Fix ‘Mac Not Sleeping When You Close the Lid’ Issue – Guide
Using an external monitor and freeing up desk space are two reasons to use your MacBook with the lid closed. Additionally, downloads and music will stop when the lid is shut. To prevent hibernation, adjust settings in this section.
You don’t need to open your Mac’s cover to turn it on. Here’s how to do it without lifting the lid.
Restart the SMC
The System Management Controller (SMC) of your MacBook may be the cause of your computer not sleeping when you close the lid. This controller is responsible for managing lights, power, performance and other features.
Restarting your MacBook is a quick and easy way to fix any issues. To do so, turn off the device and plug in the power adapter. Then, press and hold down the Shift, Control, Option and Power keys simultaneously before releasing them all at once. Finally, turn on your computer again.
If your Mac won’t go to sleep when you close the lid, don’t worry - there are still ways to fix it. After using your Mac for a few minutes, try closing the lid and see if it goes into sleep mode. If it does, you’re all set! Otherwise, there are other solutions available.
Restart NVRAM (or PRAM)
To reset your Mac, shut it down and press Command, Option, P and R when the screen turns on. Release the keys when the computer restarts. This should not affect your Mac in any way and is a way to handle energy issues on older models known as PRAM.
If your Mac isn’t going to sleep when you close the lid, try restarting it and then using it as normal. If that doesn’t work, opt for a third solution.
Check for hidden apps using power
Macs may not be getting the rest they need due to applications running in the background. To identify which app is preventing sleep, a Terminal command can help.
To access your Mac’s power settings, open Terminal in the Applications folder or by searching for it in Spotlight. Then enter the command “pmset -g assertions” and press Enter.
A system-wide list of “affirmations” is available, with “1” representing “on” or “true”, and “0” representing “off” or “false”. To check out sleep entries such as “PreventUserIdleDisplaySleep”, look at the corresponding numbers.
If you’re having trouble getting your computer to hibernate, check the “Listed by ownership process” section. It’ll show you which tasks or applications are blocking sleep.
With this information, you can stop or interrupt any process running on the applications and then attempt to shut the lid.
Contact Apple Care
If your MacBook won’t sleep when you close the lid, it’s likely a hardware issue. Without AppleCare, repairs can be costly. The Genius Bar at Apple Stores will repair your device for a fixed fee, though prices may vary by location.
After months of dealing with minor issues on his MacBook, a user finally decided to have all the damage repaired in one go, at a cost of $280.
Final note
If you’re having trouble getting your Mac to sleep when you close the lid, this guide can help. Got questions? Reach out for assistance. And don’t forget to share the love by passing it along to friends.
