Close lid, do nothing

Question

Close lid, do nothing

Hi all,

Is there a work around for the air so I can close the lid on my air without turning off the computer?

Thanks!

iMac; iPad; iPhone; iPod, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Apr 4, 2011 3:54 AM

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Answer 1

msplb

Level 1

4 points

Oct 30, 2017 10:12 AM in response to varjak paw

"This behavior of sleeping when the screen is closed is standard to just about all laptops, by the way. "

Unfortunately untrue… windows based machines have the ability to override as standard.

Shame it’s not there yet for Mac.

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,142 points

Apr 4, 2011 7:04 AM in response to DaddyOFTheMacDaddy

Not sure what you mean by your post. You can close the lid on a MBA or any Apple notebook without turning it off. Please re-state your question, you may want to be a little more specific next time.

Roger

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Apr 4, 2011 9:10 AM in response to DaddyOFTheMacDaddy

If you mean that you want to be able to close the screen without putting the MBA to sleep, then that's not supported. There is a hack that will prevent sleep:

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/22211/insomniax

but as with any such hack, you use it at your own risk (and it's not been updated in a couple of years so it may not work with current Macs). The MBA, while quite capable, isn't designed to run 24/7, so if you never let it sleep, you may encounter heat issues at some point.

If that's not what you mean, please clarify what it is you wish to accomplish.

Regards.

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Answer 4

Apr 5, 2011 9:02 AM in response to DaddyOFTheMacDaddy

I think I'm looking for the same thing. I just want to be able to close the lid without being signed out from Skype or without stopping a download or whatever.

I tried Caffeine and it doesn't work. I also tried InsomniaX but I don't want the screen to stay on!

It seems really weird that this can't be adjusted. I just want to be able to do what I could do on my computer 10-15 years ago and leave my IM application open to receive messages when I'm not at my computer. I guess I'll just have to train myself to remember to leave the lid open?

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Answer 5

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Apr 5, 2011 9:33 AM in response to sarahb112

Yes, the easiest thing will be to just leave the lid open. Or if you have an external monitor, keyboard and mouse for your Air, you can close the lid and let the MBA sleep, then wake it back up from the external keyboard.

This behavior of sleeping when the screen is closed is standard to just about all laptops, by the way.

Regards.

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Answer 6

Apr 5, 2011 5:05 PM in response to varjak paw

You can keep the lid closed but use a keyboard to wake it up and use it like a Mac Mini.

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Answer 7

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Apr 6, 2011 6:34 AM in response to travelarian

As I said in my post.

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Answer 8

Apr 7, 2011 12:40 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks all for you help. Sorry, Roger you could not understand a simple question.

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Answer 9

evets90

Level 1

18 points

Apr 11, 2011 12:35 PM in response to DaddyOFTheMacDaddy

I am also looking for a solution to this. It's just silly that OSX can't do this, Windows has had the ability to do this for years, to say the MBA can't run 24/7 is just an invalid excuse in my eyes; computers can handle being on for a very long time.

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Answer 10

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,142 points

Apr 11, 2011 4:59 PM in response to DaddyOFTheMacDaddy

Wow I'll be sure to offer you my help in the future....oh wait a minute I just changed my mind I don't help folks like yourself.

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Answer 11

hawleyrw

Level 3

629 points

Apr 11, 2011 5:18 PM in response to sarahb112

sarahb112 wrote:
I think I'm looking for the same thing. I just want to be able to close the lid without being signed out from Skype or without stopping a download or whatever.

I tried Caffeine and it doesn't work. I also tried InsomniaX but I don't want the screen to stay on!

Couldn't you use one of these apps which keeps the machine running, but turn the backlight off? (dim using F1 until it's off?) The LED would be active, but the light off. Should work.

I agree with some of you, you'd think that OSX should be able to do this. Myself, it doesn't matter cause I have no need to do this at home. If I was at work...would be another story, since I travel around the building I work in all the time with a laptop, meeting to meeting, etc. I'd find a way to do it.

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Answer 12

FairSA88

Level 1

5 points

Dec 6, 2011 12:35 PM in response to hawleyrw

Dimming the screen does work, but I'd rather be able to close the lid for safety reasons, i.e. falling off a shelf or table and the monitor becoming separated from the keyboard (worst case scenario)...
Also, do we really need hostility on a forum discussing operating options for laptops? Go to a political forum if you want to bash on people by posts... This was put in place to help out people who have looked for options to make life easier or who are new to Mac... Why so much angst?

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Answer 13

Dec 22, 2011 5:43 PM in response to DaddyOFTheMacDaddy

I installed ImsoniaX, I activate it and close the lid and still the computer sleeps. Don't understand why people are recommending this. Or is it because my MBP is the 2011 model? Can someone help me? Great thread btw.

Thanks in advanced.

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Answer 14

Dec 22, 2011 5:51 PM in response to punpanonicus

I just want this because I travel by train a lot and I wanted to be able to close my computer in my bag and leave the music playing in my headphones. So I dont have to have the computer open on a train when I have no need to. This way I could simply listen to music like if it was a huge iPod 🙂

Please Help. InsomniaX doesnt keep the mac from sleeping when fully closed. At least the music stops... and when I open it its all black.

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Answer 15

Asatoran

Level 4

2,532 points

Dec 22, 2011 6:10 PM in response to punpanonicus

...Don't understand why people are recommending this...

"Clamshell mode" is designed to use a notebook computer as a replacement desktop computer. Meaning you have a external monitor, keyboard and mouse.

...This way I could simply listen to music like if it was a huge iPod....

Unfortunately, an external keyboard and mouse are required for clamshell mode. While I suppose you could take a keyboard and mouse with you, I assume you don't want the added bulk.

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