How to prevent laptop from sleep when lid closed

Good Lord!

I've used laptops for about 20 years now and the idea that you "shouldn't move a laptop while its running" is only slightly less stupid then the idea that you "shouldn't run a laptop closed!"

I've ALWAYS done both. The "movement while running" abuse I've heaped on my MBP is beyond measure. Never had a problem. This is my third mac laptop. Never had a problem from "moving" them while running.

The idea that there are "a thousand reasons" not to run a laptop closed and "a handful" of reasons to do so is just WRONG!! That kind of banter reminds me of nothing so much as the old IBM salesman explaining why the glitch in the 360 OS is a feature and not a bug! Bull!

The NoSleep software worked perfectly. It's even better than having a native option in the OS because there is an icon in the task bar which allows you to turn it on or off with a simple click (no digging through preferences required).

Now I can walk from the living room to my bedroom without having to cradel my open computer.

https://code.google.com/p/macosx-nosleep-extension/

And regarding all of the people defending Apple's decision to hide this from its users... I have found that most of the mac lovers out there will defend every decision Apple makes as if it's the will of god. Back in the day (2006), my mac lover friends would defend the fact that you could only resize a window from the bottom right corner. They would justify this feature until they were blue in the face - even though Windows 95 had the feature to resize from all four corners AND all four edges of a window.

Well now that Mac lets you do the same thing as Windows 95 in terms of window resizing, all the mac lovers now agree that it's a very useful feature. Having converted to Mac a year ago, I have found nothing but "why would you want that 'useless' feature" in these forums. You just have to rub your head and move on.

That goes back to using those apps. if you use those apps the computer will function as if it were never closed. Or if you are running 10.8 or newer then you can use the caffeinate command and it will stop your computer from sleeping also.

Ok here's what I'm attempting to do....

I have a new MacBook Pro running 10.9.2.

I'd like to be able to access it with my IPad using Parallels Access with the lid closed. The same way I use it to access my Mac Mini with no keyboard or mouse connected and the monitor off.

I read through the thread and tried using the CAFFEINATE command from terminal. I've used every combination of command modifiers I can come up with and when I close the lid, the Pro goes offline in Parallels Access.

I have tried NOSLEEP or any of the other recommendations in the thread above. I thought I'd try the preinstalled feature first. Anyone ever used Parallels Access successfully with the lid closed on your MacBook Pro?

For all those screaming at and belittling the "apple fanbois" you are equally "anti-apple fanbois" saying the exact oppostie of everything and being self-satisfied.

Apple prevents this because it would mean increased warranty claims for the people who "forget" and then ruin their Macs. Apple would have no way of proving it was from neglect, so they'd have to cover it under warranty, losing a ton of money. In this case No option = good business.

Aside from that, it's been posted so many times, if you really need to do an end run around Apple, you can. Apple doesn't prevent this, because they can immediately say "you have so and so third party app enabled and you caused your Macbook to overheat, so we don't cover that."

This also = good business.

I am a competent user. I love Apple products, I understand why they limit potentially dangerous actions, and I also understand that I can, if I want, unlimit those actions. I have NoSleep installed and it's awesome.

So can we just say, Apple is right, business-wise, to not have this option. But they are cool to allow others to make apps to enable it, while protecting themselves as a company. I want Apple to be a good business and keep making great stuff.

Honestly, I don't see how having a tiny, FREE icon in my menubar that requires only a single click to enable, is a bad thing.

Apple +1

NoSleep +1

"Apple prevents this because it would mean increased warranty claims for the people who "forget" and then ruin their Macs."

I'm unclear why you would say this. As multiple people have pointed out:

1. apple allows you to do this when you have an external monitor plugged in.

2. even if the machine were to start to overheat, all macs will shut down long before they do any actual damage to themselves.

Again, please stick to facts: there is NO LOGICAL REASON for apple not to allow you to use this feature at will. None. You are defending the indefensible for some reason. I think Apple products are overall the best on the market, but I think the people on this forum should examine why they cannot just allow that there are many many many problems with apple products and this is one of them.

