Colin Snow
Sleep mode is an energy-saving feature on Mac computers, where the display turns off, the processor runs in power-saving mode, and the hard drive and some background processes are paused. While this feature is useful, there are times when it can be annoying or disruptive, such as when downloading large files or if you need to periodically enter data. There are several methods and applications available to prevent a Mac from going to sleep, including Lungo, Endurance, Caffeine, Jiggler, NoSleep, and AntiSleep. These applications offer various features, such as keeping the Mac awake by simulating user activity or preventing sleep when the lid is closed. Additionally, users can adjust sleep settings through the macOS System Preferences or by using terminal commands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Default sleep mode | Activated when the lid is closed |
| Sleep mode | Display off, processor in power-saving mode, hard drive and background processes paused |
| Customise sleep mode | Use One Switch app or go to Apple menu > System Settings > Battery |
| Power-on and power-off schedule | Click Apple icon > System Preferences > Energy Saver > Schedule |
| Sleep mode commands | sudo pmset repeat sleep MTWRFSU [time] |
| Sleep mode apps | Lungo, Endurance, Caffeine, Jiggler, NoSleep, AntiSleep, Sleep Control Centre, Amphetamine, MacKeeper |
| AntiSleep activation | Click icon in status bar, use command "turn on" or deep link antisleep://activate |
| AntiSleep modes | System, display, disk, lid |
| Prevent sleep mode | Clear RAM, use MacKeeper's Memory Cleaner |
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What You'll Learn
Using apps like Caffeine, Jiggler, NoSleep, and Amphetamine
Caffeinated is an anti-sleep app for Mac that prevents your computer from going to sleep, dimming your screen, or starting the screensaver. The app is especially useful for keeping your Mac awake during virus scans, back-ups, and other lengthy tasks. It also helps keep USB devices plugged directly into Mac USB ports from losing connection when the Mac goes to sleep.
Jiggler is a freeware app that keeps your Mac awake by simulating mouse movements. It can be configured to jiggle the mouse only when your machine is busy working, or after your computer has been sitting idle for a while.
NoSleep is an application that prevents your Mac from going to sleep for a specific or indeterminate amount of time, with the option to disable the screensaver. The purpose of NoSleep is to keep the Mac awake so you can read the screen while not actively using the Mac. It is important to note that NoSleep will not prevent a laptop from going to sleep if the cover is closed to prevent overheating issues.
Amphetamine is a keep-awake app for macOS that can keep your Mac and its displays awake through a simple on/off switch or automatically through configurable triggers. It offers advanced features such as allowing or preventing display sleep, screen saver activation, automated mouse cursor movement, and locking of the screen. Amphetamine also provides the ability to create triggers to automatically keep your Mac awake during specific events, such as while a file is downloading or while a particular app is running.
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Adjusting power management settings
To adjust the power management settings on your Mac, follow these steps:
Firstly, click on the Apple logo located on the top-left corner of your screen. From the menu, select 'System Preferences'.
Next, you will see 'Battery' and 'Power Adapter' options on the left side menu. The 'Power Adapter' option is for when your Mac is plugged in. Both options have a slider that allows you to set sleep times from anywhere between one minute to three hours, or you can simply select 'Never'.
If you want to prevent your Mac from sleeping when it's closed, go to 'System Settings' and select 'Lock Screen' from the sidebar. Set 'Turn display off on battery when inactive' to 'Never'. Repeat this step for 'Turn display off on power adapter when inactive'.
Additionally, you can prevent your Mac from sleeping automatically when the display is off. In the 'Power Adapter' settings, enable the option to "Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off".
You can also schedule your Mac's sleep and wake times. Click on 'Energy Saver' and then 'Schedule' in the left sidebar menu. Here, you can set the frequency of your Mac's sleep/wake schedules, ranging from specific days to every day or just on weekends.
Moreover, you can use the Terminal to make temporary changes to the sleep settings. Open the 'Terminal' window and type 'caffeinate' to disable sleep mode temporarily. Your Mac will remain awake as long as the 'Terminal' window is open.
