How to make screen go to sleep, but computer stay awake? Prevent computer from sleeping doesn't work.

Question

Level 1

14 points

How to make screen go to sleep, but computer stay awake? Prevent computer from sleeping doesn't work.

I keep having this problem for several years and well, I've had enough of it so thought I'd post and ask.

Specifically, I'd like to not have to have my screen on, so that processes running in the background e.g. file copies in the console, remote ssh connections etc can continue, but I don't reduce the life of the screen or basically have it on unnecessarily. In addition, it boots me off my VPN, which is very frustrating in a COVID-19 environment.

I do have the prevent computer from sleeping automatically when display is off, but it doesn't seem to have any effect. The only way I can get things to work is set the display to turn off to never. Not very good.

Does anyone else have this issue? I'm particularly interested in anyone doing work in the console and such.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 20, 2020 3:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 20, 2020 7:25 PM in response to marshalleq

If you don't have the Eject key try Command-Shift-PowerButton

You can aso use the "Hot Corners" button at bottom-left in "Mission Control" system preference to assign a corner to "Put Display to Sleep".

Reply

Answer 2

marshalleq Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 20, 2020 7:32 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

So you're saying by putting the display to sleep manually, it will behave differently than putting it to sleep automatically and won't turn the computer system off? If so, I guess that's a great workaround for now. I wish I could outline this bug to Apple somehow though, maybe get a developer account or something. Seems a bit extreme though.

Reply

Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

136,589 points

Apr 20, 2020 7:39 PM in response to marshalleq

FWIW, I have 5 different Macs running Catalina and automatically or manually putting the display to sleep works on all of them. It certainly doesn't turn them off. I think the problem is local to your machine and not a "bug" per se.

Reply

Answer 4

marshalleq Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 20, 2020 7:59 PM in response to dialabrain

Do you use terminal stuff like SSH and rsync and things like that? I have had this problem on the last probably 5 mac's and I think it only applies when using terminal, though can't be sure. This latest Mac, has had a fresh install, no time machine transfer, which I've done many times during this time. I'm not saying I'm not overlooking something, but there does seem to be something causing this continually across a number of years. I'd say about 5-6 years at a guess - could be longer.

Reply

Answer 5

marshalleq Author

Level 1

14 points

Apr 20, 2020 6:34 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Care to elaborate? Not that I have an eject key on my MBP 2018 model though.

Reply

Answer 6

Apr 20, 2020 6:13 PM in response to marshalleq

Command-Shift-Eject. ⌘⇧⏏︎

Reply

How to make screen go to sleep, but computer stay awake? Prevent computer from sleeping doesn't work.

Similar questions