Lately it takes several attempts to get my Sleep function to finally stay "asleep". It has taken up to seven tries for the screen to stay blank-it will go blank for a few seconds only, before reopening to the desktop. Thanks for your help,
iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13.3)
If your Mac doesn't go to sleep when you expect
Check your Energy Saver settings as described above, and be aware that your Mac won't automatically go to sleep unless it's inactive:
- The same network activities that can wake your Mac can also keep your Mac from sleeping.
- Any app or other process that's running on your Mac could also be keeping your Mac awake. Check the Energy Saver pane of Activity Monitor to identify apps that need your Mac to be awake. If "Yes" appears in the Preventing Sleep column for an app, your Mac won't automatically sleep while the app is running. Other apps prevent sleep only when doing certain things, such playing music or video, printing, or downloading files.
If you started from macOS Recovery on a Mac notebook, automatic sleep is disabled as long as the Mac is using AC power.
If the previous steps don't work
These additional steps may help identify or resolve the issue:
- Reset the SMC.
- Reset NVRAM.
- Disconnect external devices other than your Apple keyboard, mouse, and display. If that resolves the issue, gradually reconnect your devices, testing each time, until you find the device that is interfering with sleep. Then check the documentation that came with the device, or contact the device manufacturer.
- Start up in Safe Mode to see if the issue is related to non-Apple startup items, login items, or kernel extensions.
- Try to isolate the issue by using another user account.
If you still see the issue, contact Apple Support.
If your Mac doesn't sleep or wake when expected - Apple Support
If your Mac doesn't go to sleep when you expect
Check your Energy Saver settings as described above, and be aware that your Mac won't automatically go to sleep unless it's inactive:
- The same network activities that can wake your Mac can also keep your Mac from sleeping.
- Any app or other process that's running on your Mac could also be keeping your Mac awake. Check the Energy Saver pane of Activity Monitor to identify apps that need your Mac to be awake. If "Yes" appears in the Preventing Sleep column for an app, your Mac won't automatically sleep while the app is running. Other apps prevent sleep only when doing certain things, such playing music or video, printing, or downloading files.
If you started from macOS Recovery on a Mac notebook, automatic sleep is disabled as long as the Mac is using AC power.
If the previous steps don't work
These additional steps may help identify or resolve the issue:
- Reset the SMC.
- Reset NVRAM.
- Disconnect external devices other than your Apple keyboard, mouse, and display. If that resolves the issue, gradually reconnect your devices, testing each time, until you find the device that is interfering with sleep. Then check the documentation that came with the device, or contact the device manufacturer.
- Start up in Safe Mode to see if the issue is related to non-Apple startup items, login items, or kernel extensions.
- Try to isolate the issue by using another user account.
If you still see the issue, contact Apple Support.
If your Mac doesn't sleep or wake when expected - Apple Support
Why is my Sleep function not responding properly"
