How To Fix When Mac Won’t Sleep (Complete Guide)

By Nicholas J. Johnson | October 25, 2019

Worried why your MacBook won’t sleep? Well, you are not the only person who comes across this problem. Most users often face this problem where Mac won’t sleep when you select this mode.

However, solving this issue is not an easy task. But, with the help of a few manual tweaks, you can activate the sleep mode in Mac.

If you are still wondering what is the exact procedure to make your Mac go into the sleep state, then follow the proven methods given underneath.

Reasons Why Your Mac not Sleeping When You Expect

First, make sure that you check your Energy Saver settings. We advise you to be aware that your Mac won’t go to sleep automatically unless it is nonfunctioning.

The network activities can often keep your Mac from sleeping.

Sometimes, an application or other processes that are running on your Mac that can also keep your Mac awake. To recognize apps that are making your Mac awake, you check the Energy Saver pane of Activity Monitor.

There are also certain apps available that prevent the device to sleep. Only when you are doing certain things like playing music or video, downloading files or printing at that time, it prevents sleep.

On a Mac notebook, if you started from macOS Recovery, an automatic sleep mode will be deactivated as long as the device utilizes the AC power.

Irrespective of the underlying causes due to which Mac won’t go to sleep, there are some effective hacks to resolve this issue.

Fixes to Try When Mac is not Going to Sleep Mode

To ensure that Mac goes to sleep state as per your requirement, follow these solutions given below:

Solution 1: Check Sleep Settings

If your Mac won’t sleep due to incorrect sleep settings, then perform the following steps.

Step 1: At first, you have to go to “System Preferences”.

Step 2: After that, choose Energy Saver. Thereafter, you have to press the Schedule option.

Step 3: Now, you need to configure the settings for a shutdown timer. For that, you need to select the date and time for making your Mac go into sleep mode.

In the drop-down, you will find the sleep option. So, select that and click the OK button.

Solution 2: Check Connected Devices

Because of various Bluetooth devices like keyboards, the mouse can wake up your Mac. For that, you have to open the Bluetooth preferences. Then, click the “Advanced” button. After that, uncheck the “to wake this computer just allow Bluetooth devices” option.

Running some applications can also be the reason why Mac Won’t sleep whenever you want. So, you just need to turn them off.

Steps to Remove Apps/Programs on Mac

To terminate the applications normally, select the Quit option from the app’s menu. Otherwise, tap Command+Q on Mac. If the app doesn’t quit, then follow the below-mentioned instructions.

At first, press Option, Command and Escape all together. This process is similar to the Control+Alt+Delete on a Windows-based PC.

Or on the upper left corner of your screen, you will find the “Force Quit” option, which you can select to close. Now, from the Force Quit window, choose the app. Thereafter, click on this option to close the application forcefully.

You also need to check your printer and external drivers. Sometimes you may use the USB or Firewire, which can disconnect the sleep mode. So, try to check whether Mac can go to sleep state without external drivers or printers attached to it.

Solution 3: Resetting The SMC

To fix this problem, you have to reset the SMC. For that, follow the steps in a proper way and also carefully.

At first, you have to turn off the Macbook.

After that, you have to connect the MagSafe adapter.

Thereafter, you need to hold down the buttons such as Shift, Control, Options, and Power simultaneously.

After some time, release all the keys. Then, turn on your MacBook.

Finally, you will see that the MagSafe light flickers on and off. It indicates that you have done the reset perfectly. Hopefully, all of your problems will be vanished after using these steps. Now, try to select the sleep mode and check if it’s working on Mac.

If Previous Solutions don’t Work

With the help of these extra steps, you will be able to troubleshoot the issue when Mac not going to sleep. After that, you can easily fix this problem.

First, you are advised to reset the SMC. If the problem persists, reset the NVRAM.

You should detach all your external devices from Mac other than your Apple keyboard, mouse, and display. After doing this, you may observe that resolve your problem. Then, reconnect your devices one at a time until you find that device due to which Mac not sleeping.

To see if the problem is related to non-Apple startup items, you have to start Mac in the Safe Mode. For login items and kernel extensions, you have to follow the same step.

Also, by using another user account, you can try to confine the problem.

We are advising you to contact Apple Support if the problem still arises.

Concluding Note…

Well, these are the most effective tricks that you can apply if you are selecting the feature but, Mac won’t sleep.

Hopefully, after using these solutions, you can solve this problem and activate sleep mode for Mac. In case of any confusion or trouble, let us know in the below-mentioned comment section.

If you have additional tricks to troubleshoot this Mac issue, feel free to share them with us.

Posted in Mac