
If your MacBook is stuck in sleep mode, there are several ways to wake it up. Usually, you can wake your MacBook by moving your mouse, pressing any key on your keyboard, or opening your device's lid. If that doesn't work, you can try pressing the power button without holding it down. If your MacBook still won't wake up, you can try some more advanced methods, such as resetting the NVRAM or restarting your MacBook. You can also try removing any external devices, as they can sometimes cause conflicts and be the root cause of sleep mode issues. Additionally, you can configure your MacBook's sleep and wake settings to automatically put your device to sleep after a set period of inactivity or when the lid is closed.
How to Wake a MacBook from Sleep Mode
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Basic Troubleshooting | Move mouse, press any key on the keyboard, open the device's lid, or press the power button |
| Advanced Troubleshooting | Reset NVRAM, reset SMC, run First Aid on Disk Utility, or force restart |
| Remote Wake-Up | Use Wake on LAN, or Wake on Wireless |
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What You'll Learn

Troubleshooting tips
If your MacBook won't wake up from sleep mode, don't panic. This issue is usually caused by software or hardware problems. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you fix the issue and prevent it from happening again:
First, try the basic methods to wake up your MacBook. These include moving your mouse, pressing any key on your keyboard, or opening your device's lid. If these don't work, try pressing the power button without holding it down.
Next, check if you have any external devices connected to your MacBook. External devices can sometimes conflict with the system and cause sleep mode issues. To safely remove them, open Finder, locate the device in the sidebar, and press the Eject symbol. For Intel-based Macs, you can also try holding down Command-Control-Power keys simultaneously until your device restarts.
If your MacBook still won't wake up, the problem might be due to viruses or malware. These can interfere with your MacBook's normal operations, causing unexpected issues like the wake-up problem. Consider using antivirus software to scan and remove any potential threats.
Additionally, ensure that you have the latest version of macOS installed. This will help you stay on top of bug fixes and security enhancements that could impact sleep mode.
Finally, if your MacBook still won't wake up, try resetting the System Management Controller (SMC). This is a central hub for your device's hardware and display settings, and a quick restart might be all you need to wake your MacBook.
Remember to always save your work before putting your MacBook to sleep, as a hard reboot can result in data loss.
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Restarting your MacBook
If your MacBook is stuck in sleep mode, there are a few methods you can try to restart it. Firstly, try the basic fixes: move your mouse, press any key on your keyboard, or open your device's lid. If these don't work, try pressing the power button without holding it down.
If your MacBook is still not waking up, you may need to try some more advanced methods. Ensure any external devices are safely removed, as these can sometimes cause unusual conflicts and be the root cause of sleep mode issues. To do this, open Finder, locate your external device in the sidebar, and press the Eject symbol next to its name.
If you're using an Intel-based Mac, hold down the Command-Control-Power keys simultaneously until your device restarts itself. For Apple Silicon devices, hold down your Touch ID button until the Apple logo appears. If your MacBook still won't wake up after a force restart, you can try resetting the NVRAM or Non-Volatile RAM. To do this, press the Power button, then hold the Option + Command + P + R keys for 20 seconds. Release all keys after you hear the Mac start-up sound twice.
If none of these methods work, you can try running First Aid on Disk Utility. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Select Start-Up Disk, click First Aid, then Run. After running First Aid, restart your MacBook and see if it wakes up properly. If your MacBook still won't wake up, you may need to contact Apple Support or bring your device to an Apple Service Center.
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Using Wake on LAN
Wake on LAN (WoL) is a feature that allows you to wake up a Mac from sleep mode remotely. It is designed to allow a network administrator to turn on a computer remotely by sending a "magic packet".
To use Wake on LAN, your Mac must meet certain requirements. Firstly, your Mac must support Wake on Wireless, and your router must support Wireless Multimedia Extensions (WME) or Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM). After enabling WME on your router, you must enable "Wake for network access" on your Mac. You can do this by opening the LogMeIn Control Panel and navigating to Options > Preferences > Advanced Settings. Under Wake On LAN, select Enable 'Wake On LAN' from sleep and power off.
