The problem
Model training runs can take hours or days. A sleeping Mac halts the training process and may lose checkpoint data.
Why it happens
ML frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, and MLX run as background processes. macOS doesn't know they're doing important work and will sleep when the idle timer runs out.
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 machine learning training.
Recommended conditions for machine learning training:
- Only Shake If CPU is above 40% sustained for 5 minutes (catches steady ML workloads, ignores brief idle moments between batches)
- Paused When on battery
- Allow display to sleep
Tip
Sustained-CPU at 40% for 5 minutes is right for ML — GPU does most of the heavy lifting on Apple Silicon, but CPU stays consistently warm. Pair with 'Allow display to sleep' so a 12-hour training run doesn't keep your screen on.Shake It On keeps your Mac awake during machine learning training with smart conditions. $9.99 one-time.
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.
One-time purchase. No subscription. Free updates forever.