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How to prevent laptop from sleep when lid closed

I own a macbook pro 13 inch model no. A1278, my mac goes to sleep as the lid is closed. i have changed the power settings to not never put my mac on sleep, please help as it affects myy work, i want the work to go on as i close my laptop lid.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Aug 29, 2012 9:59 AM

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Posted on Aug 29, 2012 10:02 AM

If you plug in an external monitor/keyboard you can run it with the lid closed.


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131


Otherwise, it is going to go to sleep - no way to disable that.


If you are leaving things running, why close the lid? - set sleep to never in control panels, choose a screen and HD timeout and let it run. It will run cooler if the screen is up anyway.

96 replies

Apr 6, 2014 8:17 AM in response to Satyen1

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?

Apr 21, 2014 7:09 PM in response to Satyen1

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

Apr 21, 2014 7:28 PM in response to Pigumon

"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.

Apr 21, 2014 7:44 PM in response to snugglezzz

(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>

Apr 21, 2014 7:48 PM in response to Pigumon

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.

Apr 21, 2014 8:03 PM in response to snugglezz

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. 🙂

Apr 22, 2014 3:07 AM in response to Pigumon

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!

Apr 29, 2014 2:18 PM in response to Jim Robinson Jr

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.

Jul 20, 2014 2:41 PM in response to Satyen1

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.

How to prevent laptop from sleep when lid closed

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