If your MacBook screen keeps turning off while you are working watching videos or downloading files it can quickly become frustrating. By default macOS is designed to save battery by putting your display to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity. However you can change these settings to keep the screen on for longer or prevent it from turning off entirely.
This guide explains how to stop your MacBook screen from turning off using system settings in macOS Ventura Monterey and earlier versions. It also covers related sleep settings and tips for maintaining performance while keeping your screen active.
Adjusting Display Sleep Settings in macOS Ventura or Later
If you are using macOS Ventura or a newer version follow these steps to change your screen sleep settings:
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select System Settings. In the sidebar choose Displays then click Advanced at the bottom of the window. Here you will see an option that says Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off. You can toggle this setting on to stop your MacBook from going to sleep when the screen turns off.
To change the timing of the display turning off go to System Settings > Lock Screen. Under the option Turn display off on power adapter when inactive or on battery when inactive you can choose a longer time such as 30 minutes or select Never.
These settings allow you to control when the screen should stay on depending on whether you are charging or using the battery.
Adjusting Settings in macOS Monterey and Earlier
For older versions of macOS the steps are slightly different. Click the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Energy Saver if you are using Intel-based MacBooks. If you are using an M1 or M2 Mac with Monterey go to Battery instead.
In the Battery or Power Adapter tabs you will find a slider for Turn display off after. Move this slider to a longer duration or all the way to Never if you want the screen to stay on continuously. Also make sure the box for Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off is ticked.
These settings will ensure your MacBook stays awake and responsive for as long as you need.
Using Terminal to Keep Screen Awake
Advanced users can use a Terminal command called caffeinate to prevent the screen from sleeping temporarily. Open Terminal from the Utilities folder and type:
nginx
CopyEdit
caffeinate
Press Enter and keep the Terminal window open. Your MacBook will stay awake until you close the Terminal or stop the command with Control + C. This is useful for long downloads or presentations where you do not want to adjust permanent settings.
Keep Screen On While Watching Videos
Sometimes your MacBook might dim or turn off the screen even while playing videos especially in browsers like Chrome or Firefox. To avoid this try watching in full-screen mode or using a dedicated video app such as Apple TV or QuickTime. You can also install browser extensions that prevent the screen from sleeping during playback.
Consider Using Third-Party Apps
If you need more control over when your Mac stays awake you can use third-party apps like Amphetamine or KeepingYouAwake. These apps offer easy menu bar controls that let you keep your screen on for a set time or under certain conditions such as when specific apps are running.
They are free to use and ideal if you frequently need your MacBook to remain active without manually adjusting settings every time.
Final Thoughts
Stopping your MacBook screen from turning off is easy once you know where to look in System Settings or Preferences. Whether you are working on a project giving a presentation or just want to keep an eye on something while your Mac runs in the background you can customise your sleep settings to suit your needs.
By choosing the right configuration your screen will stay on as long as you want without affecting overall performance.