Keep your Mac awake
Keep Awake stops your Mac from going to sleep for as long as you choose, which helps with long downloads, backups, renders or talks. Pick a duration, decide whether the screen stays on, and optionally limit it to when the power adapter is connected so your battery isn't drained.
How to use Keep Awake
Open Keep Awake.
Choose a duration: 15 Minutes, 1 Hour, 3 Hours, Until a Time or Indefinitely.
Turn on Keep the display on if the screen should stay lit.
Turn on Only while on power adapter to protect the battery.
Questions about Keep Awake
How do I stop my Mac from going to sleep?
You can change sleep timing in System Settings under Lock Screen and Energy, but that applies all the time. Keep Awake prevents sleep only for the time you set, then returns to normal.
Will my Mac keep downloading if the screen turns off?
Yes, as long as the Mac itself is awake. Leave Keep the display on switched off to let the screen dim while the download continues.
Can my MacBook stay awake with the lid closed?
macOS sleeps when the lid closes unless it's in clamshell mode with power and an external display connected. Keep Awake prevents idle sleep but does not override closing the lid.
Is there an Amphetamine or Caffeine alternative?
Keep Awake covers the common needs of those apps: timers, keeping the display on and staying awake only on power.
Related tools
- Presentation ModeOne switch before you share your screen: hide desktop icons, hide the Dock and stay awake.
- Battery HealthSee your Mac’s battery capacity, cycle count and charger, plus AirPods and accessory levels.
- Display ControlChange the brightness, contrast and volume of external monitors, right from your Mac.
72 Mac tools. One app. Pay once.
From $24.99 one-time · macOS 15 Sequoia or later
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