How to Power On Your MacBook Pro with the Lid Closed

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Are you looking for a way to power on your Macbook Pro with the lid closed? You’re in luck! With the new 2021 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, you can now turn on your Macbook Pro with the lid closed. This feature is especially helpful if you have limited space, as it allows you to use your laptop without having to open the lid.

Here’s how to enable this feature on your Macbook Pro:

1. First, make sure that your Macbook Pro is plugged into a power source.

2. Close the lid of your laptop and press the external keyboard’s spacebar. This will initiate clamshell mode, which will allow you to power on your laptop with the lid closed.

3. To turn on your laptop, press and hold the power button for at least five seconds until you hear a startup chime or see an Apple logo appear onscreen.

4. Once your Macbook Pro has finished booting up, it’s ready for use! You can leave the lid closed while using it and press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse or trackpad to wake it from sleep mode when necessary.

With this handy feature enabled, you can easily save some space and use your Macbook Pro without having to open its lid every time you want to get started!

How to Power On Your MacBook Pro with the Lid Closed 1

Turning On a MacBook Pro With the Lid Closed

To turn on your MacBook Pro with the lid closed, you can use the power button located on the right side of the laptop. Alternatively, you can use a wireless keyboard or mouse connected to your laptop via Bluetooth to wake it from sleep. To do this, press any key on the keyboard or click any mouse button. Lastly, if your MacBook Pro is connected to an AC adapter and power outlet, pressing and holding down the power button for at least five seconds will turn it on without opening the lid.

Waking Up MacBook Pro From Sleep With Lid Closed

To wake up your MacBook Pro from sleep while the lid is closed, you can press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse or trackpad. You can also connect an external display to your laptop and then press any key on the keyboard. Additionally, you can use Wake on Demand (if enabled in Energy Saver preferences) to turn on your Mac remotely using Apple Remote Desktop or another app that supports Wake on Demand. Finally, if you have an Apple Watch paired with your Mac, you can configure it to trigger a wake-up by tapping the Digital Crown.

Starting a MacBook Pro in Clamshell Mode

To start your MacBook Pro in clamshell mode, make sure that it is connected to an external display, keyboard, and mouse. If your laptop is a 2021 16-inch or 14-inch model with the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, simply close the screen and the laptop will automatically enter clamshell mode. For older models, after connecting all peripherals you will need to press the spacebar on the external keyboard once you have closed the lid of your laptop. After a few seconds, you should see your laptop’s display mirrored on the external monitor.

Understanding Clamshell Mode on Mac

Clamshell mode is a feature on Apple Mac computers that allows you to use the laptop with its lid closed. To do this, you will need to connect an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, or trackpad. When the lid is closed, Mac’s display will be mirrored to the external monitor, allowing you to work as if you were using a desktop computer. This mode can be helpful for people who work in tight spaces or who want to save space on their desks. Additionally, it helps preserve battery life since the internal display is turned off when the lid is closed. The clamshell mode can be enabled and disabled in System Preferences > Energy Saver > Battery tab by checking or unchecking the box next to “Close lid puts the display to sleep”.

Does Closing the Lid of a MacBook Pro Put It to Sleep?

Yes, MacBook Pro does go to sleep when the lid is closed. This default setting helps conserve power and extend battery life by putting your laptop in a low-power state while not being used. The system will remain in sleep mode until the lid is opened and the power button is pressed. You can also set your Mac to never go to sleep or to enter sleep mode after a certain amount of time has passed without activity on your laptop.

Troubleshooting Macs Not Waking Up From Sleep

There could be a few possible explanations as to why your Mac is not waking up from sleep. It could be due to an issue with the system management controller (SMC) or non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). The SMC is responsible for managing power settings, such as when the Mac goes into sleep mode, so a reset of the SMC could help. Similarly, if NVRAM is corrupted then this can also lead to wake failure. Additionally, it may be worth running First Aid in macOS Recovery to check your Mac startup disk for any issues which may be preventing it from waking up properly. Finally, if none of these solutions have worked then you can try a hard shutdown and restart of your Mac or boot it into Safe Mode to troubleshoot further.

Restarting a Frozen Macbook Pro Without the Power Button

Method 2: Restart a frozen Macbook Pro without using the power button
1. Press and hold the Control + Option + Command (?) keys on the keyboard together for about 5 seconds. This will force your Mac to restart.
2. If that does not work, then press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds until your Mac turns off.
3. After it has completely shut down, press the Power button again to start it up normally.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a powerful and reliable laptop. It offers innovative features such as the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, allowing users to take advantage of its advanced technology. The clamshell mode feature allows you to use the laptop with its lid closed, making it even more convenient. In addition, the MacBook Pro also features a long-lasting battery life and fast performance. With all of these great features combined, it’s no wonder why the MacBook Pro is so popular among users.

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James Walker

James Walker has a deep passion for technology and is our in-house enthusiastic editor. He graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and loves to test the latest gadgets and play with older software (something we’re still trying to figure out about himself). Hailing from Iowa, United States, James loves cats and is an avid hiker in his free time.