Gina Johnson
If your Mac won't go to sleep, there could be a few reasons why. It could be an issue with your settings, or a wider problem with your Mac. It's also possible that something is interfering with your Mac's sleep mode, such as an app or process running in the background, or a connected peripheral. If you're having trouble getting your Mac to sleep, there are several fixes you can try, including checking your Activity Monitor, adjusting your Lock Screen settings, and disconnecting external peripherals.
Why won't my Mac go to sleep?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Software issues | Update macOS to the latest version |
| Safe mode | Safe mode can help determine if the issue is caused by software that loads during startup |
| System Management Controller (SMC) | Resetting the SMC can resolve certain power-related issues |
| Keyboard, mouse, and trackpad | Key presses and mouse or trackpad clicks can wake your Mac |
| Apps | Apps that access a disk can keep your Mac from going to sleep |
| Connected storage and devices | Malfunctioning USB and Thunderbolt storage and devices may keep your Mac from going to sleep |
| Sleep settings | Check and adjust your sleep settings |
| Bluetooth settings | Check your Bluetooth settings |
| Shared access settings | Check your shared access settings |
| Activity Monitor | Use Activity Monitor to locate apps that are preventing your Mac from sleeping |
| Energy Saver | Ensure Energy Saver is set up correctly |
| Printer | A page in the printer queue may be keeping your Mac awake |
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What You'll Learn
Misconfigured lock screen settings
If your Mac won't go to sleep, it could be due to misconfigured lock screen settings. This may have been caused by changes to your lock screen settings, disabling sleep mode.
To fix this, you can adjust your lock screen settings:
- Go to the Apple () menu > System Settings.
- Within System Settings, go to Lock Screen.
- Click the pop-up menu next to "Turn display off on battery when inactive" and adjust the settings according to your preferences.
- Similarly, adjust the settings for "Turn display off on power adapter when inactive".
- Within System Settings, go to Battery.
- Click Options and disable the "Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off" option.
Additionally, you can use the Schedule button to set a fixed timer for your Mac to wake up and sleep, such as during your working hours.
It's also worth noting that certain apps can prevent your Mac from sleeping. These could be apps that access disks, forgotten login items, or even malicious malware running in the background. To address this, you can use the Activity Monitor to locate and force quit these apps.
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Network access and sharing settings
If your Mac is not sleeping, it could be due to your network access and sharing settings.
Network Access Settings
Your Mac may not be sleeping because of the "Wake for network access" or "Wake for WiFi network access" setting. This setting allows your Mac to wake from sleep when other users access shared resources on your computer, such as a shared printer or music playlist. To disable this setting, go to System Preferences > Battery > Power Adapter and uncheck the box next to "Wake for network access" or "Wake for WiFi network access". Alternatively, you can go to System Preferences > Energy Saver > Power Adapter and uncheck the same setting.
Internet Sharing Settings
Another potential issue could be Internet Sharing. If you have enabled Internet Sharing on your Mac, it may prevent your computer from going to sleep. To resolve this, you can try disabling Internet Sharing before putting your Mac to sleep. You can also use third-party applications like ControlPlane or Power Manager to automatically toggle Internet Sharing off when your Mac is sleeping and back on when it wakes up.
Other Network-Related Issues
There are also other network-related issues that could be preventing your Mac from sleeping. For example, if you are using a router, try disconnecting the WiFi and Ethernet cables from your Mac before it goes to sleep. Additionally, make sure that your Mac is not trying to override your router as the primary DHCP server. Go to System Preferences > Sharing and ensure that the checkbox next to Internet Sharing is unchecked.
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Apps or processes running in the background
If your Mac won't sleep, it's possible that background apps or processes are preventing it from doing so. These could be system processes, such as indexing or file backups, or they could be third-party apps that are not behaving properly.
To identify and manage these apps and processes, you can use tools like
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Outdated software
If your Mac is not going to sleep, it could be due to outdated software. Outdated software can cause various issues, including problems with sleep mode. To fix this, you should update your macOS to the latest version. Here are the steps to update your macOS:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select "System Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
- Click on "Software Update" to check for any available updates.
- If there is an update available, click on "Update Now" to install the latest version of macOS.
It is important to keep your software up to date to ensure that your Mac runs smoothly and to prevent any issues with sleep mode. Updating your macOS can resolve certain software issues and improve the overall performance of your Mac.
In addition to updating your macOS, you should also check your sleep settings and ensure that they are configured correctly. Here are the steps to check your sleep settings:
- Click on the Apple logo and select "System Preferences."
- Go to "Battery" and click on "Power Adapter Settings."
- Adjust the settings for "Turn display off on battery when inactive" and "Turn display off on power adapter when inactive."
- Disable the "Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off" option if you want your Mac to go to sleep automatically.
By updating your macOS and checking your sleep settings, you can resolve issues with sleep mode caused by outdated software. Keeping your software up to date is crucial for the optimal performance of your Mac and can help prevent future problems.
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Faulty updates
If your Mac won't go to sleep, it could be due to a faulty update. Several Mac users have reported that their Mac won't go to sleep after updating to the latest macOS versions.
To fix this issue, you can try the following methods:
- Check your sleep settings: Ensure that your sleep settings are configured correctly. Go to the Apple logo, select "System Preferences/System Settings," choose "Energy Saver" or "Battery" (for laptops), and adjust the sleep settings to your preferences.
- Disable sharing preferences: If you have shared resources enabled, such as printers or hard disks, they can interfere with sleep mode. Go to "System Preferences," choose "Sharing," and deselect any unnecessary services.
- Check for running applications: Open the Activity Monitor to see if any applications are running in the background and forcing your Mac to stay awake. Force quit any apps that you don't need running when your Mac is inactive.
- Restart your Mac: Simply restarting your Mac may help resolve the issue. If you have an Intel-based Mac, shut it down safely by closing all apps, then press the Option, Command, P, and R keys for 20 seconds upon startup.
- Reset SMC: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) can fix power-related issues. For Macs with Apple silicon, just restart your computer. For other Mac models, refer to the Apple Support article on resetting the SMC.
By following these steps, you can troubleshoot and resolve sleep mode issues on your Mac caused by faulty updates or other factors.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several reasons why your Mac might not be going to sleep. It could be due to incorrect sleep settings, or it could be that another user is waking your Mac remotely. Other reasons include apps running in the background, unexpected keyboard presses, or malfunctioning USB devices.
To change your sleep settings, click on the Apple logo and select "System Preferences" from the drop-down menu. Then, choose "Energy Saver" or "Battery" and set the time for "Computer Sleep and Display Sleep".
If you use a shared network, another user might wake your Mac remotely. To prevent this, change your Network access settings and disable any sharing preferences for services you don't need.
Apps that access your disk, such as Music or DVD Player, can prevent your Mac from sleeping. You can use the Activity Monitor to locate these apps and force quit them.
