How to prevent MacBook M2 Pro from sleeping with lid closed and display connected?

I was only providing it as an option since you mentioned you didn't want to rely on third party software. I also realize this is not ideal either, but at least it doesn't require a third party app. You could script it to make it easier to use.

If no one else provides any better options or solutions, then you can open a support case with Apple, or you can provide Apple with product feedback here (who knows what happens with the latter option):

Feedback - macOS - Apple

You can use the built-in command line utility "caffeinate" to control some of these options.

Here is the command to prevent the display from sleeping:

caffeinate  -d

You can add an " &" to the end of the command to background that process so that Terminal window can be used for other things. Of course to terminate the command when in the background, you would need to either use Activity Monitor to quit the "caffeinate" process or issue another Terminal command to terminate the process:

pkill  caffeinate

If you did not background the caffeinate process, then just use Control + C when the caffeinate Terminal window has focus.

I think Amphetamine is just using this technique, but providing an easy to use interface.

DM-work wrote:

The device should have a solution that your grandma can implement.

FYI, That Apple no longer exists and has not for a long time now. Even I have trouble understanding some of the features in macOS and iOS. I have seen very knowledgeable forum contributors get into deep discussions about how a certain feature works....so if they cannot understand it clearly, the average user has no hope.

And many of Apple's error messages these days are usually cryptic at best, many are indecipherable.

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Apple to address any of these issues.

This could be due to a bug in macOS or a temporary glitch in DisplayLink.