macOS Sierra - hold down power button to enter sleep mode

Question

Level 1

34 points

macOS Sierra - hold down power button to enter sleep mode

I recently updated my MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) model from El Capitan to macOS Sierra v10.12. Before the update, holding down power button for 2 to 3 seconds put the machine in to sleep mode. It doesn't work properly after the update. Holding down power button to enter sleep mode works only once after every start of the machine.

I know there is an option to enter sleep mode using Ctrl + Power button and then selecting one of the three options from Restart, Sleep and Shutdown, but that needs 3 more clicks and taps and is not quick. Also, irrespective of any app that is open, pressing power button worked well before the update, but now I need to be on the desktop to even make Ctrl + Power button work.

Any fixes available to this? I am missing the old way of putting my Mac to sleep 😟 I don't remember whether I did some tweak in my Mac or was it a default functionality..

MacBook Air, macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 23, 2016 1:28 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 23, 2017 1:47 PM in response to jainam2209

I had the same problem until a week ago, where I fixed another issue. Since then the sleep button has been working as it used to. I have no idea how these two issues would be related. Maybe it's just a coincidence and the sleep button issue may return, but usually it only works once after a restart.

The issue I had and fixed was caused by Safari is described here: macOS Sierra freeze on iMac late 2009 using Safari

I used the solution posted by "riadfromhabsheim" Dec 27, 2016.

If others have both these issues you may want to try this.

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Answer 2

Jan 11, 2017 1:49 AM in response to jainam2209

I also cant get my Macbook Pro into Sleepmode via pressing the power button for 1 second anymore. No reaction. I need that please to lock my Device when leaving my desk in the office.

macOS Sierra is so buggy 😟

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Answer 3

Jan 11, 2017 4:12 AM in response to artist999

What interesting - when this bug takes place, hold 3 sec to appear shutdown menu also not working.

The only one way working 100% - CTRL+POWER to show shutdown menu.

Yes bugs are minor but unpleasant for device 1k cost.

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Answer 4

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jan 11, 2017 5:30 AM in response to artist999

artist999 wrote:

macOS Sierra is so buggy 😟

Well, your installation of it seems to be, because the sleep on power button works exactly as it used to on my Mac, take yours to Apple and get it fixed.

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Answer 5

Jan 11, 2017 3:58 PM in response to Csound1

The Button is physically working. But when i hold down the button for 2-3 seconds, nothing happens. With El Captain the System went to sleep mode.

And i am not the only one, who faces this change. So its a feature, or a bug?

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Answer 6

Mac_slide

Level 3

605 points

Jan 11, 2017 4:16 PM in response to jainam2209

I've been having issues with it too, and a lot of times I have to do it several times very lightly for whatever reason.

Other options least to greatest for me;

Control Option Command Power = SHUTS DOWN MAC

Option Command Power | or | Control Options Command Eject = sleep

Control Shift Power | or | Eject = display sleep

Control Command Power | or Eject = Restarts

The BEST options when it's acting weird before doing a restart try closing out of everything by:

Shift Option Command Q = This logs out of everything forced if you will, and you will be back at the log in screen.

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Answer 7

kab-one

Level 1

4 points

Mar 22, 2017 9:16 PM in response to PitDark70

Same thing, with New OS upgrade the power (using for sleep) is not functioning as expected, but Alt(Option)+Cmd+Power/Eject works. Thanks for the suggestion... 🙂

PitDark70 wrote:

Same here on a late 2013 iMac.

Alt-Cmd-Eject works as always but the power button shows no effect until it force-shuts-down the iMac (so it physically works).

Power Button used to bring the iMac into a sleep on ElCaptain

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Answer 8

braden85

Community Specialist

Sep 24, 2016 1:23 PM in response to jainam2209

Greetings jainam2209,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. It seems like you want to put the Mac to sleep but it is not working consistently.
I would recommend you read these articles, the first article explains the ways that macOS Sierra is supposed to go to sleep.
The second article may help if the computer will not go to sleep when you try to make it sleep.

macOS Sierra: Put your Mac to sleep
macOS Sierra: If your Mac won’t go to or stay in sleep
Take care.

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Answer 9

Sep 27, 2016 6:29 AM in response to braden85

I'm having the same problem. This is clearly a bug, not us not knowing how to put our Macs to sleep.

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Answer 10

dcalp

Level 1

4 points

Sep 25, 2016 5:57 AM in response to braden85

Hello, same problem here, Macbook Air mid 2011. From the first document you suggested:

Put your Mac to sleep or wake it from sleep

To put your Mac to sleep, do any of the following:

Press and release the power button once.

This is what I usually do, and it's not working.

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Answer 11

Molin

Level 1

8 points

Sep 25, 2016 3:14 PM in response to jainam2209

Definitely a bug, I have it to: after some time, the hold power / release doesn't put mac to sleep.

But it does after fresh system boot up.

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Answer 12

jainam2209 Author

Level 1

34 points

Sep 27, 2016 6:30 AM in response to braden85

@braden85, this doesn't solve the problem, there is inconsistency in the way power button works in macOS Sierra

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Answer 13

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Sep 27, 2016 6:53 AM in response to jainam2209

Hey jainam2209,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Due to the nature of your issue, you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources -

https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action
Take care.

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Answer 14

karpedm

Level 1

4 points

Sep 27, 2016 8:34 AM in response to jainam2209

I have same problem after upgrading to Sierra.

How can it be possible to have such a critical bug even after such a long beta testing?

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Answer 15

DJmixa

Level 1

8 points

Sep 29, 2016 12:30 AM in response to jainam2209

I solved the problem just by rebooting for the second (perhaps third?) time after the Sierra install. So try shutting down and rebooting once or twice (use the apple icon at the top left). It sounds like a silly fix but it did it for me. I assume this simple self-solution is also a reason why this "bug" is not all over internet.

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