running apps while screen is locked on MacBook Pro

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running apps while screen is locked on MacBook Pro

I have a new MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro processor running the latest macOS 12.0.1. I've tried to run applications with the screen locked and find that they always pause execution. In effect, if I'm running a long executing app, I can't lock the screen and walk away from the system. Very annoying.

After searching the web, I haven't found any proffered solution that actually works on my machine. To save everyone time, let me list some of these solutions so that they won't be offered up again.

1)Clicking on the Advanced button in the Security and Privacy System Preferences pane. Log out after XX minutes is already unchecked.

2) Using pmset in the console. No effect.

3) Using caffeinate in the console. No effect.

4) Using screen saver rather than the screen lock. Same effect as screen lock.

Has anyone else encountered this? Is there some obvious solution I'm missing?

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Nov 25, 2021 8:56 AM

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Answer 1

DerekM87

Community Specialist

Nov 26, 2021 10:59 AM in response to MarkHibben

Hi MarkHibben,

We see when you lock your screen, applications running in the background auto-pause.

Looking over the steps you've already tried, can you confirm if under System Preferences > Power, the option to "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" is unchecked for both power adapter and battery? This should be the setting that controls the computer "sleeping" or auto-pausing your running apps.

See more details here: Save energy on your Mac

Cheers!

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