A MacBook that wakes up by itself is usually responding to a network request, a scheduled task, a connected accessory, or a power-management setting. To fix it, disconnect accessories, review sharing and wake settings, disable scheduled startup or wake events, and reset the Mac’s power-management state if necessary.
Quick Answer
Start with these checks:
- Disconnect USB devices, docks, external displays, and Ethernet adapters. 2. Open System Settings > Battery > Options and review wake-related settings. 3. Turn off Wake for network access if it appears. 4. Check System Settings > General > Sharing and disable services you do not use. 5.
Why a MacBook Wakes Up by Itself
A MacBook can wake for several legitimate reasons:
- A network device requests access to shared files or services.
- macOS performs maintenance or checks for updates.
- A scheduled wake or startup event is configured.
- A USB device, Bluetooth accessory, dock, or monitor sends a signal.
- A connected charger or unstable power source interrupts sleep.
- A third-party app or system utility prevents normal sleep.
- A software or hardware fault causes repeated wake events.
The first step is to determine whether the Mac wakes because the lid is opened, the power button is pressed, or the computer briefly wakes while the lid remains closed. These are different situations. A Mac that wakes for a moment and then sleeps again may be performing background maintenance, while a Mac that stays awake often has an active network, accessory, or software cause.
If the problem includes repeated sleep and wake cycles, overheating, or unusually high processor use, see How to Fix a Mac That Sleeps or Wakes Unexpectedly.
1. Disconnect Accessories and Test Sleep
Accessories are one of the easiest causes to eliminate. A dock, USB hub, external drive, monitor, Ethernet adapter, keyboard, mouse, or backup device can send a wake signal.
Before disconnecting anything, save your work and close apps that are using external drives. Unplugging a drive while it is being written to can corrupt files.
- Save your work and close open applications.
- Disconnect all nonessential accessories from the MacBook.
- If the Mac is connected to a dock, disconnect the dock itself rather than only removing individual devices.
- Disconnect external displays and Ethernet adapters.
- Put the MacBook to sleep from the Apple menu by choosing Sleep.
- Wait several minutes to see whether it remains asleep.
If the Mac stays asleep, reconnect accessories one at a time. Put the Mac to sleep after connecting each device. When the problem returns, the last connected device or its driver is a likely cause.
Pay special attention to docks and displays
USB-C and Thunderbolt docks can provide power, networking, display output, and USB connections simultaneously. A dock may wake the Mac when a display reconnects, the network changes, or a peripheral becomes available.
To narrow down the cause:
- Update the dock’s firmware if the manufacturer provides an update.
- Install current software or drivers from the manufacturer.
- Test the Mac without the dock for at least one sleep cycle.
- Try a different cable or port if the issue happens only with one connection.
2. Review Battery and Lock Screen Settings
The exact settings available can vary by Mac model and macOS version. Look for settings that allow the Mac to wake for network access or remain active when connected to power.
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Battery.
- Click Options.
- Review any setting named Wake for network access.
- Set it to Never or turn it off if you do not need network access while the Mac sleeps.
- If available, review settings related to preventing automatic sleep when the display is off.
On some Macs, the wake-for-network option may be available only when the computer is connected to a power adapter. If you need features such as file sharing or remote access during sleep, leave the setting enabled and continue with the other troubleshooting steps.
Also review System Settings > Lock Screen. Settings in this area control when the display turns off and when the Mac requires a password, but they do not usually cause a Mac to wake by themselves. Adjusting them can still help distinguish a display that turns on from a computer that has fully awakened.
3. Disable Sharing Services You Do Not Use
Sharing services can make a Mac available to other devices on the network. In some cases, a network request can wake the computer.
- Open System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Sharing.
- Review the list of services.
- Turn off services you do not use, such as File Sharing, Screen Sharing, Remote Login, or Remote Management.
- Put the Mac to sleep and test it again.
Do not disable a service if you rely on it for work or remote administration. If you are unsure, record which settings were enabled before changing them so you can restore them later.
If the Mac wakes only when another computer, phone, backup device, or smart-home device is active on the same network, network access is a strong suspect.
4. Check Scheduled Wake Events in Terminal
macOS can contain scheduled sleep, wake, startup, or shutdown events. Terminal can display these events even when they are not obvious in System Settings.
This step is safe when used only to inspect settings. It does not change anything.
- Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Enter the following command and press Return:
pmset -g sched
Look for lines containing terms such as wake, wakeorpoweron, poweron, or automatic. A scheduled event may show a date and time for a future wake or startup.
If you find an event you intentionally created, remove it from the app or feature that scheduled it. For example, a backup tool, energy-saving utility, or maintenance app may have created the schedule.
You can also inspect the current power-management settings with:
pmset -g
This command displays configuration values; it does not modify them. Look for wake-related values, including settings associated with network access, automatic power events, or dark wakes. The output can be difficult to interpret, so avoid changing values unless you know exactly what they control.
Removing a scheduled event
If you are certain that a scheduled event is unnecessary, you can remove scheduled power events with:
sudo pmset schedule cancelall
Terminal will request your administrator password. Nothing will appear on screen while you type it. Press Return when finished.
Warning: This removes all scheduled power events, including ones you may want for automatic startup, shutdown, sleep, or wake. Do not run it if you depend on scheduled backups or maintenance.
To reverse this change, recreate the schedule in the app or system feature that originally created it. Because the command removes all schedules, macOS cannot automatically restore each one.
5. Check Bluetooth Accessories
A Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or other accessory may wake the MacBook when it reconnects or receives input.
- Open System Settings.
- Select Bluetooth.
- Turn Bluetooth off temporarily.
