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My MacBookPro won't go to sleep

Before, when I closed the lid on my MacBookPro, it would go to sleep and it would resume when I opened it. Now when I close the lid, nothing happens. It just kicks to the lock screen but doesn't got to sleep. What can I do to fix this? For last resort, I can go to Apple Store, but I want to try anything else first.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3), 17 inch, Intel i7 Dual Core Mid2010

Posted on May 7, 2012 4:31 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on May 7, 2012 5:12 PM

Test after each of the following steps that you haven’t already tried:


Step 1


▹ System Preferences ▹ Energy Saver ▹ Power Adapter ▹ Wake for network access: uncheck. You may need to unlock the preference pane by clicking the lock icon in the lower left corner and entering your administrator password.


Step 2


▹ System Preferences ▹ Energy Saver ▹ Schedule… ▹ Start up or wake: uncheck


Step 3


▹ System Preferences ▹ Print & Scan ▹ Open Print Queue...

Check all printers for unfinished jobs. Deal with any you find.


Step 4


Disconnect all wired peripherals except keyboard, mouse or trackball, and monitor, if applicable.


Step 5


Launch the Activity Monitor application in any of the following ways:


☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)


☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.


☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Activity Monitor in the page that opens.


Select All Processes from the menu in the toolbar, if not already selected. Enter “powerd” (without the quotes) in the "Filter" text field. Select the powerd process and click the Quit Process button in the toobar (stop-sign icon.) In the sheet that opens, click Force Quit. You’ll be prompted for your administrator password. The process will be relaunched immediately.


Step 6


Boot in safe mode and log in. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:


  • Be sure your Mac is shut down.
  • Press the power button.
  • Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
  • Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).


The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.


Note: If FileVault is enabled under Mac OS X 10.7 or later, you can’t boot in safe mode.


Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal. Don’t launch any applications at first. If sleep still doesn’t work properly, back up all data and reinstall the Mac OS. After that, if you still have the issue, make a “Genius” appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested.


If sleep now works as expected, go on to the next step.


Step 7


Still in safe mode, launch the usual set of applications that are running when you have the problem, including your login items, one at a time, testing after each one. Some applications may not work; skip them. You might be able to identify the cause of the problem this way.


Step 8


If sleep is still working after you’ve launched all the usual applications, reboot as usual (not in safe mode) and test again. If sleep still works, you’re done, at least for the moment.


If you still have the sleep issue after booting out of safe mode, post again.

9 replies
Question marked as Best reply

May 7, 2012 5:12 PM in response to TechGeniusApps

Test after each of the following steps that you haven’t already tried:


Step 1


▹ System Preferences ▹ Energy Saver ▹ Power Adapter ▹ Wake for network access: uncheck. You may need to unlock the preference pane by clicking the lock icon in the lower left corner and entering your administrator password.


Step 2


▹ System Preferences ▹ Energy Saver ▹ Schedule… ▹ Start up or wake: uncheck


Step 3


▹ System Preferences ▹ Print & Scan ▹ Open Print Queue...

Check all printers for unfinished jobs. Deal with any you find.


Step 4


Disconnect all wired peripherals except keyboard, mouse or trackball, and monitor, if applicable.


Step 5


Launch the Activity Monitor application in any of the following ways:


☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)


☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.


☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Activity Monitor in the page that opens.


Select All Processes from the menu in the toolbar, if not already selected. Enter “powerd” (without the quotes) in the "Filter" text field. Select the powerd process and click the Quit Process button in the toobar (stop-sign icon.) In the sheet that opens, click Force Quit. You’ll be prompted for your administrator password. The process will be relaunched immediately.


Step 6


Boot in safe mode and log in. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:


  • Be sure your Mac is shut down.
  • Press the power button.
  • Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
  • Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).


The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.


Note: If FileVault is enabled under Mac OS X 10.7 or later, you can’t boot in safe mode.


Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal. Don’t launch any applications at first. If sleep still doesn’t work properly, back up all data and reinstall the Mac OS. After that, if you still have the issue, make a “Genius” appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested.


If sleep now works as expected, go on to the next step.


Step 7


Still in safe mode, launch the usual set of applications that are running when you have the problem, including your login items, one at a time, testing after each one. Some applications may not work; skip them. You might be able to identify the cause of the problem this way.


Step 8


If sleep is still working after you’ve launched all the usual applications, reboot as usual (not in safe mode) and test again. If sleep still works, you’re done, at least for the moment.


If you still have the sleep issue after booting out of safe mode, post again.

May 7, 2012 9:33 PM in response to Linc Davis

I just now noticed that is goes to sleep if I close the lid while running on battery. But as soon as I plug it in it wakes up even when the lid is closed and never sleeps. Even if I press  -> Sleep. But it works like normal when on battery. Strange because I have the same Energy Saver settings as on battery. Should I take it into genius bar at my local Apple Store?

My MacBookPro won't go to sleep

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