How to stop a Mac from going to sleep

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-stop-a-mac-from-going-to-sleep/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

3 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

3 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu at the top left of the screen, then click System Settings….

   Done

2. 

   Click Lock Screen

   Lock Screen is in the sidebar. On our MacBook Neo it sits between Screen Time and Privacy & Security.

   Done

3. 

   Set the power adapter row to Never

   Click the menu next to Turn display off on power adapter when inactive and choose Never, or a longer time. On our MacBook Neo the menu runs from For 1 minute to For 3 hours, then Never, and the setting was For 10 minutes.

   Turn display off on battery when inactive is the row above it; a shorter time there saves energy.

   Done

4. MacBook: switch on Prevent automatic sleeping

   Apple says to click Battery in the sidebar, click Options… and switch on Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off. The MacBook then keeps working while plugged in, even with the screen dark.

   Done

5. Desktop Mac: look under Energy

   Apple says an iMac, Mac mini or Mac Studio has no Battery page; the similar setting is under Energy in System Settings.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Lock Screen is not in the sidebar Type Lock Screen into the Search field at the top of the System Settings sidebar.
• There is no battery row Apple says Turn display off on battery when inactive only appears on Mac laptops; a desktop Mac shows the power adapter setting only. Source: Set sleep and wake settings for your Mac · Source: Change Lock Screen settings on Mac
• There is no Battery page Apple says desktop Macs have Energy instead of Battery in System Settings. Source: Set sleep and wake settings for your Mac · Source: Change Lock Screen settings on Mac

If this does not work

• The display still turns off Check you changed Turn display off on power adapter when inactive and that the Mac is plugged in. The battery row is a separate setting.
• The MacBook sleeps once the screen goes dark Apple says to switch on Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off under Battery > Options…. This only applies while the power adapter is connected. Source: Set sleep and wake settings for your Mac · Source: Change Lock Screen settings on Mac
• The menu closes without changing anything Click Never in the open menu itself. The tick shows the current choice; on our MacBook Neo the tick sat on For 10 minutes while the menu was open.

About this guide

Two settings stop a Mac sleeping during a long download, backup or presentation: when the display turns off, and whether the Mac may sleep after that.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

These settings increase power use. Set them back when the long job is finished.

Which options appear depends on the Mac model.

On our MacBook Neo the Lock Screen page also holds Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off, just below the two display rows.

In short: Apple menu > System Settings… > Lock Screen > Turn display off on power adapter when inactive > Never (MacBook: Battery > Options > Prevent automatic sleeping).