<p>During deep underground engineering excavation, the rock mass is inevitably subjected to disturbance loads, often experiencing cyclic loading and unloading, leading to cyclic disturbance of the surrounding rock and changes in rock energy. The user-defined true triaxial disturbance unloading rock test system was used to conduct cyclic loading and unloading tests on sandstone under different stress conditions. The deformation, failure properties, and energy evolution mechanism of sandstone under cyclic loading and unloading with various stress conditions were analyzed through stress-strain curves and hysteresis loops. The results show that the compressive strength of sandstone increases with the increase of each principal stress value, showing a nonlinear positive correlation, while its elastic modulus rises sharply and stabilizes. Under non-cyclic loading and unloading conditions, the peak strength of the sample has a nonlinear positive correlation with the principal stress, which in turn increases the damage degree of the sample. The energy density criterion was applied to analyze the hysteresis loop of the rock, revealing that the elastic strain energy of the specimen is continuously stored during compression and rapidly released during failure. An increase in the maximum principal stress during triaxial cyclic loading and unloading conditions shows a linear relationship between elastic energy density, dissipated energy density, and input energy density. Comparing the mechanical behaviors and energy evolution mechanisms of sandstone under various stress loading and unloading conditions is crucial for accurately predicting the impact of coal seams and preventing rock bursts.</p>