitely. It is important to note that Don't Sleep will not stop your laptop from sleeping when you close the lid.

Don't Sleep is a good alternative to changing sleep mode options in System Preferences. It is easy to use and does not require any system administrator experience to configure its settings. It also uses a small amount of CPU resources while running.

There are other apps that can help keep your Mac awake, such as Lungo, OneSwitch, and Owly. Additionally, you can use Terminal commands to temporarily prevent your Mac from sleeping.

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Don't Sleep app alternatives

There are several alternatives to the Dont Sleep app for Mac users. Here are some options:

Amphetamine

This is the most popular free alternative to Dont Sleep. It is a keep-awake utility that prevents your Mac from going into standby mode, turning off, or restarting. It offers a simple on/off switch and customizable triggers to keep your Mac awake.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a tiny program that puts an icon in the right side of your menu bar. It prevents your Mac from automatically going to sleep, dimming the screen, or starting the screensaver. It is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. The last version (1.1.3) was released in May 2020 and supports macOS Mojave and Catalina, including Dark Mode.

Lungo

Lungo is a simple utility app that prevents your Mac from sleeping or dimming. It offers adjustable timeframes, allowing you to customize how long you want to keep your computer awake, ranging from 10 minutes to indefinitely. It can be easily activated and deactivated with a single click in the menu bar.

InsomniaX

Although now discontinued, InsomniaX was once a popular alternative to Dont Sleep, specifically designed for Apple Laptops.

Jiggler

Jiggler is another alternative that prevents your Mac from sleeping by "jiggling" the mouse when the app is running. However, it will not work on a laptop with the lid shut.

These alternatives offer similar functionality to Dont Sleep, allowing you to keep your Mac awake and prevent interruptions while working on important tasks.

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Don't Sleep app reviews

There are several apps available to prevent a Mac from sleeping, and here are reviews of four of them:

Caffeine

A tiny program that puts an icon in the right side of your menu bar. Click it to prevent your Mac from automatically going to sleep, dimming the screen, or starting a screensaver. Click it again to go back. Caffeine is one of the most popular programs that perform this job and is very easy to use, but it is limited in features.

Jiggler

A freeware app with one purpose: to keep your Mac awake. Jiggler does this by wiggling your mouse every once in a while. When you want to stay awake, run it. When you don’t want to, quit it. You can even run it while you’re working, because you can set it not to wiggle your mouse unless your computer has been sitting idle for a while.

NoSleep

NoSleep makes closing your MacBook lid possible without going to sleep mode. Now you don’t have to plug your mouse and monitor to keep your computer awake – just activate it by clicking a menu bar icon or checking a tick in the System Preferences.

Owly

Owly is a cute little fellow who lives in your Mac’s menu bar and does his best to prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping. By right-clicking the Owly icon on the menu bar, the app can be toggled on and off. When the icon is red, Owly is active and will keep your Mac wide awake. When the icon is black, the app is no longer active. Owly is useful when you want to keep certain information showing on your screen while you may not be using the keyboard or mouse actively.

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Don't Sleep app developer

The Don't Sleep app for Mac is a simple yet effective application that helps prevent your Mac from going into sleep mode. It blocks screen dimming, screensaver, and sleep, ensuring your Mac stays awake. The app is designed to sit quietly on your Menu Bar, using minimal CPU resources, and can be activated or deactivated with a simple right-click or ⌘-click.

The developer of the Don't Sleep app is unknown, as there is limited information available on the official website and download pages. The website link provided on the MacUpdate page (where the app is available for download) leads to a generic page with no clear indication of the developer or development team.

However, reviews of the app on MacUpdate and other sources indicate that users have found it useful, especially when compared to similar apps like Caffeine. One user mentions that Don't Sleep is a "simple, effective, and free solution" and that it "works perfectly." Another user highlights its usefulness when downloading large files, ensuring the process doesn't fail due to the Mac falling asleep.

While the developer of the Don't Sleep app remains anonymous, the app itself has gained some popularity, with users appreciating its simplicity and functionality in keeping their Macs awake during specific tasks.

Frequently asked questions

Don't Sleep is an app that prevents your Mac from going into sleep mode. It blocks screen dimming, the screen saver, and sleep.

Click on the Don't Sleep icon in the menu bar to activate the app. Right-click or ⌘-click to instantly activate and deactivate.

Don't Sleep requires macOS 10.6.8 or later.

Don't Sleep is available for free on the Mac App Store.

Yes, there are several alternatives to Don't Sleep, including Lungo, OneSwitch, Caffeine, and Owly.

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