inquiring1mind

Q: when using an external monitor with a macbook pro (clamshell mode) does the macbook have to stay plugged in to AC in order for the monitor to maintain display? And if so, how does that affect the battery to remain healthy?

when using an external monitor with a macbook pro (clamshell mode) does the macbook have to stay plugged in to AC in order for the external monitor to maintain display? And if so, how does that affect the battery to remain healthy (since you aren't supposed to keep it plugged in after it reaches 100%)?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 8:31 PM

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Q: when using an external monitor with a macbook pro (clamshell mode) does the macbook have to stay plugged in to AC in order for the ... more

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  • by ariel s,

    ariel s ariel s Sep 10, 2013 7:06 AM in response to inquiring1mind
    Level 4 (1,702 points)
    Sep 10, 2013 7:06 AM in response to inquiring1mind

    Hi inquiring1mind,

     

    Here's some information I found concerning your two questions:

     

    Mac notebooks: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131

    Requirements for closed display mode:

    • Power adapter
    • External keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
    • External display

     

    You can find more information about maintaining your battery's health here:

     

    Apple - Batteries

    http://www.apple.com/batteries/

     

    Cheers!

    - Ari

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,Solvedanswer

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Sep 10, 2013 7:16 AM in response to inquiring1mind
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 10, 2013 7:16 AM in response to inquiring1mind

    The short answer...

     

    ...yes, you have to keep the power adapter plugged in to use the external monitor.

     

    If you're using your MacBook Pro with th external monitor and the computer plugged in, you needn't worry about the computer 'overcharging' - it won't and it can't. I use my MacBook Pro plugged into my Apple Thunderbolt Display 97% of the time. I have a reminder set every two weeks to disconnect from mains and let the battery run down to 30-40% and then plug it back up. My battery health is still at 99% even after using this method for well over a year now.

     

    Clinton

  • by inquiring1mind,

    inquiring1mind inquiring1mind Sep 10, 2013 9:46 AM in response to ariel s
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 10, 2013 9:46 AM in response to ariel s

    Thank you for the info to reference. That was terrific.

  • by inquiring1mind,

    inquiring1mind inquiring1mind Sep 10, 2013 9:47 AM in response to inquiring1mind
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 10, 2013 9:47 AM in response to inquiring1mind

    Thank you for taking the time to respond to me. I appreciate your help. And it eased my little mind!

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Sep 10, 2013 9:48 AM in response to inquiring1mind
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 10, 2013 9:48 AM in response to inquiring1mind

    You're welcome!

     

    Clinton

  • by ariel s,

    ariel s ariel s Sep 10, 2013 11:47 AM in response to inquiring1mind
    Level 4 (1,702 points)
    Sep 10, 2013 11:47 AM in response to inquiring1mind

    Absolutely, I am glad it helped!

     

    Have a good one!

    - Ari

  • by goahnary,

    goahnary goahnary Nov 12, 2013 9:10 PM in response to inquiring1mind
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2013 9:10 PM in response to inquiring1mind

    Is there a workaround for this? I no doubt want to keep my Macbook hooked up to power while using an external display but sometimes I accedentally unplug the power cord. Its easily done seeing that the cord is only held on by a magnet. I hook it up with the cable running up the side of my desk so i can easily stash it away and take it and my Mac with me.

  • by tokyobeing,

    tokyobeing tokyobeing Mar 4, 2014 1:41 AM in response to goahnary
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 1:41 AM in response to goahnary

    Apple's list of requirements ("Power Adapter") is unfortunately very clear, until I saw that I was hoping it was a bug that will get ironed out at some point, especially since I got the weird feeling it wasn't always like this.

     

    Anyway, my workaround is to leave the notebook display just slightly open, perhaps 1-2cm before the Macbook takes full clamshell position. This will keep the Macbook's own display active and the computer running. To save a little battery power, I tune down the brightness of the internal display to an absolute minimum, using the internal keyboard of the Macbook (using the external keyboard's brightness keys changes the brightness on the external Thunderbolt display).

     

    Hope this helps someone.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 4, 2014 2:46 AM in response to tokyobeing
    Level 9 (50,511 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 4, 2014 2:46 AM in response to tokyobeing

    Why don't you just close the lid?