(I meant to address this in the original reply [edit], but you replied to quickly!! haha)

Wow, did you really say NO LOGICAL REASON???

Apple allows you to do it when it's stationary, connected to an external monitor. The laptop won't move (no risk to the drive), nor will it be in a situation (a messenger bag, a sleeve) where it's likely to run too high, if not overheat.

It's like saying redlining a car engine on a regular basis is ok as long as you don't lock up the engine. That's just not true. You're dramatically increasing the risk of problems down the road. (NPI)

So while the machine may shut down before doing "replacement level" damage, it's still doing more damage than normal, and even normal use causes some damage.

"Common sense" is a rare commodity these days, Apple's just protecting itself.

<Edited by Host>

Sorry, do you know anything about cars? Revving the car up very high on cars blows out a lot of accumulated crud that builds up over the years of noodling around at 1500rpm. It's true that overrevving a car can damage it, which is why manufacturers install electronic rev limiters to prevent damage from occurring.

Just like apple has done with it's lap tops. They will shut down if they reach a *safe but high level* of heat.

You seem like a reasonable guy. But I'll say it again, you are defending the undefendable. There's no reason to make excuses for apple, this is a stupid and pointless restriction.

You also seem reasonable. All heat is damaging to a degree, the hotter, the more damaging, cars or computers, doesn't matter which. You could say a rev limiter is EXACTLY the same as a closed lid wake disabler. hmmmmmmmmm

So I'll say, why would Apple arbitrarily remove this option? I don't think they would. They either think the reasons I and others have given are valid and defendable, or they have other reasons we haven't thought of. That's the main point. They made the machines, they know them inside and out, we do not.

Either way, it most likely has to do with money.

Regardless, NoSleep is awesome and free. I guess that's the bottom line, there are always options. 🙂

Yeah, actually I thought about it some more last night and think you are likely correct--the heat spike generated while putting it in a bag would not be prevented by a shut down, only mitigated. That is unlike a rev limiter that simply stops the revs above a certain threshold.

Also, the hd heads hitting the platter is a real danger (though one that is rapidly going away with ssds), I actually hadn't thought of that. It does seem paternalistic as a previous poster said. On the other hand, what would apple be with out at least a little paternalism :)

I'll just use no sleep and stop trolling. Thanks!

I have a tuner for my motorcycle. The only way to collect performance data is to ride the motorcycle with the laptop attached to the bike. The lid needs to be closed and the software needs to be running the entire time. The laptop has SSD and will be receiving plenty of air flow!

Cofiguring the MAC to stay on while the lid is shut should be the users decision. I can't say that I'm embarrased to be seen with a MAC. In fact, it's quite opposite... but this is a bit rediculous. You're limiting what the tool is capable of doing and forcing me to look elsewhere.

Both sides made good points. If SSD, it seems like the only point apple fanbois have left is the possibility of overheating by putting it in a bag while awake. This assumes users who plug external devices into their closed laptops don't also put it in a bag while in use. It seems like Apple should be able to engineer temperature-triggered shut off features, but I guess in the meantime I'll keep walking down the halls with an open laptop. This would seem to be even more dangerous than an awake, bagged computer, but I guess Apple is smart because they're less liable for the damage that occurs from spills or me accidentally dropping it on the ground. Next time I'll be sure to check for a "No Sleep" feature before I buy.

I thought the same when I started this search! So frustrating😠. I know, to be competitive, Apple and MS like to separate themselves by utilising signature features and what not but, just as you mention - "It's a simple software switch..." -

Hope someone important gets to see this! You never know!

Revaccuate: If you're concerned with traveling from place to place, finish your task before you move or get an iPad. It's not that complicated. I have times where I print something and have to go to another room to get it (teacher). I wait for it to send on the network and then close my computer. If you need to save your work before you move, command S works great 🙂 Otherwise it usually doesn't take very long for the computer to come out of sleep mode (unlike Windows machines). Probably about oh 3 to 5 seconds or 10 if you have your computer password protected.

But if you just want to complain, then I'm sorry you feel this way.