Sleep mode vs. Stop: What’s the best way to use your MacBook every day?

macOS offers two main options when you’re done using your Mac or MacBook: sleep and shutdown. At a high level, these things are self-explanatory, but you may be wondering when to use each mode and what exactly happens in both cases.

As with most IT matters, the right option to use depends on the circumstances. Using the “wrong” mode will almost never cause a problem, but it’s best to be as efficient as possible.

Shutting down your Mac is like shutting down any other computer. During the process, each application closes, the operating system is shut down, and the RAM is emptied. To ensure your MacBook shuts down properly, do not close the lid until the screen is turned off. Apple’s instructions state that closing the lid during the shutdown process may result in a slower startup next time. Once completely shut down, the system no longer consumes power. You need to open the lid or press the power button to turn the machine back on.

When you perform a normal shutdown by clicking Close In the Apple menu at the top left, a one-minute countdown will run so you can undo the action if you change your mind. Also on this window is a Reopen windows when reconnecting box; check this, and when you restart, macOS will relaunch the same apps you had open before shutting down. If you are sure you want to stop, hold down Option key when you click Close to bypass the countdown. This will attempt to gracefully close apps, but you won’t receive a prompt asking you to save changes if an app’s autosaving has issues.

If necessary, you can also Reboot in the Apple menu. Rebooting is a good thing when an application or the entire system is malfunctioning, but this process does not completely power down the machine’s components. So if you need to completely shut off power to troubleshoot accessories or the like, a complete shutdown is best. This is different from Windows, where the fast startup option means that the shutdown is not a full power cycle by default and the restart is more thorough.

On your MacBook, the Touch ID button at the top right (or the power button on older models) locks your computer if you press it quickly while the computer is on. Leave it locked for a while on battery and it will go to sleep. Pressing and holding it for several seconds will force a shutdown, which you should only do if the entire system is unresponsive. You will lose any unsaved work.

The easiest way to put your MacBook to sleep is to close the lid, but you can also select Sleep in the Apple menu. While your Mac is asleep, your session is remembered, so you can pick up where you left off once you open the screen and authenticate your credentials. Through a feature (sometimes) called Power Nap, your Mac can continue to perform certain tasks, such as retrieving emails, syncing calendar data, and responding to Find My pings. If your computer is plugged in, it can run more intensive activities such as Time Machine backups and search indexing.

Your Mac should use very little battery while asleep (less than 1% per hour), especially modern Apple Silicon models which are more power efficient. When the battery becomes extremely low in sleep mode, macOS “hibernates” by saving your session to disk and then shutting down so you don’t lose any work. If you experience significant battery drain while sleeping, unplug accessories such as external drives and hubs. Also close constantly active apps, like Slack, cloud storage tools, or a browser tab with a page that keeps refreshing.

To save power, your MacBook automatically goes to sleep if you don’t use it for a certain amount of time. Adjust these times by opening the Apple menu and clicking System Settingsthen choosing Lock screen in the left sidebar. Next to Turn off screen on battery when idleselect a time period. Shortly after your Mac turns off its screen, it goes to sleep if you don’t take any action. THE Turn off the screen on the power adapter when idle The option provides separate control when your laptop is plugged in.

Below System Settings > Battery > Optionsyou have other options. With Prevent auto-sleep on power adapter when screen is offthe screen will turn off at the chosen time, but the system will continue to operate. In the meantime, Wake up to access the network controls the previously mentioned Power Nap features. Choose Only on AC adapter Or Never to prevent your Mac from running while it is sleeping on battery power.

It makes more sense to put your Mac to sleep when you’ll use it again soon. When you step away from your desk for lunch, have finished your work for the day, or plan to use your MacBook in the coming days, sleep mode is suitable. It allows for quick recovery, keeps data in sync (if you have it enabled), and doesn’t consume much power. Ideally, plug your MacBook in to charge so it’s ready for future trips, but you shouldn’t lose much battery if you forget.

Conversely, you should turn off your MacBook when you don’t plan to use it for a few days or even weeks. If you’re going on vacation and leaving your laptop at home, turn it off first. Modern Macs still boot quickly enough that you won’t be bothered when you return. The other important time to power down is when packing your laptop, especially if Power Nap is enabled when you’re on battery. If your laptop doesn’t sleep properly, the heat it generates while working is dangerous in a confined space like a bag.

Otherwise, aside from software updates, you don’t really need to shut down your Mac at any time. Shutting down or restarting once a week is a good idea, but it’s not necessary unless you’re having problems. You don’t need to turn off your Mac every day.