Turning off Macbook Display when using External Display on Lion

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Level 1

15 points

Turning off Macbook Display when using External Display on Lion

Before Lion you could turn off the internal display on a Macbook by closing the lid, putting the Macbook to sleep and using an external keyboard/mouse to wake it up. After waking up, the internal display would be off and you could open the lid and it would stay off. This allowed better airflow while using an external display, not to mention saved resources like video memory etc. If you wanted to turn the display back on all you had to do was select Detect Displays from the Display menu on the Menu Bar, or put it to sleep and wake it up with the lid open.

On Lion this function no longer works. Lion will automatically execute a Detect Displays when the lid is opened. I don't want to run Dual displays at the moment, my desk is not setup for this and I don't need it. I much rather have more video ram available when I'm playing World of Warcraft.

I know that not having control over what display is active is a more novice user friendly function, but some of us are not novices, Windows has had for years the ability to disable any display from the displays control panel. Most if not all windows laptops come with a dedicated function button expressly to select the active display (press it external display only, press again, internal display only, press again internal and external mirrored, press again internal and external dual display mode). This can be cumbersome and overwhelming to novice users I get it, but Apple should implement some fix for us gaming nerds. I want to keep my lid open to have better airflow and I want my internal display off. How about and advanced button on the Display Preferences.

Anyone know of any existing workarounds?

Macbook Pro 17"-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 10:21 PM

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Answer 1

chenga.8

Level 1

15 points

Aug 31, 2011 6:36 AM in response to DrBenru

Here's the command to make your laptop behave like it did Pre-Lion (courtesy of my friend):

sudo nvram boot-args="iog=0x0"

Enjoy!

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Answer 2

chenga.8

Level 1

15 points

Aug 31, 2011 6:58 AM in response to chenga.8

Forgot to add the way back (just in case):

If it screws up your system, just zap the PRAM next boot (cmd-opt-p-r) and you'll be back to the default Lion state. Or if you can still get into terminal, this command will get you back to Lion's default state as well:

sudo nvram -d boot-args

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Answer 3

InJecTeD

Level 1

5 points

Aug 31, 2011 3:14 PM in response to chenga.8

Thank you so much! 🙂 Works perfect!

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Answer 4

mikraz22

Level 1

0 points

Aug 31, 2011 5:17 PM in response to chenga.8

Thank you — Works Perfectly indeed! Amazing that a command line that simple was left out of Lion.. That was painless.

Now i can put my magnet back on the Refrigerator where it belongs.

cheers.

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Answer 5

Sep 1, 2011 12:33 AM in response to chenga.8

Your tip works perfect for me. Many thanks.

But, however Apple should take note of this bug & show some options at the Preference panel - Screen

MBP 15" (mid 2009) -

MacBookPro5,3

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Answer 6

mkedge

Level 1

0 points

Sep 1, 2011 5:47 AM in response to chenga.8

thanks man!

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Answer 7

septi

Level 1

10 points

Sep 1, 2011 9:06 AM in response to chenga.8

It doesn't work for me. I entered it in Terminal and typed in my password, didn't got any error though but it doesn't work. I also tried it after reboot but it has the same behaviour as before.

What did I wrong?

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Answer 8

DrBenru Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 1, 2011 9:52 AM in response to septi

@septi There could be several reasons for it not to work including that this command does not work on your particular model Mac. The first thing you should realize is that the command changes a pre-startup boot parameter that your computer will keep everytime it turns on, so the first time you type the command you have to first restart your mac before it will work. Also this is not a command that you should be typing several times

in Terminal you can type

nvram -p

This should give you all the contents of the firmware nvram in your computer. The last line should be:

boot-args         iog=0x0

if your boot-args reads something else you can delete it by typing:

sudo nvram -d boot-args

Now even if you have boot-args set correctly and you've already restarted your mac after setting boot-args you may need to force your computer to detect displays. For this purpose I put a checkmark in the "Show Displays in menu bar" option at the bottom left of the window in System Preferences > Display. Lets say your macbook is on and the screen lid is closed, if the Display menu (a little icon of a screen on the right side of the menu bar) lists more than one display then select Detect diplays with the lid closed. Once Display shows only the setting for your external display you may open your Macbook lid and the internal display should remain off. If you want to re-activate the internal display you need only select detect displays again from the menu with the lid open and both displays will be on.

Hope this helps you.

And again thanks to chenga.8 for the great tip.

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Answer 9

septi

Level 1

10 points

Sep 1, 2011 10:22 AM in response to DrBenru

Thanks! I checked the variables and noticed that boot-args wasn't set after reboot. I set it again, rebooted and then it showed up and the screen stays off when opening the lid. : )

Thanks again!

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Answer 10

Sep 13, 2011 11:31 AM in response to DrBenru

I like the way that OS X Lion changed the Clamshell behavior, but I do miss the old way as well, and still do like using it that way, too. My solution is to use my earbuds, just one is neccessary, and place one over the reed switch on the case. I then have the best of both ways, and can easily switch back and forth with little effort. Looks cool, too, almost Appley...

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Answer 11

imranh42

Level 1

0 points

Sep 29, 2011 9:42 AM in response to DrBenru

My issue is my display no longer plays audio. If I select it from preferences, it will play briefly and then switch back to the laptop's internal audio, even if lid is closed. Any help?

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Answer 12

Sep 29, 2011 11:36 PM in response to imranh42

Does your MacBook send its audio through the display port? If not, your audio-out jack may be defective.

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Answer 13

imranh42

Level 1

0 points

Sep 30, 2011 11:16 PM in response to Mark Alexander

Yes it sends but briefly and then reverts back to MacBook Pro. However the other problem is that the audio controls on the MacBook Pro are not available when the computer is started. It has to be booted by plugging in headphones and waiting till the speaker icon on the bar is activated.

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Answer 14

Oct 13, 2011 8:56 PM in response to DrBenru

I got the same trouble after OSX 10.7.2 update (on Macbook Air 2011).

Your nvram command solves my problem. Thank you🙂

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Answer 15

sman789

Level 1

0 points

Oct 18, 2011 9:58 AM in response to DrBenru

Found the perfect solution to use an external with my Macbook Pro and still use the keyboard and trackpad.

Step 1: Plug in USB mouse

Step 2: Place 1.5"x1.5" fridge magnet on bottom of left speaker.

Step 3: Let the Macbook switch over to the external, keyboard and trackpad will turn off.

Step 4: Wiggle the USB mouse, use it for a few seconds.

Step 5: Quickly remove magnet, press F5 or F6 a few times to turn on backlit keyboard. Place magnet back on. All this is done in maybe 1 or 2 seconds.

Step 6: Keyboard and trackpad should be working with internal display off. Take off the magnet after a minute or so and remove USB mouse.

Hopefully you have what you want. I set a hot orner to turn the display off. I don't sleep or close the Macbook and it hasn't change the display configuration for a few days now.

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