The problem
Your Mac can sleep during cutscenes, loading screens, or when you step away briefly between matches. Some games don't request sleep prevention, especially older titles and emulated games.
Why it happens
Most modern games prevent sleep during active gameplay, but not all do. Emulators, indie games, and browser-based games rarely request it. Long loading screens and paused games also let the idle timer tick down.
The fix: Shake It On
Shake It On keeps your Mac awake by moving the mouse slightly at regular intervals. macOS sees real user activity and resets the idle timer. Set it up with the right conditions and it only runs when you're actually gaming.
Recommended conditions for gaming:
- Only Shake If a specific app is running (set to your game or Steam)
- Paused When on battery
Tip
Set the shake interval to 5 minutes. That's long enough to not interfere with gameplay but short enough to catch any idle gaps.Shake It On keeps your Mac awake during gaming with smart conditions. $9.99 one-time. Get Shake It On for $9.99 →
Keep your Mac awake the easy way.
Shake It On lives in your menu bar and uses organic mouse movement to prevent sleep. Set it once and forget it.
Get Shake It On for $9.99One-time purchase. No subscription. Free updates forever.