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Fix a Mac that wakes randomly

We'll find the wake source, disable wake-on-LAN and Power Nap, and isolate the cause—network, peripheral, or schedule—or tell you when to call a pro.

Troubleshooting · Home maintenance
5–15 min
Step 1 of 4

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Steps

Goal: Find the wake source and disable it.

  • Run log show or pmset -g log to see what woke the Mac.
  • Good: Wake reason identified. Proceed to Disable wake sources.
  • Bad: Unclear—disable wake-on-LAN and Power Nap.

Find wake source

Goal: Identify what woke the Mac.

  • Terminal: log show —predicate “eventMessage contains “Wake reason"" —last 1h. Or pmset -g log | grep -i wake. EHCI/XHC = USB device. RTC = schedule. Network = wake-on-LAN.
  • Good: Wake reason found. Proceed to Disable wake sources.
  • Bad: Unclear—disable all common sources.

Disable wake sources

Goal: Turn off wake-on-LAN and Power Nap.

  • System Settings, Battery, Options. Turn off wake-on-LAN and Power Nap. Disconnect external displays and USB devices. Check Schedule for wake times.
  • Good: Mac stops waking. Proceed to Verification.
  • Bad: Reset SMC or see When to get help.

When to get help

Call Apple or a technician if:

  • You cannot identify the wake source.
  • The Mac wakes repeatedly after disabling all common sources.
  • SMC reset did not help.

Verification

  • The Mac stays asleep when you expect it to.
  • No unexpected wakes from sleep.
  • pmset -g log shows no unwanted wake reasons.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Find wake source Run log show or pmset -g log; identify wake reason.
  2. Disable wake features Turn off wake-on-LAN and Power Nap.
  3. Peripherals Disconnect external displays and USB devices; test.
  4. Call a pro Cannot identify wake source; SMC reset did not help.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Mac model and macOS version:
  • Wake reason from pmset -g log:
  • Peripherals connected when Mac wakes:
  • Steps already tried:

What does pmset -g log show as wake reason?

Log shows what woke the Mac.

Terminal: log show --predicate "eventMessage contains \"Wake reason\"" --last 1h. Or pmset -g log | grep -i wake. Good: identified (e.g. EHCI, XHC = USB; RTC = schedule). Bad: unclear—disable wake-on-LAN and Power Nap.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Target the wake source

If USB (EHCI/XHC): unplug the device. If network: disable wake-on-LAN. If Power Nap: disable it. If RTC: check scheduled events. Good: Mac stops waking. Bad: try disabling all wake sources.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Disable wake-on-LAN and Power Nap

System Settings, Battery, Options. Turn off wake-on-LAN and Power Nap. Disconnect external displays and USB devices. Reset SMC if needed.

Done

Mac no longer wakes randomly

The Mac stays asleep. You are done.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would a Mac wake randomly?
Wake-on-LAN, Power Nap, external display or USB device, Bluetooth peripheral, or scheduled event. Check pmset -g log to find the wake source.
Can I fix a Mac that wakes randomly myself?
Yes. Disable wake-on-LAN and Power Nap, disconnect peripherals, check pmset -g log for the wake reason. If a specific device wakes the Mac, unplug it when not in use.
When should I call a technician for random wakes?
If you cannot identify the wake source and the Mac wakes repeatedly. Hardware or firmware may need repair.

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