How to change screen timeout on Mac (Step-by-step guide)

Prevent Your Mac Screen from Dimming or Going Black: A Complete Guide

Is your Mac screen frustratingly dimming or turning black every 30 seconds or minute, forcing you to repeatedly enter your admin password? This guide provides solutions to adjust or disable screen timeout on your Mac, regardless of your macOS version.

Quick Reference Table:

Action	Method
Change Timeout Interval	Apple Menu > System Settings > Lock Screen > Adjust "Turn display off on battery/power adapter when inactive" dropdowns.
Turn Off Screen (Temporarily)	Use Lungo or One Switch app.
Disable Screen Timeout	Apple Menu > System Settings > Lock Screen > Set "Turn display off on battery/power adapter when inactive" to "Never".
Older macOS Versions	Apple Menu > System Preferences > Energy Saver (Mojave and earlier) or Battery (Catalina and later) > Adjust "Turn display off after" slider.
Disable/Change Screen Saver	Apple Menu > System Settings > Lock Screen > Adjust "Start Screen Saver when inactive" dropdown (or System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver for older macOS versions).

Changing Screen Timeout Interval:

Follow these simple steps to adjust your Mac's screen timeout:

1. Click the Apple menu, then select System Settings.
2. Choose Lock Screen from the sidebar.
3. Adjust the dropdown menus for "Turn display off on battery when inactive" and "Turn display off on power adapter when inactive" to your desired time.

Temporarily Preventing Screen Timeout:

Apps like Lungo offer a quick way to prevent your Mac from sleeping without altering system settings. Lungo provides a simple, one-click solution to keep your Mac awake for a customizable duration.

1. Install and launch Lungo.
2. Click the Lungo menu bar icon (coffee cup).
3. Select your desired wake-up time.

Disabling Screen Timeout Completely:

To prevent your Mac screen from ever turning off automatically:

1. Access System Settings via the Apple menu.
2. Select Lock Screen.
3. Set both "Turn display off on battery when inactive" and "Turn display off on power adapter when inactive" to "Never".

Important Note: While convenient, constantly disabling screen timeout can impact battery life and potentially shorten the lifespan of your display. Consider using a shorter timeout or employing apps like Lungo for temporary solutions.

Adjusting Settings on Older macOS Versions:

For macOS Monterey and earlier versions:

1. Open System Preferences via the Apple menu.
2. Select Energy Saver (Mojave and earlier) or Battery (Catalina and later).
3. Adjust the "Turn display off after" slider to your preference.

Disabling or Changing the Screen Saver:

The screen saver is an alternative to automatic display shutdown. To modify its behavior:

1. Go to System Settings > Lock Screen.
2. Adjust the "Start Screen Saver when inactive" setting. Choose a time or "Never" to disable it.

For older macOS versions, use System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver.

App Recommendations:

• Lungo: Quickly prevents your Mac from sleeping.
• One Switch: Provides quick access to various system toggles.
• CleanMyMac: Helps optimize your Mac's performance and maintain battery health.
• Endurance: Improves battery life by managing power consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

• How to stop MacBook dimming after 30 seconds? Turn off "Automatically adjust brightness" in System Settings > Displays.
• Keyboard shortcut to sleep Mac? Option Command Power button (or Option Command Media Eject on older versions).
• How to prevent Mac from going dark? Adjust screen timeout settings or use Lungo.
• How to prevent Mac from sleeping when closed? System Settings > Battery > Options > Enable "Prevent automatic sleeping..."

Remember to balance convenience with battery health and display longevity. Choose the method that best suits your needs.

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