All of us have done it – not shutting the computer down at one time or another after we’ve finished using it. A couple of times would be ok, but doing it every night can create potential problems for your Apple® computer later on. Some of us may think putting the computer to sleep is the same as shutting it off, but it’s not. When you put your computer to sleep, it is actually still running with very minimal power consumption. This means the computer is not resting completely but still partially awake. That is why in sleep mode when you touch the keyboard, your computer just wakes up without booting itself up again.

Over time, in this stage of not letting the computer shut down properly but just keeping it in sleep mode, this can create wear and tear on your computer. The motherboard can develop issues from being on constantly. There are some people who never shut the computer down but keep it in sleep mode for months on end. They eventually have motherboard or hard drive issues and their computer one day will not turn on anymore.

It’s worse for those who have Macs that uses Hard Disk drives (as opposed to Solid State drives). The reason is when you put your computer to sleep instead of shutting it down the hard disk drive is still spinning in a very very slow pace so it can wake up instantly when you need to use it. This can prematurely fail the Hard Disk Drive since it is still spinning and any bump or drop can be devastating to the hard drive since the hard drive can get damaged much easier when it is spinning. The reason that so many people do this is because it is easier for them to just wake the computer up from sleep than to reboot the computer, but in the long run, it’s far more beneficial for your computer’s health to regularly shut it down. Note that this does not mean every night, but at least once every now and then. 

Long story short, don’t let the term ‘sleep’ mislead you. Your computer needs to rest just like all of us, and putting it to ‘sleep’ without shutting it down is like only letting your computer take 10 minute naps. If you want your computer to last for 10 to 15 years, make sure to shut it down and let it get a proper rest every once in a while. Your Apple computer does have the potential to live that long if you treat it properly and with care. 

From North Andover, MA to Andover, MA to Peabody, MA, Lynnfield, MA to North Reading, MA, to Reading, MA and all around the Middleton, MA and Danvers, MA area, Experimac Middleton is the trusted local source for pre-owned Apple® products and repairs. We frequently see visitors from Saugus, MA; Lynn, MA; Lawrence, MA, and even parts of Southern NH or the Metro-Boston area – it goes to show that we are closer to you than you may think!