How to stop your Mac from sleeping

Updated October 25, 2026

Downloads that stop halfway, a screen that goes dark during a presentation, a game that pauses when the display sleeps. Here are four ways to keep your Mac awake, from a permanent setting to a few minutes at a time.

1. Change the sleep settings

This changes it all the time, until you change it back. On macOS 26 Tahoe (and Ventura or later):

1. Open System Settings › Lock Screen.
2. Set Turn display off on power adapter when inactive to Never. On a MacBook, set the battery option too if you want it on battery.
3. Then open System Settings › Battery › Options on a MacBook, or System Settings › Energy on a desktop Mac, and turn on Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off (on a MacBook it says "on power adapter").

The catch: it stays that way. Your Mac won't save power at night unless you remember to switch it back.

2. Use caffeinate in Terminal (free, built in)

Every Mac has a command called caffeinate that keeps it awake while it runs. Open Terminal and type:

caffeinate -d

Your display stays on until you press Control C or close the window. A few useful versions:

• caffeinate -d -t 3600 keeps the display on for one hour (3600 seconds).
• caffeinate -i lets the screen turn off but keeps the Mac working, good for long downloads.
• caffeinate -s keeps the whole Mac awake while it's plugged in.

3. Use a keep-awake app like Amphetamine

If you'd rather click than type, a menu bar app does the same thing. Amphetamine is free on the Mac App Store and can stay awake for a set time, while an app is open or while a download runs. KeepingYouAwake is a free, open source option. Many people still search for Caffeine, the original app, but it hasn't been updated in years, and KeepingYouAwake is its modern replacement.

4. Stay awake only in the right mode

Most of the time you want your Mac to sleep normally. You only want it awake when you're gaming, presenting or running something long. The cleanest setup is one where staying awake is tied to what you're doing, and turns off by itself when you're done.

Why does my Mac still go to sleep?

• The lid is closed. A MacBook sleeps when you close it unless it's connected to power and an external display.
• Low battery. macOS sleeps anyway to protect your work when the battery is almost empty.
• The screen saver or lock. Check Lock Screen settings for the screen saver and password timing too.

More guides

• Game Mode on Mac
• Close all apps on a Mac
• Hide desktop icons on Mac
• MacModes: one Mac for work and play