I just recently bought a cable to connect, using thunderbolt, to my external display. I need to know how to make my screen only appear on my external display NOT my built-in Macbook Air screen. Does anyone know how to do this?
MacBook, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
You might not be able to disable the internal display but you can place it logically out of the way and darken it.
System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement
Drag the menu bar to the external display.
Drag the image of the internal display down so it is not next to the external display.
Put all of your desktop icons on the external display.
Adjust the brightness on the internal display to full dark.
When you disconnect the external display, Mac OS X will rearrange your desktop onto the the internal display and vice versa.
Think you will find that is less functional than using the internal display as a logical extension of the external one with your most used windows on the external display and others on the internal display.
I assume you have a separate keyboard and mouse for the external display.
why can't I just disable the internal display (or even just close the clamshell)?
Good simple answer. I thought it would sleep if you closed the clamshell but I just tried it and it stayed awake.
Which planet you come from "hands4"?
There seems to be an issue with Mavericks.
With previous versions just connect bluetooth keyboard and mouse and close the lcd lid.
There's no option to disable the builtin display on a software level and keep using your builtin keyboard and touchpad. If you want to keep the lid open and disable the lcd you can use the magnet trick but I don't recommend messing with lcd magnet sensors!
How to only use your external monitor.
