LidAwake Get Pro €9.99

Close the lid.
Your Mac keeps working.

Watch a movie on your TV, finish a download or a video export with the lid closed, and let your Mac go to sleep by itself when it's done.

Get LidAwake Pro €9.99 Free version

macOS 13 or later · Apple silicon · one-time purchase

Off

Your Mac behaves as usual. Step away for a few minutes and the display sleeps, then the Mac, and whatever was running pauses with it.

Good to know. LidAwake starts in Off after every login and never switches a mode on by itself.

Keep Screen On

For stepping away from the desk. The screen stays on for a download, a dashboard or a slide deck. Closing the lid still puts the Mac to sleep.

How it works. The same request macOS uses for caffeinate. No permissions needed. Add a timer from 30 minutes to 8 hours if you like.

Run with Lid Closed

For the road. Close the lid and builds, exports and AI agents keep running in your bag or on the shelf. No external display, keyboard or charger required.

How it works. A small helper you allow once in System Settings switches sleep off, and switches it back on when you stop. The screen locks when the lid closes.

Movie on a TV Pro

Connect a TV or monitor by cable or AirPlay, start the movie full screen, close the lid. The movie keeps playing, on battery too.

How it works. Screen lock and Sleep when idle step aside for the session. About two seconds after the lid closes, the movie is back on the TV. Tested with a monitor on a cable and Apple TV over AirPlay.

Off · the Mac sleeps as usual

Made for the jobs that outlast you.

Start something long, close the lid, walk away. When the work is done, your Mac goes to sleep by itself.

AI agents and builds

Leave Claude Code, Codex or a long build working with the lid closed. With Watched apps, your editor or terminal counts as busy while the agent works, and the Mac sleeps after it finishes. In the free version too.

Big downloads Pro

Start a game or a large file before bed and close the lid. The Mac stays awake while the download runs and sleeps once it's finished.

Video exports Pro

Render the timeline overnight with the lid down. LidAwake sees the export running even when the processor looks quiet, and lets the Mac sleep when the file is ready.

Movies on a big screen Pro

Connect the MacBook to a TV or monitor, start the film, close the lid. It keeps playing, on battery too, by cable or over AirPlay.

Works with the apps you already use.

No plugins, no setup per app. LidAwake watches the work itself: processor load, files being written, downloads and apps that ask macOS to stay awake.

  • Claude Code
  • Codex
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • GitHub Copilot
  • Windsurf
  • Gemini CLI
  • Cline
  • Xcode
  • Terminal
  • iTerm2
  • Warp
  • Zed
  • WebStorm
  • JetBrains IDEs
  • Final Cut Pro
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • Premiere Pro
  • CapCut
  • iMovie
  • After Effects
  • Compressor
  • HandBrake
  • Motion
  • Blender
  • OBS Studio
  • Logic Pro
  • Safari
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Arc
  • Steam
  • Transmission
  • curl
  • App Store
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive
  • iCloud Drive
  • Docker

Product names and logos belong to their owners. LidAwake is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

It knows when to stop.

A closed MacBook that never sleeps can drain the battery or run warm in a bag. Every safeguard is a switch you control, and all of them are in the free version too.

  • Stops when the Mac gets hot Ends the session as soon as macOS reports serious thermal pressure.
  • Stops on low battery Pick a limit from 10 to 50 %. 20 % by default.
  • Only while charging Pauses on battery and picks up again when you plug in.
  • Timer Turn off after 30 minutes to 8 hours.
  • Sleeps when the work is done Quiet processor, no app asking to stay awake, no keyboard or mouse for 20 minutes means done.
  • Locks the screen The moment the lid closes, so a running Mac in your bag is still a locked Mac.
  • Fails safe If the battery level or temperature can't be read, the session ends.
  • Sleep comes back on its own The safeguards live in a small helper, not in the app. If LidAwake quits or crashes, normal sleep returns within two minutes.

You get a notification each time one of them steps in.

Safety

Stop when the Mac gets hot Ends the session under thermal pressure
On
Stop on low battery When the charge drops below the limit
20% On
Only while charging Pauses on battery, resumes on power
Off
Turn off after Counts from the moment you switch on
2 hours On

Sleep and wake

Sleep when idle Idle for 0 of 20 min
20 min On
Wake at Every day, on power only
08:00 On

Everything stays on your Mac.

