Where to find the screen timeout setting on your Mac
Your Mac's screen timeout—the time it waits before the display goes dark—lives in System Settings under the power management controls. Open System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then select Sleep & Energy. You'll see two separate timers: one for when your Mac is plugged in, and one for when it's running on battery.
The setting you're looking for is labeled Turn display off after. The options range from 1 minute to Never, depending on whether your Mac is plugged in or on battery power. You can set them independently—for example, 10 minutes on battery but 30 minutes when plugged in.
Key Takeaways
- Screen timeout settings are in System Settings > General > Sleep & Energy, not in Display preferences.
- You can set different timeouts for battery power and plugged-in power separately.
- The display timeout is different from the full system sleep timeout—your screen can go dark while your Mac stays awake.
- If you're using your Mac for presentations or video calls, setting the timeout to Never prevents the screen from going dark mid-activity.
- Shorter timeouts save battery on portable Macs; longer timeouts are useful when your Mac is plugged in and you step away briefly.
The difference between display timeout and system sleep
Your Mac has two separate power timers, and they work in sequence. The display timeout (what you just changed) turns off your screen first. After that happens, if you don't touch your Mac, the system sleep timeout kicks in and puts the whole Mac to sleep—stopping the hard drive, dimming the keyboard light, and pausing background tasks.
You can find the system sleep timeout in the same System Settings panel, labeled Put Mac to sleep after. It's always longer than the display timeout. For example, you might set your display to go dark after 5 minutes, but let your Mac sleep after 15 minutes. This means your screen goes dark at 5 minutes, but your Mac keeps running until 15 minutes of inactivity.
Setting different timeouts for battery and power adapter
When your Mac is running on battery, a shorter display timeout saves power. When it's plugged in, you can afford a longer timeout without draining the battery. The Sleep & Energy panel lets you control both.
Look for the dropdown or slider next to Turn display off after. You'll see two sections: one labeled for when your Mac is on battery, and one for when it's plugged in. Adjust each one to match how you use your Mac. Many people set battery mode to 2–5 minutes and plugged-in mode to 10–30 minutes.
Preventing your screen from timing out during specific tasks
If you're giving a presentation, watching a video, or on a video call, you probably don't want your screen to go dark. Instead of changing your settings permanently, you can hold down the Option key and click the battery icon in the menu bar (top right of your screen). This opens the power menu and shows a Condition section that tells you the current power state.
A simpler approach: move your mouse or trackpad slightly every few minutes, or press a key. Your Mac interprets any input as activity and resets the timeout counter. If you need hands-free prevention—for a slideshow or kiosk setup—you can use third-party apps designed to keep your screen awake, though this is rarely necessary for everyday use.
Why your screen might not be timing out as expected
If you've changed the setting but your screen still goes dark (or stays on) at the wrong time, check whether another setting is overriding it. Some apps—video players, presentation software, or screen recording tools—can temporarily disable the timeout while they're running. Quit the app and try again.
Also verify that you're looking at the right setting. If your Mac is plugged in but you've set the battery timeout to 1 minute, the plugged-in setting is what matters. Conversely, if your Mac is on battery and you've set a long timeout for plugged-in mode, that won't explore until you plug in.
Adjusting timeout when your Mac is in clamshell mode
If you're using your Mac with the lid closed (connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and trackpad), the display timeout still applies to the external monitor. The setting works the same way—your external screen will go dark after the timeout you've set.
One difference: when your Mac is in clamshell mode and plugged in, you might want a longer timeout because you're not worried about battery drain. Adjust the plugged-in timeout to suit that setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set the timeout to never turn off?
Yes. In the Sleep & Energy panel, set Turn display off after to Never. Your screen will stay on indefinitely, though your Mac can still go to sleep after the system sleep timeout expires. This is useful for kiosks or displays that need to stay visible, but it uses more power.
Does changing the display timeout affect how long my Mac takes to wake up?
No. The display timeout only controls when your screen goes dark. How fast your Mac wakes up depends on whether it's in sleep mode or just has the display off. Waking from display-off is nearly when ready; waking from full sleep takes a second or two.
Why is my screen timing out faster than I set it to?
Check that you're on battery power, not plugged in. If your Mac is on battery, the battery timeout setting applies, not the plugged-in one. Also check whether an app is overriding the setting—some video or presentation apps disable the timeout while they're active.
Can I set a different timeout for each user account on my Mac?
Yes. Each user account has its own System Settings. Log in to a different account, open System Settings > General > Sleep & Energy, and set the timeout independently. The settings don't affect other accounts.
What's the difference between display timeout and the lock screen timeout?
Display timeout turns off your screen. Lock screen timeout is separate and controls when your Mac requires a password to wake up. You can set both independently in System Settings—display timeout in Sleep & Energy, and lock screen timeout in General > Lock Screen.