Why your Mac sleeps while running Steam
Steam game downloads can take hours for large titles. Steam itself doesn't prevent sleep during downloads. Games may prevent sleep during active gameplay but not during loading screens or paused states.
macOS tracks idle time based on mouse and keyboard input, not CPU or app activity. If you're not actively moving the mouse while Steam does its thing, the idle timer counts down and your Mac sleeps.
Keep your Mac awake with Shake It On
Shake It On moves your mouse slightly at regular intervals, resetting the idle timer. It only runs when your conditions are met, so it activates when Steam is working and stops when you're done.
Best condition for Steam: Only Shake If a specific app is running (Steam)
Quick setup
- Install Shake It On and grant Accessibility permission
- Open Settings from the menu bar icon
- Under "Only Shake If," enable the condition: Only Shake If a specific app is running (Steam)
- Under "Paused When," enable "On battery" to save power when unplugged
- For long overnight operations, enable "Allow display to sleep" in the General section so the screen turns off but the system stays awake
Keep your Mac awake while Steam runs. 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.