Furthermore, you can customize your Mac's hibernate mode using power management settings. The hibernate mode can be set to 0, 3, or 25. Hibernate mode 0 is the default on desktop Macs, while mode 3 is the default on portable Macs. Hibernate mode 25 can be set by an administrator and improves battery life, but slows down the sleep-to-wake performance.
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Using terminal commands
If you want to prevent your Mac from sleeping, there are several terminal commands you can use.
Firstly, you can use the ''caffeinate' command, which will keep your Mac awake as long as the Terminal window is open. To do this, open the Terminal application and enter the following command: "caffeinate -d". If you want to keep your Mac awake for a specific amount of time, you can use the command "caffeinate -t X", where X is the number of seconds you want your Mac to stay awake for.
Another option is to use the "pmset" command. For example, the command "sudo pmset sleep 0" will enable the setting "Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off" in your Mac's settings. On portable computers, you can use the command "pmset -c sleep 0" to achieve the same result.
Additionally, you can use the "ssh" command to prevent your Mac from sleeping. As long as the ssh command is running, your Mac will not sleep.
It's important to note that these terminal commands may not work in all scenarios, especially if you don't have system admin rights or if your Mac is managed by an employer. In such cases, you may need to explore other methods or seek permission to change the sleep settings.
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Clearing out the Mac's RAM
Restarting your Mac is the simplest way to free up RAM. When you restart your Mac, it will empty its RAM and clear out all temporary files, allowing it to run more smoothly. It is a good practice to restart your Mac every few days.
Another way to free up RAM is to keep your desktop clean. macOS treats every icon on your desktop as if it's an active window, so the more icons you have, the more memory will be used. To organise your files and make it easier to delete things in bulk, control-click your desktop and select 'Use Stacks'.
You can also free up RAM by clearing your Mac of cache files. To do this, open the Activity Monitor application and look at the Memory tab to see which applications are using the most memory. Decide if they need to be running and, if not, quit the application.
If you want an instant solution to free up RAM, you can use an app such as CleanMyMac. This app helps to declutter, optimise and protect your Mac. Once installed, click the small iMac icon in the upper menu bar, then click on 'Free Up' in the Memory section.
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Using the Sleep Control Centre app
The Sleep Control Centre app is a useful tool to prevent your Mac from automatically going to sleep. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use it:
Understanding the Basics
The Sleep Control Centre app offers a range of features to keep your Mac awake, including options for the system, display, and external devices. It allows you to control various aspects, such as display sleep, display fade, and emulation of mouse movements.
Activating the App
To activate the Sleep Control Centre app, you can access the settings by clicking on the icon in the status bar or the menu bar. This will open a menu where you can turn on the app. You can also use the command "turn on" or the deep link "antisleep://activate" to activate the app, followed by specifying a mode: system, display, disk, or lid.
Customizing Settings
Once the app is activated, you can customize various settings. This includes options for keeping the system awake, controlling external displays, managing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, and handling audio input and output. You can also set timers for specific actions, such as deactivating the app or switching to sleep mode.
Advanced Features
The Sleep Control Centre app offers advanced features such as preventing system sleep when the lid is closed, locking the screen for security, and generating random mouse movements to simulate user activity. It also allows you to set preferences for external storage devices and other external media.
User Experience
Reviews for the Sleep Control Centre app are mixed. While some users find it pretty good, allowing their laptop to complete multi-hour tasks without interruption, others have experienced issues with external memory devices disconnecting. It's important to explore the app's settings and customize them according to your specific needs.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleep mode is an energy-saving mode where the display turns off, the processor runs in power-saving mode, and the hard drive and some background processes are paused.
You can activate anti-sleep mode by using the "turn on" command, along with one of the following modes: system, display, disk, or lid.
Yes, there are several apps available, including Caffeine, Jiggler, NoSleep, AntiSleep, Lungo, Endurance, and Amphetamine.
You can use an app like NoSleep or AntiSleep, or you can change your settings by going to the Apple menu > System Settings and selecting Battery in the sidebar.
Yes, if your Mac runs macOS Monterey or earlier, you can set up a power-on and power-off schedule by clicking on the Apple icon, selecting System Preferences, and then clicking on Energy Saver and Schedule.