- Put the MacBook to sleep and wait.
- If the Mac remains asleep, turn Bluetooth back on and reconnect accessories one at a time.
If one accessory causes the wake, charge it, install any available firmware update, and remove and re-pair it:
- In System Settings > Bluetooth, find the accessory.
- Click the information button next to it.
- Choose Forget This Device.
- Restart the MacBook.
- Pair the accessory again.
Before forgetting an accessory, make sure you have another way to control the MacBook, such as its built-in keyboard and trackpad.
6. Look for Apps That Prevent Normal Sleep
Some applications intentionally keep a Mac awake. Common examples include video-conferencing tools, media players, backup utilities, virtual machines, remote-access tools, download managers, and apps that control external displays.
Check for obvious causes:
- Quit apps that are running in the menu bar.
- Pause or quit backup software.
- Close virtual machines.
- Quit remote-access and screen-recording tools.
- Disconnect from a video call before closing the lid.
- Temporarily disable display-management utilities.
To see whether a process is using significant resources:
- Open Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
- Click the CPU tab.
- Sort by the % CPU column.
- Look for unusually active third-party processes.
- Select a process only if you recognize it, then click the Stop button to quit it.
Warning: Force quitting a process can close an app and discard unsaved work. Do not stop a process if you are unsure what it does.
The kernel_task process is part of macOS and should not normally be force quit. High activity can be related to heat or hardware management rather than the original cause. If processor load remains unusually high, see The kernel_task process overloads the MacBook.
7. Update macOS and Third-Party Software
A sleep or wake problem may be caused by a bug in macOS, a device driver, or an accessory utility.
- Open System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Software Update.
- Install available macOS updates.
- Restart the MacBook when prompted.
Then check for updates from the manufacturers of your dock, monitor, backup software, VPN, virtual-machine app, and other utilities that interact with power or networking.
Do not interrupt an update after it begins. Connect the MacBook to power, save your work, and allow enough time for the restart to finish.
8. Test the MacBook in Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts macOS with limited software and performs startup checks. It can help determine whether login items or third-party extensions are causing the wake problem.
Apple silicon Mac
- Shut down the MacBook completely.
- Press and hold the power button until Loading startup options appears.
- Select a startup volume.
- Hold the Shift key.
- Click Continue in Safe Mode.
Intel-based Mac
- Shut down the MacBook.
- Turn it on and immediately hold the Shift key.
- Release the key when the login window appears.
- Log in. You may need to log in twice.
Put the MacBook to sleep in Safe Mode and observe it. If it remains asleep, a login item, extension, driver, or third-party utility is probably involved.
To review login items:
- Open System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Login Items & Extensions.
- Review apps listed under Open at Login and background activity.
- Turn off nonessential items temporarily.
- Restart normally and test again.
Warning: Disabling a login item may affect backups, security software, synchronization, or other features. Change one item at a time and restore it if it is needed.
9. Reset the MacBook’s Power State
A normal restart clears many temporary power-management conditions. Shut down the MacBook, wait about 30 seconds, and turn it on again.
On an Apple silicon Mac, shutting down and starting up is generally the main power-state reset needed.
On an Intel-based Mac, an SMC reset may help with persistent problems involving sleep, wake, charging, fans, or power buttons. The procedure varies by model. Apple laptops with a T2 Security Chip, built-in battery, or removable battery use different steps.
Because the wrong procedure may not help and some models have special requirements, identify the MacBook model before attempting an Intel SMC reset. Open Apple menu > About This Mac and note the model information. If the MacBook has a removable battery, do not remove it unless you are comfortable working with the hardware and the computer is fully shut down.
Troubleshooting Persistent Wake Problems
The Mac wakes only when the lid is closed
Disconnect the dock, display, charger, and all accessories. A closed-lid Mac connected to power and an external display can remain active by design. Test it without the external setup to determine whether clamshell use is involved.
The screen turns on, but the Mac is not fully awake
A brief display flash may be a dark wake, maintenance task, or notification rather than a complete wake. Check whether the Mac is warm, making fan noise, or showing a login screen. If it returns to sleep quickly, disable network wake and test without accessories before treating it as a serious fault.
The Mac wakes at the same time every day
Run pmset -g sched and look for a matching scheduled event. Also check backup software and other maintenance tools that may have their own schedules.
The Mac wakes after connecting a charger
Try another outlet, cable, or power adapter if available. Inspect the charging port and cable for damage. If the Mac repeatedly wakes or loses power when charging, stop using damaged equipment and have the Mac and charger inspected.
The problem began after installing an app
Uninstall or disable the app, especially if it controls displays, VPN connections, backups, keyboard shortcuts, remote access, or system performance. Follow the developer’s removal instructions when available; simply dragging an app to the Trash may leave background components behind.
The Mac wakes even with everything disconnected
Install macOS updates, test in Safe Mode, and review scheduled events. If the behavior continues after a complete shutdown and occurs without accessories or third-party software, contact Apple Support or an authorized service provider. Repeated unexpected wake events can indicate a hardware, sensor, battery, or logic-board problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my MacBook wake when I close the lid?
A connected dock, monitor, keyboard, network adapter, or other accessory may send a wake signal. Disconnect everything and test the MacBook by itself.
Does a MacBook wake to install updates?
macOS may perform background maintenance or other tasks while sleeping. A brief wake does not necessarily indicate a problem.
Will turning off Bluetooth stop unexpected waking?
It can, if a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, or other accessory is sending input or reconnecting.
Final Thoughts
Start with the simplest causes: disconnect accessories, disable network wake, review sharing services, and check scheduled events.