Once you have enabled Wake on LAN, you can use a second computer on the same subnet to wake up your Mac. Log in to your router and enter the MAC address of your wireless card. You can then use the Wake on LAN option to wake up your Mac wirelessly.
It is important to note that not all routers support WME, and you cannot wake a Mac that is powered off using Wake on LAN. Additionally, if your Mac is part of a domain or a network, your administrator may have restricted access to certain features and settings.
To wake up a Mac using Wake on LAN, you can use a Perl script that generates and transmits a "magic packet". You can also use a Python script to send the magic packet.
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Removing external devices
If you're experiencing issues with waking your MacBook from sleep mode, it may be a good idea to remove any external devices. External devices can sometimes cause unusual conflicts and have been known to be the root cause of sleep mode issues.
To remove external devices safely, follow these steps:
For Intel-based Macs:
- Open Finder.
- Locate your external device in the sidebar.
- Press the Eject symbol next to its name.
- If this does not work, hold down the Command-Control-Power keys simultaneously until your device restarts.
For Apple Silicon devices:
- Open Finder.
- Locate your external device in the sidebar.
- Press the Eject symbol next to its name.
- If this does not work, hold down your Touch ID button until the Apple logo appears.
Additionally, if you use a keyboard with your MacBook, you can use Karabinier Elements to disable the built-in keyboard when an external one is connected. This will ensure that your MacBook only wakes up by pressing the power button and not by any key press.
It is important to ensure that you remove external devices safely to avoid data loss or unexpected behaviour from your MacBook.
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Configuring sleep and wake settings
To configure your MacBook's sleep and wake settings, you can try the following:
Put Hard Disks to Sleep
Turn on "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" in the Energy Saver section of System Preferences. This will allow your MacBook to conserve energy when not in use.
Enable Power Nap
You can enable Power Nap on your MacBook to allow it to check for software updates while it's asleep. However, this feature is limited to Intel-based Macs, so be sure to check if your MacBook uses Intel or Apple silicon before proceeding.
Allow Wake for Network Access
If you want your MacBook to wake briefly so that users can access shared services, you can enable "Wake for network access." However, note that this may cause your MacBook to wake up unintentionally, especially if you leave the lid open.
Set Display to Turn Off When Inactive
In the Lock Screen menu, you can set your display to turn off after a certain duration of inactivity. This will help you save energy and also prevent unauthorized access to your MacBook when you're away.
Remove External Devices
When not in use, it's a good idea to remove external devices as they can sometimes cause conflicts and be the root cause of sleep mode issues. Ensure that you remove them safely by opening Finder, locating the device, and pressing the Eject symbol next to its name.
Update Your System
Make sure that you always run the latest version of macOS. This way, you'll stay on top of bug fixes and security enhancements, which may include improvements to your MacBook's sleep and wake functionality.
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Frequently asked questions
Usually, you can wake your MacBook from sleep mode by moving your mouse, pressing any key on your keyboard, or opening your device's lid. If this doesn't work, try pressing the power button without holding it down.
If your MacBook is still unresponsive, try restarting it by holding down the power button for 10 seconds. If this doesn't work, you may need to reset the NVRAM by pressing the Power button, then holding the Option + Command + P + R keys for 20 seconds.
Release all keys after you hear the Mac start-up sound twice. If you're using an Apple Silicon Mac, your machine will reset the NVRAM when starting up.
External devices can sometimes cause unusual conflicts and have been known to be the root cause of sleep mode issues. Try removing them safely by opening Finder, locating your external device in the sidebar, and pressing the Eject symbol next to its name.
Your MacBook must support Wake on Wireless, and your router must support Wireless Multimedia Extensions (WME) or Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM). After enabling WME on your router, enable "Wake for network access" on your Mac. Then, check the MAC address of your wireless card and put your Mac into sleep mode. From a second computer, log in to your router and use the Wake on LAN (WoL) option to wake up your Mac wirelessly by entering the MAC address.











































