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How to Power on MacBook in Clamshell Mode Without Opening the Lid?

Hi everyone,


I’m a mobile developer who also games at night, so my MacBook is under heavy use daily. I always put it to Sleep, but I often have multiple processes running, and I think it's better for performance if I power down periodically, for the night, to give it a fresh start (do you agree that this is beneficial?).


However, turning it back on afterward has been inconvenient due to my clamshell setup. To restart, I have to remove the MacBook from its vertical stand, open the lid, press the power button, and place it back.


Is there a way to power on the MacBook while it’s in clamshell mode, without needing to open the lid?


Since my MacBook (M3) has Touch ID, I wonder if any external devices or keyboard shortcuts might allow me to turn it on directly in clamshell mode. I've seen USB fingerprint readers, but am cautious about buying and potentially wasting money. I don’t want to switch to an Apple keyboard, as I prefer my RGB mechanical one.


Thanks in advance for any guidance!


MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.0

Posted on Nov 6, 2024 6:44 AM

Reply
2 replies

Nov 6, 2024 7:05 AM in response to brunovjk

First, no, I don't agree that powering the Mac off at night will be beneficial. Unless something is going wrong with your Mac, that's unlikely to yield any sort of significant improvements in performance.


But in any case, if the Mac is powered completely off, there is no way to power it back up other than to open the screen so you can get access to the power button.


Regards.

How to Power on MacBook in Clamshell Mode Without Opening the Lid?

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