macOS puts idle Macs to sleep, saving power and battery life. For most users that works, but large downloads, backups, remote sessions, or AI coding often need the machine to stay awake. Apple’s System Settings let you delay display sleep or stop sleep while on AC power, and they permit closed‑lid use only with an external monitor, keyboard and mouse attached.

KeepingYouAwake provides a one‑click toggle in the menu bar, echoing the old Caffeine app. The free utility uses macOS’s built‑in caffeinate command, allowing indefinite or timed sessions and auto‑disabling when battery falls below a threshold. It works on Retina displays and respects Dark Mode, but it cannot keep a MacBook awake with the lid closed, limiting it to open‑lid scenarios like presentations or screen recordings.

For true closed‑lid operation, Amphetamine remains the most feature‑rich option. It lets you define sessions by time, file activity, apps, or triggers such as displays, battery level or CPU load, giving control over system and display behavior. A newer App Store entrant, Coca, offers a menu‑bar toggle with timers and closed‑lid support, but lacks the granular triggers that make Amphetamine the go‑to choice for users.