One-click sessions
Keep your Mac awake indefinitely, for a set time or until a clock time. Sessions can also last while a file downloads or a chosen app runs.
- Timed
- Until a time
- While downloading
- While an app runs
Free keep-awake app · v5.3.2
Keep Your Mac AwakeWith Amphetamine
Amphetamine for Mac stops sleep, dimming and the screen saver whenever you need your machine running. Start a session in one click or let Triggers handle it for you.
Mac App Store 6.7 MB | macOS 10.13+ | Apple Silicon & Intel
Amphetamine at a glance
$0No ads or in-app purchases
4.8★Average from 262 ratings
432K+Mac App Store downloads
10.13+Minimum macOS version
Everything the Amphetamine Mac App Controls
The Amphetamine app sits in your menu bar and blocks sleep the moment you ask. Run sessions by hand or set rules once and let macOS stay up on its own.
Display and screen saver control
Decide what stays on during each session. Let the display sleep while your Mac keeps working, block the screen saver or nudge the cursor now and then.
- Allow display sleep
- Mouse movement
- Screen lock
Closed-Display Mode
Fold the lid and your MacBook keeps running. Perfect for desk docks and long jobs. On Apple Silicon, the optional Power Protect script holds the session steady through charger swaps.
- Lid closed
- Power Protect
Triggers that start themselves
Build a rule once and Amphetamine starts a session whenever it matches. Combine conditions for your desk, your office Wi-Fi or a running build.
- External display
- Wi-Fi network
- USB & Bluetooth
- CPU load
- Battery level
- VPN
Menu bar first
A pill icon fills in when a session runs and empties when it ends. Show the time left, set your own icon, fire sessions from hot keys or script them with AppleScript.
- Time remaining
- Custom icons
- Hot keys
- AppleScript
Safe by design
Sessions can end on their own when your battery runs low. Drive Alive keeps external disks from spinning down mid-backup. Zero ads, tracking or upsells.
- Low battery stop
- Drive Alive
- No tracking
Terminal installation
Advanced users can install Amphetamine with a single command.
brew install mas && mas install 937984704
How to open Terminal on Mac
- Press ⌘ + Space to open Spotlight.
- Type Terminal in the search field.
- Hit Return and a Terminal window opens.
Prefer Finder? Go to Applications, then Utilities, then Terminal.
Installation via Terminal command
- Click Copy above to grab the command.
- Paste it into Terminal with ⌘ + V.
- Press Return. Amphetamine lands in Applications.
Amphetamine ships only via the Mac App Store, so the mas CLI installs it by ID 937984704. Stay signed in to the App Store app first.
No Homebrew? Install it from brew.sh, or grab Amphetamine straight from the Mac App Store.
Download FreeHow Amphetamine Works on macOS
Three moves take you from a sleepy MacBook to one that stays up exactly as long as you need.
Click the pill
Open the pill icon in your menu bar and pick a duration. Choose one hour, two hours, a clock time or no limit at all.
Choose what stays on
Allow the display to sleep, block the screen saver or keep running with the lid shut. Every session follows your pick.
Automate with Triggers
Save a rule such as "external monitor connected" or "Final Cut running." From then on, sessions start and stop without a click.
Amphetamine vs the caffeinate Command
macOS ships a Terminal tool that blocks sleep. Amphetamine wraps that power with a menu, a timer and rules. Try the menu below.
Session: inactive
Side by side
| What you need | caffeinate | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Block system sleep | ✓ | ✓ |
| Timed sessions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visible countdown | ✕ | ✓ |
| Starts from Triggers | ✕ | ✓ |
| Stops at low battery | ✕ | ✓ |
| Keeps drives spinning | ✕ | ✓ |
$ caffeinate -dims -t 3600
Great for scripts. For daily use, Amphetamine does the same job from one click and remembers your rules.
What Mac Users Say About the Amphetamine App
Developers, streamers and remote workers keep this utility running every day.
Installed the Amphetamine Mac app for overnight Xcode builds. I set one Trigger for when Terminal runs and forgot about it. Builds finish and my MacBook never dozes off halfway.
Hannah P.
My MacBook lives closed on a stand with two monitors. Closed-Display Mode keeps it running all day. The random sleep hiccups from my old setup are gone.
Omar S.
Big downloads used to die at 2 a.m. once my Mac fell asleep. Now I pick While File Is Downloading and walk away. The session ends on its own when the file lands.
Priya N.
Best free keep-awake tool on macOS. Triggers take a few minutes to learn and the settings window feels dense at first. Once configured, I never touch it.
Lucas B.
My screen used to dim in the middle of client presentations. One click on the pill icon and it stays lit for the full hour. Simple fix for an annoying problem.
Mei T.
I needed a Caffeine replacement and every forum pointed to the Amphetamine app. No ads, no upsell, no pop-ups begging for reviews. Rare to see that now.
Daniel R.
I run a Plex server on a Mac mini. The display sleeps while the machine keeps streaming. Drive Alive stops my external drive from spinning down mid-movie.
Sara K.
The low battery auto-end saved my work twice. I left a session running unplugged and Amphetamine stopped it before the MacBook hit zero.
Jonah W.
I used the caffeinate command for months. Amphetamine for macOS does the same job with a countdown I can see in the menu bar. Hot keys are a nice bonus.
Elena V.
Amphetamine for Mac FAQ
Straight answers about price, macOS support and installation.
Is Amphetamine completely free?
Yes. Amphetamine costs nothing on the Mac App Store. You get no ads, no in-app purchases and no pro tier. Developer William Gustafson offers it as a gift to Mac users.
What macOS version does the Amphetamine Mac app require?
The current App Store build, version 5.3.2, requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later. Screen locking and cursor movement need macOS 10.14 or newer.
Does Amphetamine support Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. Amphetamine became a Universal app in version 5.1, so it runs natively on M-series and Intel Macs. On Apple Silicon laptops, the optional Power Protect script keeps lid-closed sessions stable when you plug in or unplug power.
Can Amphetamine keep my MacBook awake with the lid closed?
Yes. Closed-Display Mode keeps your MacBook running after you fold the lid. On Apple Silicon, Amphetamine puts the built-in display to sleep to prevent burn-in while the system stays awake.
How do I install Amphetamine via Terminal?
Amphetamine ships only through the Mac App Store, so Homebrew has no cask for it. Install the mas command-line tool and fetch the app by its App Store ID: brew install mas && mas install 937984704. Stay signed in to the App Store app before you run it.
Why is the app called Amphetamine?
The name plays on the idea of a stimulant for your Mac. Apple questioned it in early 2021, then kept the app on the Mac App Store after users and the developer pushed back. It is purely a power-management utility.
Will Amphetamine drain my MacBook battery?
An open-ended session on battery will, since your Mac never sleeps. Pick a timed session or turn on the setting that ends sessions at low battery. For overnight jobs, keep the charger connected.
Where can I download Amphetamine for Mac?
Download Amphetamine free from the official Mac App Store listing. This site is an independent guide and every download button links to that listing.
Stop Your Mac From Sleeping Tonight
Get Amphetamine free from the Mac App Store and start your first session in under a minute.