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How to prevent your MacBook Pro from sleeping when you close the lid while connected to a monitor? Adjust the settings in Energy Saver in System Preferences to keep your Mac awake with the display closed.
Let me introduce you to a few methods to choose based on convenience.
Key Takeaways:
- Adjust Energy Saver settings so the Mac won’t sleep when the lid is closed while connected to a monitor.
- Use the “caffeinate” command in Terminal to keep Mac awake with the lid closed.
- Apps like Insomniac, Caffeinated, and Amphetamine prevent sleep with the macbook lid closed.
- Customize sleep settings based on your needs – set display timeout or prevent entering sleep mode entirely.
How to Make MacBook Pro Not Sleep When Lid is Closed – The Quickiest Method
There are several ways to get the job done, but the one I’m showing below is the easiest.
Step 1: Click The Apple Logo
- Open the Apple menu bar.
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select “System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and above)” beneath “About This Mac” in the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Open Battery
- “System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and above)” window
- Locate the “Battery” icon. (It is a green battery icon, usually near the bottom of your screen. )
- Click open it.
Step 3: Go To The Power Adapter Tab
- “Battery” window
- Switch to the “Power Adapter” tab. ( left of the window next to “Battery.” )
- Click on it to adjust the settings.
Step 4: Change The Settings
- Adjust the “Turn display off after” slider to “Never.”
This tells your computer to remain on without a specified timeout period.
Alternative:
- You can check the box that says “Prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off”.
Now even when the lid is closed, your Mac will remain on until you change these preferences or click the Apple logo in the top left and select “Sleep.”
Step 5: Check Your Work
Check your handiwork by testing the setting change. Ensure your Mac is connected to a power source and an external mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Then, close the lid of your MacBook and see if it stays awake.
Alternative Method 1: Use the Caffenate Command in Terminal
Another easy way to keep your MacBook Pro awake while the lid is closed is using the caffeinate command in Terminal.
Open terminal in launch pad → type “caffeinate” into the command prompt → hit Return.
As long as the Terminal window is open, your MacBook Pro will not go to sleep. However, you will need to run this command every time before closing your Mac’s lid.
Alternative Method 2: Install an App to Prevent Sleep mode
Changing the settings should do the trick to keep your MacBook on while connected to an external monitor. However, if you want to keep your Mac on for other reasons when it’s not connected to an external display, you might consider installing an app to prevent it from sleeping while you’re inactive.
For instance, if you have something downloading but need to transport your Mac, you’ll need it on with the lid closed for safe transportation.
Or, perhaps, you want to listen to music without the bright display glaring back at you. Whatever your reasons might be, an app might be your best bet.
A few apps designed to keep your Mac from sleeping when the lid is closed include:
- Insomniac: Available from the Mac App Store
- Caffeinated: Available from the Mac App Store
- Amphetamine: Available from the Mac App Store for free
However, these apps do exactly what Terminal’s simple “caffeinate” command does. But, if you prefer an app, these three are highly rated.
Conclusion
While the sleep mode function is an excellent feature to promote your MacBook’s battery power health, it can sometimes be a nuisance. Thankfully, switching the settings in Battery, installing an app, or using the caffeinate command is quick and easy.
After a few simple steps, you’ll be ready to use your external devices without keeping your MacBook Pro’s lid open.
Which method did you use to keep your MacBook Pro awake? Let us know in the comments!
About Jonathon Jachura
