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When I close the lid, it goes to sleep mode. But sometimes I need my MacBook awake even when the lid is closed while downloading a very large file from the internet or listening to iTunes playlists.

Is there any way to keep my MacBook awake and keep downloading at the same time??

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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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Nope, closing the lid will automatically sleep your Mac. If you want your Mac's screen to be off but for it to continue downloading, download the Caffeine app from the Mac App Store and turn it on (Caffiene stops your Mac from sleeping temporarily) then dim your brightness all the way. The task will continue and the screen will stay off.

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    You can perform this same function using caffeinate from the Terminal (saves a download, can be run on behalf of a PID or just with a timeout in seconds).
    – Dustin Wheeler
    Aug 4, 2016 at 15:19
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    @DustinWheeler True, true.
    – owlswipe
    Aug 6, 2016 at 2:33
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Yes, you can actually. See link for terminal command "caffeinate" https://mac-how-to.gadgethacks.com/how-to/take-control-your-macs-sleep-functions-with-these-commands-0168109/

Also, there are GUI apps "NoSleep" and "InsomniaX" that you can download and have the same effect without messing around in the terminal.

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    Welcome to Ask Different. Caffeinate was already mentioned in the comments of a previous answer. Adding links to the other software you mentioned would be helpful to others, too.
    – fsb
    Mar 2, 2017 at 16:51
  • Neither NoSleep nor built-in caffeine don't really work on High Sierra.
    – Display Name
    May 21, 2018 at 5:16

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