No account, no analytics, no tracking. LidAwake doesn't read your files, windows or what you type. The activity log is a file on your Mac and never leaves it.

The only thing that goes online is a daily check for a new version. It sends nothing but the app's version number, and you can switch it off in Settings.

And the small things.

  • Wake at 08:00 The Mac wakes on schedule and runs with the lid closed, then sleeps when idle.
  • Watched apps Pick your editor or terminal from a list. Its work keeps the Mac awake.
  • Activity log What turned the mode on or off, and why. Stored on your Mac only.
  • Glass or Solid Glass look on macOS 26, or a solid window. Blue, System or Amber accent.
  • Four languages English, Deutsch, Русский and 简体中文, following your system.
  • Shortcuts and Siri Soon Coming to Pro in a free update.

Free for developers.
Pro for everything else.

The free version is open source and covers builds and coding agents. Pro adds the features for everyday life: movies, downloads and video exports.

LidAwake Pro

€9.99 one-time

  • Everything in the free version
  • Movie on a TV, on battery too
  • Sleeps only after downloads and video exports finish
  • Shortcuts and Siri, coming in an update
  • Pay once, keep it. Updates included for as long as LidAwake is developed
Buy LidAwake Pro €9.99

Checkout and invoice by Polar.

LidAwake

Free open source, MIT

  • For developers: builds, scripts and coding agents
  • Run with Lid Closed, Keep Screen On and every safeguard
  • Build it yourself, download the signed app from GitHub, or use Homebrew 
brew install --cask vladimir-podgornyi/tap/lidawake
View on GitHub
Free and Pro compared
What it doesFreePro
Only in Pro
Movie on a TV One click: close the lid and the movie keeps playing on a TV or monitor, by cable or AirPlay Not included Included
The movie comes back to the TV by itself About two seconds after the lid closes, no window shuffling Not included Included
Movie-ready settings, automatically Screen lock and Sleep when idle step aside for the movie; your own settings stay as they were Not included Included
Waits for downloads Games, large files, browser downloads: the Mac sleeps once the file is in Not included Included
Waits for video exports Sees a running render even when the processor looks quiet, sleeps when the file is ready Not included Included
Shortcuts Switch modes from the Shortcuts app and automations Not included Soon
Siri Switch modes by voice Not included Soon
In both versions
Run with Lid Closed Works with the lid shut, no external display Included Included
Keep Screen On Included Included
Safeguards Overheating, low battery, Only while charging, timer Included Included
Sleep when idle Watches the processor, apps that keep the Mac awake, keyboard and mouse Included Included
Watched apps Your editor or terminal keeps the Mac awake while a coding agent works Included Included
Wake at a set time · Activity log Included Included
Signed and notarized app · four languages Included Included

Requires macOS 13 Ventura or later and a Mac with Apple silicon. Tested on macOS 26 and 13.6.

Questions

Why pay if the code is open?

The free version is for developers and has everything for builds and coding agents. Pro adds features for everyday use, like movies on a TV and waiting for downloads and video exports, ready to install.

Is it the same app?

Yes. Pro replaces the free version and keeps your settings.

How do updates work?

You pay once and keep the app. Updates are included for as long as LidAwake is developed. The app tells you when a new version is out.

Do I need an external display or keyboard?

No. Run with Lid Closed keeps the Mac working with nothing plugged in, on battery or on power.

Is it safe to keep a closed MacBook running in a bag?

A closed MacBook cools less well. LidAwake can stop when macOS reports thermal pressure, when the battery drops below your limit, or after a timer. The safeguards lower the risk; they can't remove it. They are in both versions.

Why does it ask for permission once?

Keeping a Mac awake with the lid closed needs a system setting only a privileged helper can change. You allow it once in System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions, without a password. The app has to be in the Applications folder.

Which Macs does it run on?

Macs with Apple silicon on macOS 13 or later.

Does it collect any data?

No account, no analytics. The only network request is a daily check for a new version, and you can switch it off.

Can I get a refund?

Refunds are handled by Polar under their buyer terms.

Close the lid.
Go.

Get LidAwake Pro €9.99 Free on GitHub