Stop against. Sleep: What is the best choice for your MacBook?

Modern computers are so energy efficient and efficient at handling background tasks that there’s no need to turn off your MacBook when you stop using it. This is not only a tip for MacBook users, but also for Windows laptop owners. Although it’s been over a decade since I last used a Windows laptop, I was surprised to learn from longtime Windows users that the same thing applies to these computers. If you’re away from your MacBook for a few hours, or even all night, there’s no need to turn off the computer.

For example, whenever I’m done working, I simply close the lid of my MacBook so it’s ready to go the next morning. On Friday afternoon, I actively turn off the computer because I will be staying away from the computer over the weekend. Intel MacBook owners are not recommended to leave their Mac on for extended periods of time, as applications can clog RAM and degrade performance. Fortunately, this is not an issue present on Apple Silicon Macs. It’s important to restart your computer from time to time to install updates for new macOS features and give it a fresh start after a short break.

Have you ever wondered why the M4 Mac mini has the power button at the bottom, making it harder to turn it on and off? Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of marketing, says he can’t remember the last time he turned off his Mac, which indicates they’re designed to keep running nonstop. Apple moved the power button on the Mac mini because putting the computer into sleep mode is more than enough, and the same goes for MacBooks. These machines are very energy efficient; they don’t consume much battery in sleep mode and Apple Silicon machines can turn on instantly every time you open the lid.

Turning off your Mac is no problem either. But because these newer processors can boot instantly, the debate between shutdown and sleep mode is largely a matter of user preference. Shutting down your MacBook restarts the entire system, while simply putting the laptop to sleep will allow you to catch up from where you last left off. That said, there is no correct way to use your MacBook, you can do what works best for you. Apple suggests that keeping your device on all the time is no problem.

Putting your MacBook to sleep is as easy as closing the lid. Or if you leave your Mac without using it for a while, the machine automatically goes into sleep mode. Users can change the time it takes for the Mac to go into sleep mode by going through Settings > Lock screen > Turn off screen on battery when idlethen select the period. Another option to instantly put your Mac to sleep is to tap the Apple logo in the upper left corner and select Sleep.

To turn off your Mac, you need to click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner and select Close. MacBooks turn on automatically when you open the lid or press the Touch ID button in the upper right corner of your keyboard. For desktop Macs, you need to press the power button or Touch ID button on an Apple keyboard.

If you leave your Mac in sleep mode overnight or for less than a day, you can also unlock it instantly with your Apple Watch or Touch ID. If you turn off your Mac, then you must enter the password again to activate the Touch ID button on your keyboard.