Hands-On Tech 241: Keep Your Mac Awake

Hosted by Micah Sargent
Released November 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Hands-On Tech dives into the issue of keeping your Mac awake for scheduled processes, such as backups, in the face of recent changes to macOS power management. Host Micah Sargent answers Club TWiT member Kevin’s question about how to prevent his Mac from sleeping before a Super Duper backup, discussing built-in Mac options and recommending several third-party utilities. Micah also addresses a fun listener query about why there's no Safari browser on Apple TV, with his usual wit and detailed tech explanations.

Keeping Your Mac Awake for Scheduled Backups

Context: Kevin’s Question ([01:21])

• Kevin owns a Mac Studio M1 Max (2020) running macOS "Tahoe 26 point."
• Uses Super Duper for hard drive backups.
• Despite setting "prevent automatic sleeping when display is off," backups only run after manual wake from sleep.
• Can't schedule wake, as this was removed from new macOS.
• Asks if TinkerTool is worth it, or for other recommendations.

“I have a Mac Studio M1 Max from 2020 [...] even though I have ‘prevent automatic sleeping when display is off’ checked, the Super Duper backup does not do the backup until I wake it up in the morning.”
— Kevin’s email ([01:21])

The Problem with macOS Power Settings ([03:42])

• Newer versions of macOS have "barebones" energy settings:
  • Prevent sleep when display is off
  • Wake for network access
  • Startup after power failure
• Much less user control, frustrating for power users.

“The fact that this is so, so bare is frustrating...power users...would use this page as much as they wanted to.”
— Micah ([04:52])

Solutions to Keep Your Mac Awake

1. Built-in Terminal Solution: caffeinate ([02:30])

• caffeinate keeps the Mac awake as long as the Terminal session is active.
• Not ideal—keeps Mac awake indefinitely, not event or time-based.

2. Amphetamine ([05:10])

• Free, robust menu bar utility inspired by Caffeinate.
• Can keep Mac awake indefinitely, for set durations, while certain apps run, or during downloads.
• Special session options:
  • Start/stop on command or set behaviors.
  • Allow display sleep while keeping Mac awake.
  • Triggers: Automate activation using app launches, schedules, or other criteria.

How to Use for Super Duper Backups:

1. Set Amphetamine Triggers to activate when Super Duper is running ([06:20]):
   • Enable triggers in Amphetamine.
   • Grant the necessary automation permissions.
   • Choose “Application” as the trigger—specifically Super Duper’s process.
   • Set options: allow display sleep, allow screensaver, etc.
   • Save and enable.

“What this does is it keeps your Mac from falling asleep for the whole period that the Super Duper backup is going to.”
— Micah ([07:51])

2. Add a Schedule Trigger:
   • Add a “Schedule” criterion to set time windows for keeping Mac awake (e.g., 2:00-8:00 AM).

Drive Alive Helper ([09:23])

• Amphetamine offers “Drive Alive”—additional tool to prevent hard drive sleep (important for backups).
• Not installed by default; must activate in settings.

“Drive Alive is requiring the hard drive to stay awake during this period of time. [...] Go into the settings, find Drive Alive, and then use it from there.”
— Micah ([09:40])

3. Power Manager ([12:19])

• $13 utility — significantly more powerful, automation-rich alternative.
• Similar to TinkerTool; offers advanced scheduled power events (wake, sleep, launch scripts/apps).
• Sample setup:
  • Schedule Mac to wake at 1:58 AM.
  • Super Duper scheduled at 2:00 AM.
  • After backup, Power Manager can put Mac to sleep (e.g., 4:00 AM).

“It is so powerful, all of the different things that you’re able to do that will kind of help you to narrow in on exactly what you’re looking for.”
— Micah ([13:35])

• Can be combined with Amphetamine:
  • Power Manager wakes Mac.
  • Amphetamine keeps it awake while Super Duper runs.
  • Mac returns to sleep after backup.

4. Manual Terminal Workarounds ([16:40])

• Advanced users can use Terminal scripts and cron jobs for full automation—but risk confusion if not tracked, as settings are hidden and easy to forget.

“You can still make use of the built-in scheduling tools, cron jobs... I find [apps] very easy and, more importantly, easy to find what you did afterward.”
— Micah ([17:12])

Summary Recommendation ([17:40])

• Start with Amphetamine (free), set up triggers and scheduling.
• Add Drive Alive to keep disks awake.
• If further control is needed, pair with Power Manager (paid) for scheduled wake/sleep.
• Use advanced Terminal scripting only if comfortable—otherwise, these apps cover most needs.

Quick Listener Q&A: Safari on Apple TV ([20:45])

Jorge asks: “What could happen if Apple put Safari on Apple TV? [...] Safari is on iPad, iPhone, Macs, but not on Apple TV. Why not?”

Micah’s Answer ([21:00])

• Browsers require precise, interactive navigation—touch/cursor works, TV remote does not.
• Modern browsers consume tons of processing power: web pages today are extremely complex (CSS, scripts, ads, pop-ups, background processes, compliance banners, etc.).
• Apple TV hardware, while improving, isn’t optimized for these heavy browser tasks.
• Experience would be “not great”—like most smart TV browsers.

“I have a finger or a cursor that I can move around... on an Apple TV, I’ve got a remote. I don’t want to use that to try to go around on Safari.”
— Micah ([21:20])

• Bonus workaround: Apple TV is an AirPlay destination—you can mirror Safari from your Mac or iOS device to Apple TV if you really need browser display.

Memorable Quote ([23:05])

“What I’m trying to say is there’s a lot that needs to happen on a browser. And while Apple TVs are getting more powerful... they’re still not the most power-intensive devices.”
— Micah

Notable Quotes

• “Start with Amphetamine. See if that’s enough to get you to where you’re trying to go. And then from there you can kind of add some other things too.”
  — Micah ([17:42])

• “Power users will tell you that all of this is achievable just using Terminal. It’s very involved and so I’m not going to talk about that process.”
  — Micah ([16:37])

Key Timestamps

• [01:21] — Kevin’s power management/backups question read and introduced
• [03:42] — macOS Energy settings limitations explained
• [05:10] — Introduction to Amphetamine & features
• [06:20] — Using Amphetamine Triggers for automating backups
• [09:23] — Drive Alive helper for Amphetamine
• [12:19] — Power Manager: full-featured automation
• [16:40] — Terminal/cron job workaround (for advanced users)
• [17:42] — Micah’s summary recommendation
• [20:45] — Q&A: Why no Safari on Apple TV?
• [21:20] — Navigational and hardware limitations of TV browsers
• [23:05] — Technical explanation: Browsers’ demands vs. Apple TV capabilities

Episode Tone

Micah delivers information in a friendly, straightforward, and slightly playful tone—making complex macOS features easy to understand and providing actionable advice with clear enthusiasm for clever tech solutions. His analogies (caffeine vs. amphetamine) and detailed breakdowns keep the content approachable for all listener levels.

Final Thoughts

This episode provides a comprehensive, practical guide for Mac users frustrated by Apple’s reduced energy management options, with an emphasis on approachable third-party utilities (Amphetamine and Power Manager). The closing Q&A, while lighter, gives listeners tech trivia and helpful context in classic TWiT style.

For further questions:
Email: hot@twit.tv — Micah invites more tech queries for future episodes.