iMac goes to sleep while iTunes is playing

Question

iMac goes to sleep while iTunes is playing

While iTunes is playing, especially on a long weekend, I leave it on all day. So, I'm thinking at the point the iMac goes to sleep (set to default) even though iTunes is playing my library. This happened before Mavericks. No one at Apple Support was able to figure it out and then Mavericks came out and all was right.

Nothing spectacular here, just that if I choose to have my tunes playing all day, I shouldn't have to adjust anything. Has anyone else experienced this?

I called Apple Support today and the guy said, "Well it's supposed to shut off when the system goes to sleep." Really? I understand some apps will cease functioning if the system goes to sleep. B U T,

My understanding is some apps are supposed to suppress sleep and other protocols so the user (me) can listen to iTunes all day or do whatever it is I wish to do without interruption.

Any thoughts? I do not want to add Caffeine or Amphetamine. I'm running 12.10.5 and just yesterday it worked ALL DAY with tunes playing across the house.

Thanks

iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on May 28, 2017 11:10 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,636 points

May 28, 2017 11:28 AM in response to Community User

1. Reset the SMC, as per Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

2. Go to: Apple > System Preferences > Energy Saver and make sure that Computer sleep: is set to Never.

3. click the Schedule.. button on the Energy Saver Preferences panel and make sure that nothing is checked or scheduled to sleep the computer.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

91,636 points

May 29, 2017 4:54 AM in response to Community User

RIGHT2LIBERTY wrote:

Are you saying that the system is supposed to sleep no matter what it's doing at the time of sleep?

I understand the options of manually defeating sleep and I thank you for the recommendations. Yet, I think, if iTunes is playing music or a movie then it should override sleep. Of course, come to think of it, if I play a movie on my iMac ( very seldomly since I have Apple TV 4th gen) it does not go to sleep.

No! It should not sleep while iTunes is actively playing music.

If you are familiar with the Activity Monitor, you can use it to check and see if iTunes is Preventing Sleep.

Open your Activity Monitor > control (right) click on the Process Name bar > check to add Preventing Sleep.

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The other thing that might be happening, is some kind of iTunes crash or an overheating problem that caused the system to go down.

To check, open Console in your Applications Utility folder and go to the system log. Then look back in the logs to the time when iTunes stopped, the system went to sleep or crashed.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

91,636 points

Jun 11, 2017 8:24 AM in response to Community User

RIGHT2LIBERTY wrote:

Support said again, if the computer goes to full sleep it is supposed to turn off or cause everything to go to sleep.

Hogwash, it should not got to sleep if there is an app running that is suppose to prevent it.

Apparently, I'm supposed to bump the mouse or finger the keyboard every 45 minutes to keep everything awake.

Again Hogwash. Over the years I have used several differed Mac's (running 10.4.4 thru 10.12.5) as iTunes music players and never had to reactivate the sleep timer in that manor.

Anyway, if you have any other ideas please float them my way.

If all of your sleep setting are set correctly and as we discussed above, then perhaps there is something wrong within your OS.

At this point there are a few other options that I would try.

1) install the 10.12.5 Combo Update over the top of the current OS. It has been know to solve problems and will not remove any of your current data.

Download macOS Sierra 10.12.5 Combo Update

2) Use macOS Recovery and reinstall macOS over the top of the current version. In may or may not solve the problem and will not remove any of your current data.

About macOS Recovery - Apple Support

3) Blowout everything! Reformat your startup disk, reinstall a clean version macOS and restore from your backup.

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

FWIW,

1) is faster and easier than 2), but will accomplish the same thing.

3) should only be used as a last resort and with a good backup in place.

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Answer 4

May 28, 2017 12:12 PM in response to den.thed

dt,

Are you saying that the system is supposed to sleep no matter what it's doing at the time of sleep?

I understand the options of manually defeating sleep and I thank you for the recommendations. Yet, I think, if iTunes is playing music or a movie then it should override sleep. Of course, come to think of it, if I play a movie on my iMac ( very seldomly since I have Apple TV 4th gen) it does not go to sleep.

Thanks dude for provoking more thought about this. Obvisouly, if I'm using my iMac as a jukebox, which is what it does most of the time, Plays music while I'm doing anything else. (nice thing about working for self, I can go to work naked if I want. At least, as long as clients aren't here)

Thank you much for the reply. Oh, my system only shows "Turn Display off....." How do I add the slider about turning off the computer? Did you do that via Titanium?

t

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Answer 5

May 29, 2017 4:54 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks DT.

"Yes" is the operation to "prevent sleep". As for the logs, For some reason the System Logs are wiped. IE; Nothing past restart this morning. I had to go into Recovery to provide First Aid to an external drive. I do run iStat Menu and it has never shown an overheat issue.

I'm going to fly with this for now and keep iTunes running to see if it happens again. If issues develop, I'll bug ya again.

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Answer 6

Jun 11, 2017 7:00 AM in response to den.thed

Hey DT,

iTunes continues to shut down when the system (still on default) goes to complete sleep. after about an hour give or take. Support said again, if the computer goes to full sleep it is supposed to turn off or cause everything to go to sleep. Apparently, I'm supposed to bump the mouse or finger the keyboard every 45 minutes to keep everything awake.

Anyway, if you have any other ideas please float them my way.

Thank again!

Tom

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