Are you tired of your Mac falling asleep every time you close the lid? Do you want to keep your laptop running even when it’s not in use, but still want to conserve battery life? Look no further. In this article, we’ll show you how to turn off sleep mode when closing the lid on your Mac, and explore the reasons why you might want to do so.
Understanding Sleep Mode on Mac
Before we dive into the solution, let’s take a look at what sleep mode is and how it works on Mac. Sleep mode is a power-saving feature that puts your Mac into a low-power state when it’s not in use. When you close the lid of your MacBook, it automatically goes into sleep mode, which helps conserve battery life. However, sleep mode can be frustrating if you need to keep your Mac running in the background.
Why You Might Want to Turn Off Sleep Mode
There are several reasons why you might want to turn off sleep mode when closing the lid on your Mac. Here are a few:
- Background tasks: If you have tasks running in the background, such as backups or downloads, sleep mode can interrupt them. By keeping your Mac awake, you can ensure that these tasks complete uninterrupted.
- Remote access: If you need to access your Mac remotely, sleep mode can prevent you from doing so. By keeping your Mac awake, you can access it from anywhere.
- Server applications: If you’re running server applications on your Mac, such as a web server or file server, sleep mode can cause them to become unavailable. By keeping your Mac awake, you can ensure that these applications remain available.
How to Turn Off Sleep Mode When Closing the Lid
Now that we’ve explored the reasons why you might want to turn off sleep mode, let’s take a look at how to do it. There are a few different methods you can use, depending on your Mac model and operating system.
Method 1: Using the Energy Saver Preferences
The easiest way to turn off sleep mode when closing the lid is to use the Energy Saver preferences. Here’s how:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
- Click Energy Saver.
- Click the Options tab.
- Uncheck the box next to “Put hard disks to sleep when possible.”
- Uncheck the box next to “Wake for Wi-Fi network access.”
- Click OK.
This will prevent your Mac from going to sleep when you close the lid. However, keep in mind that this will also prevent your Mac from conserving battery life.
Method 2: Using the Terminal
If you’re comfortable using the Terminal, you can use a command to turn off sleep mode when closing the lid. Here’s how:
- Open the Terminal application.
- Type the following command:
pmset -a lidwake 1 - Press Enter.
This will prevent your Mac from going to sleep when you close the lid. To reverse this setting, simply type pmset -a lidwake 0 and press Enter.
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Application
There are several third-party applications available that can help you turn off sleep mode when closing the lid. One popular option is No Sleep. This application allows you to keep your Mac awake even when the lid is closed, and also provides additional features such as the ability to keep your Mac awake during periods of inactivity.
Additional Tips and Considerations
Before you turn off sleep mode when closing the lid, there are a few additional tips and considerations to keep in mind.
Conserving Battery Life
If you’re going to keep your Mac awake even when the lid is closed, it’s a good idea to take steps to conserve battery life. Here are a few tips:
- Adjust your screen brightness: Lowering your screen brightness can help conserve battery life.
- Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi: If you’re not using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, turn them off to conserve battery life.
- Use a power-saving mode: Many Mac applications have power-saving modes that can help conserve battery life.
Overheating
If you’re going to keep your Mac awake even when the lid is closed, there’s a risk of overheating. Here are a few tips to help prevent overheating:
- Use a cooling pad: A cooling pad can help keep your Mac cool even when it’s working hard.
- Keep your Mac in a well-ventilated area: Make sure your Mac has plenty of airflow to help keep it cool.
- Monitor your Mac’s temperature: You can use an application such as Temperature Monitor to keep an eye on your Mac’s temperature.
Conclusion
Turning off sleep mode when closing the lid on your Mac can be a useful feature if you need to keep your laptop running in the background. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can keep your Mac awake even when the lid is closed. Just be sure to take steps to conserve battery life and prevent overheating.
What is sleep mode on a Mac?
Sleep mode is a feature on Mac computers that allows the device to conserve energy by putting it into a low-power state. When a Mac is in sleep mode, it shuts down most of its functions, but it can quickly wake up when needed. This feature is useful for saving battery life, especially when the Mac is not in use for an extended period.
When a Mac is in sleep mode, it will not perform any tasks, and it will not be able to receive notifications or updates. However, it will still be able to wake up quickly when the lid is opened or when a keyboard or mouse is used. This makes it a convenient feature for users who need to take breaks or step away from their Mac for a short time.
Why does my Mac go to sleep when I close the lid?
By default, Macs are set to go to sleep when the lid is closed. This is a power-saving feature that helps to conserve battery life. When the lid is closed, the Mac assumes that the user is not actively using the device, and it puts it into sleep mode to save energy.
However, some users may find this feature inconvenient, especially if they need to use their Mac with the lid closed. For example, some users may want to use their Mac as a desktop computer, with an external monitor and keyboard. In this case, they may want to keep their Mac awake even when the lid is closed.
How do I turn off sleep mode when closing the lid on my Mac?
To turn off sleep mode when closing the lid on a Mac, users can adjust the Energy Saver settings. To do this, go to System Preferences, then click on Energy Saver. In the Energy Saver preferences, uncheck the box next to “Put hard disks to sleep when possible” and “Wake for Wi-Fi network access.” Then, click on the “Options” tab and uncheck the box next to “Sleep when lid is closed.”
Alternatively, users can also use the Terminal app to disable sleep mode when closing the lid. To do this, open the Terminal app and type the command “pmset -b lidwake 1” and press Enter. This will disable sleep mode when the lid is closed.
Will turning off sleep mode when closing the lid affect my Mac’s battery life?
Yes, turning off sleep mode when closing the lid can affect a Mac’s battery life. When a Mac is in sleep mode, it consumes very little power, which helps to conserve battery life. If a Mac is kept awake even when the lid is closed, it will consume more power, which can reduce battery life.
However, the impact on battery life will depend on how the Mac is being used. If the Mac is being used with an external monitor and keyboard, and it is not being used for resource-intensive tasks, the impact on battery life may be minimal. On the other hand, if the Mac is being used for resource-intensive tasks, such as video editing or gaming, the impact on battery life may be more significant.
Can I turn off sleep mode when closing the lid for a specific period of time?
Yes, users can turn off sleep mode when closing the lid for a specific period of time. To do this, users can use the Terminal app to set a timer for when the Mac will go to sleep. For example, users can type the command “pmset sleep 60” to set the Mac to go to sleep after 60 minutes.
Alternatively, users can also use third-party apps to schedule when their Mac will go to sleep. These apps can be set to keep the Mac awake for a specific period of time, and then put it to sleep when the time is up.
Will turning off sleep mode when closing the lid affect my Mac’s performance?
Turning off sleep mode when closing the lid should not affect a Mac’s performance. However, if the Mac is being used for resource-intensive tasks, it may consume more power and generate more heat. This can potentially affect the Mac’s performance, especially if it is being used in a hot environment.
On the other hand, if the Mac is being used for general tasks such as browsing the web or checking email, turning off sleep mode when closing the lid should not have a significant impact on performance.
Can I turn off sleep mode when closing the lid on a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?
Yes, users can turn off sleep mode when closing the lid on a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. The process is the same as for other Mac models. Users can adjust the Energy Saver settings or use the Terminal app to disable sleep mode when the lid is closed.
However, it’s worth noting that the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have different power management features than other Mac models. For example, they have a feature called “Power Nap” that allows them to update and sync data even when they are in sleep mode. Users may need to adjust these features separately to achieve the desired behavior.