---
title: "Wake for network access on Mac: what it does and how to set it · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/wake-for-network-access"
description: "Let a sleeping Mac wake when other computers use its shared files or printers, or stop network wakes when the Mac wakes for no clear reason."
---

Sleep and power

# Use Wake for network access on a Mac

Wake for network access lets a sleeping Mac wake when another computer uses its shared resources. Turn it on for file sharing, or off to stop network wakes.

Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for the System Settings paths. `pmset` is in all current macOS versions. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Symptoms

- Other computers cannot reach a shared folder or printer while the Mac sleeps.
- The Mac wakes at night for no clear reason.
- A Wake-on-LAN packet does not wake the Mac.

## Likely causes

- **The setting is off.** Without Wake for network access, the Mac does not wake for other computers.
- **Regular wakes are normal.** Apple says that the Mac also wakes at intervals to tell the network that its resources are available.
- **The network equipment.** Apple says that this feature needs an Apple wireless device that supports 802.11n with the latest firmware.
- **Other causes of wakes.** Shared printers, files, input devices and connected devices can also wake the Mac or keep it awake.

## How to check

1. On a Mac laptop, choose Apple menu > System Settings > Battery. Click Options.
2. Look at the “Wake for network access” pop-up menu.
3. On a Mac desktop, choose Apple menu > System Settings > Energy. Look at “Wake for network access”.
4. See the setting from Terminal. In the `womp` line, 1 means on.

   ```
   pmset -g
   ```
5. See a history of sleeps and wakes, with the reasons.

   ```
   pmset -g log | grep -e " Sleep " -e " Wake "
   ```

## How to fix it

1. To let other computers wake the Mac, turn on “Wake for network access”.
2. On a laptop, choose an option in the pop-up menu, then click Done.
3. To stop network wakes on a laptop, set “Wake for network access” to Never.
4. On a desktop, turn off “Wake for network access” in Energy.
5. Turn off sharing services that you do not use. Choose General > Sharing in System Settings.
6. Set the same setting from Terminal for all power sources. 1 is on and 0 is off.

   ```
   sudo pmset -a womp 1
   ```

   Needs an administrator password.

## With Kilobat

1. Send a Wake-on-LAN packet to another computer on your network.

   ```
   kilobat wake AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
   ```
2. To keep this Mac awake for a task instead, see [Keep your Mac awake until a download finishes](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/keep-mac-awake-download).

## Questions

**Is Wake for network access the same as Wake-on-LAN?**

The pmset man page says that `womp` is the same as “Wake for network access” in System Settings. `womp` means wake on Ethernet magic packet.

**Why does my Mac wake at night?**

With this setting on, the Mac wakes at intervals to tell the network about its shared resources. Other devices and apps can also wake it.

## Sources

- [Apple Support: Share your Mac resources when it’s in sleep](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mh27905/mac)
- [Apple Support: Set sleep and wake settings for your Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/prevent-your-mac-from-sleeping-mchle41a6ccd/mac)
- [Apple Support: If your Mac sleeps or wakes unexpectedly](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchlp2995/mac)
- pmset(1), man page installed with macOS 27.2

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [Mac sleep stops downloads](https://kilobat.app/guides/mac-sleep-stops-downloads): A Mac that goes to sleep stops most app activity, so a long download can stop or fail.
- [Keep a Mac awake from Terminal with caffeinate](https://kilobat.app/guides/caffeinate-keep-mac-awake): The caffeinate command stops a Mac from sleeping while a task runs.
- [Find the devices on your local network from a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/find-devices-on-network): macOS has two built-in ways to see other devices: the ARP table and Bonjour.
- [Keep a Mac laptop working with the lid closed](https://kilobat.app/guides/clamshell-lid-closed-mac): Closing the lid puts a Mac laptop to sleep.