how to keep music playing when laptop is closed mac

How do you ensure your favorite tunes continue to serenade you even after closing the lid on your Mac?

Understanding the Basics of macOS Sleep Mode

Before we delve into the solutions for keeping music playing when your Mac is closed, it’s essential to understand what happens during sleep mode. When your Mac goes into sleep mode, it conserves power and reduces energy consumption, but this also halts all running applications and services, including audio playback. However, there are ways to prevent this from happening, such as using specific apps or system settings.

Solutions for Keeping Music Playing in Sleep Mode

1. Using an External Audio Device

One of the most straightforward methods is to use an external audio device that doesn’t rely on your Mac’s built-in speakers or headphones. This approach ensures that music continues to play regardless of whether your Mac is active or sleeping. Popular choices include Bluetooth speakers, wireless headphones, or dedicated audio interfaces. Ensure that your Mac’s audio output is set to the correct device in System Preferences > Sound.

2. Using a Background Audio Application

Another method involves utilizing background audio applications specifically designed to play music while your Mac is asleep. Applications like “Background Music” (if enabled), or third-party software such as “Audio Hijack” or “Soundflower,” allow you to stream audio from your computer to an external device. These applications need to be configured properly to ensure that music continues playing in the background.

3. Utilizing System Settings

MacOS itself offers some control over sleep behavior through its settings. By adjusting the “Power Nap” feature in Energy Saver preferences, you can configure your Mac to wake up briefly at regular intervals to check for important events. Although this won’t guarantee continuous music playback, it does provide a measure of control over when your Mac wakes up.

4. Automator Workflows

For those who enjoy automation, creating an Automator workflow can be a handy solution. You can create a simple workflow that plays music from a specific folder or playlist whenever your Mac wakes up from sleep. Automator works seamlessly with other apps and can be triggered manually or scheduled to run at specific times.

5. Third-Party Software

There are numerous third-party applications available that specialize in maintaining audio playback across different sleep modes. Some examples include “SleepGuard,” which monitors your Mac’s sleep state and ensures music continues playing, and “Wake On Music,” which uses AppleScript to wake your Mac when certain songs are played.

Conclusion

By employing one or more of these strategies, you can maintain the uninterrupted enjoyment of your music collection even when your Mac is closed and asleep. Whether you opt for an external audio device, a background audio application, tweaking system settings, leveraging Automator workflows, or using specialized third-party software, there are multiple paths to achieving this goal. Experiment with different methods to find the best fit for your needs and preferences.

Related Questions

1. Q: Can I still play music if my Mac is completely shut down? A: No, once your Mac is fully powered off, all audio stops. To keep music playing continuously, you must ensure your Mac stays awake or use an external device.

2. Q: What if my Mac automatically sleeps too quickly? A: You can adjust the sleep interval in Energy Saver preferences to give you more time to react before your Mac enters sleep mode.

3. Q: Is there a way to prevent my Mac from waking up at all? A: Yes, you can disable sleep and related features in the “Power Nap” section of Energy Saver preferences. However, this might not be desirable if you want to conserve battery life.

4. Q: How do I know if my Mac is currently sleeping? A: Check the status indicator in the menu bar (looks like a clock with a sleep icon) or go to Activity Monitor > CPU tab to see if your Mac is consuming any power.

5. Q: Are there any risks associated with leaving music playing in the background? A: While generally safe, leaving music playing in the background could potentially drain your battery faster, especially if the volume is high. Adjusting the volume and choosing appropriate audio devices can mitigate these risks.