     

    Use these steps to enable closed clamshell (display closed) mode:If you are using a wired keyboard and mouse:

    1. Make sure the computer is plugged in to an outlet using the AC power adapter.
    2. Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your computer.
    3. With the computer turned on connect the Mac notebook (using the appropriate Apple adapter if necessary) to the appropriate port on the external display or projector and turn the display or projector on.
    4. After your computer's Desktop appears on the external display, close the computer's lid.
    5. When you close the lid:
      • In OS X Lion and later, the external display will change to a blue screen, then will show your desktop.
      • In Mac OS X v10.6.8 and earlier, wake the computer up by clicking the mouse button or by pressing a key on your external keyboard.

    You should now be able to use your Mac notebook as you normally would, with a USB keyboard and mouse.If you are using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on a Bluetooth enabled Mac notebook:

    1. Make sure the computer is plugged in to an outlet using the AC power adapter.
    2. Verify that Bluetooth is turned on by using the Bluetooth pane of System Preferences or the Bluetooth menu icon.
    3. Pair your Bluetooth keyboard or mouse with the computer. For step-by-step instructions, see this article forkeyboard pairing or see this article for mouse pairing.
    4. In System Preferences, be sure that the Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer option is selected.
    5. With the computer turned on connect the Mac notebook (using the appropriate Apple adapter if necessary) to the appropriate port on the external display or projector and turn the display or projector on.
    6. After your computer's Desktop appears on the external display, close the computer's lid.
    7. When you close the lid:
      • In OS X Lion and later, the external display will change to a blue screen, then will show your desktop.
      • In Mac OS X v10.6.8 and earlier, wake the computer up by clicking the mouse button or by pressing a key on your external keyboard.

    You should now be able to use your Mac notebook as you normally would, with a USB keyboard and mouse.

  • by tokyobeing,

    tokyobeing tokyobeing Mar 4, 2014 5:43 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 5:43 AM in response to Csound1

    Because closing the lid on battery power puts the Macbook to sleep (which this thread is all about)

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 4, 2014 5:52 AM in response to tokyobeing
    Level 9 (50,511 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 4, 2014 5:52 AM in response to tokyobeing

    Read the post above yours before digging a bigger hole for. You can operate the Mac with the lid closed and an external keyboard and mouse.

     

    In short, you are wrong.

     

    OOpps

     

    Only on AC power, you're correct about when on battery power.

  • by NiqueXyZ,

    NiqueXyZ NiqueXyZ Apr 26, 2016 4:33 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 4:33 PM in response to Csound1

    This is absolutely ridiculous...I was just recording in ProTools a moment ago, and while I was nailing this guitar part, someone accidentally unplugged the power cord to the MacBook Pro...It instantly threw it into sleep mode and stopped recording and screwed up everything!  Surely there MUST be a way to disable this behavior?  This is supposed to be a "Pro" machine after all, right?

  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Apr 26, 2016 4:40 PM in response to NiqueXyZ
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Apr 26, 2016 4:40 PM in response to NiqueXyZ

    How old is the battery?  How many times has the battery been run too low (accidental or not)?

     

    A good battery should at most cause a slowdown of operating without external, not a shutdown.

     

    If not the battery ... keep a keyboard and mouse plugged into USB to maintain a reason to not sleep.  Any cheap keyboard and mouse will trigger the "stay awake".

  • by NiqueXyZ,

    NiqueXyZ NiqueXyZ Apr 26, 2016 4:51 PM in response to steve359
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 4:51 PM in response to steve359

    It doesn't have anything to do with the battery, I don't think.

    The macbook is closed and using an external monitor.

    For keyboard and mouse -- both are bluetooth.

    Whenever I unplug the magSafe power cable it throws the computer into sleep mode automatically.

    I'm guessing this is the *intended* behavior...I guess what I am asking for is how to disable this.

    I don't want to disable sleep mode entirely but to have a 100% charged battery and then have someone accidentally trip the magSafe cord and have the computer sleep right away instantly, I think that's a bit ridiculous, especially since it's a magnetic cable and can come undone easily, at times.

    I REALLY do not want this to happen again

    If there is a checkbox somewhere that says something like "Prevent computer from sleeping on full battery power when connected to external display" I am not seeing it.  IIRC, there is an option like this in Windows