Yosemite: Turning off Macbook Pro screen (lid open) with external monitor connected

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52 points

Yosemite: Turning off Macbook Pro screen (lid open) with external monitor connected

Here we go again, this worked pre-Yosemite. Now it seems this trick no longer works. After following these steps again the screen on my Macbook Pro now turns on after logging in and opening the clam shell.

Anyone figure out/know a way to turn off the screen on the Macbook Pro with external monitors plugged in? (yes, closing the clam shell–but I'm referring to keeping the clam shell open with the display turned off)

http://gizmodo.com/5938452/a-trick-to-make-using-an-external-monitor-with-your-m acbook-way-better

To execute in Terminal:

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

To undo in Terminal:

sudo nvram -d boot-args

Once you type it into terminal I believe you need to enter your password. I then restart my machine. Now the TRICK is to either restart your machine with the lid already closed (hit restart then slam the lid!) OR turn the machine on for the first time (then quickly slam the lid!) once you are past the login screen you can open the lid.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Oct 16, 2014 5:00 PM

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Answer 1

kkwan77 Author

Level 1

52 points

Oct 19, 2014 8:18 PM in response to sleeknub

Can you elaborate more on what you mean by lidwake and pmset?

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Answer 2

sleeknub

Level 1

7 points

Oct 19, 2014 8:22 PM in response to kkwan77

Well, it doesn't seem to work anyway, but sure.

First however, I would like to point out that I am by no means a computer expert, so take anything I say with a grain of salt and be cautious if you do anything in terminal.

if you type "pmset -g" in terminal (assuming you are an administrator), you will get a list of power management settings and their current values. One of these settings is "lidwake", which determines if your computer wakes when you open the lid. You can change this setting, but it doesn't seem to solve the problem.

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Answer 3

kkwan77 Author

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52 points

Oct 20, 2014 1:45 AM in response to sleeknub

Cheers for the explanation, seemed like a sound idea, it's unfortunate it doesn't turn off the internal display.

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2014 7:00 AM in response to kkwan77

Yes i would also like to know also how to have MacBooks screen turned off with lid open in Yosemite!?

It is annoying to waste resources and burn your Macbook while working on a bigger screen.

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Answer 5

kkwan77 Author

Level 1

52 points

Oct 30, 2014 5:28 PM in response to Marek_Mac

Exactly, a waste of resources and creates excess heat that's totally not necessary. 😮

Anyone out there figure out a way to turn off the screen with the clamshell open? 😕

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Answer 6

sleeknub

Level 1

7 points

Oct 30, 2014 8:49 PM in response to kkwan77

It really ****** me off when Apple does stuff like this. Why would they remove this functionality? What good does it do? My only guess is that it helps them sell wireless keyboards. Otherwise I have no idea.

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Answer 7

kkwan77 Author

Level 1

52 points

Oct 31, 2014 12:46 AM in response to sleeknub

Or, a wild theory here, bear with me... have the parts overheat/wear out quicker (monitor, board etc.); especially with all the gamers running their machines on HOT. Thus spiking the Apple Care sales and repairs. Just a theory. . . 👿

The source code has now been posted for OSX 10.10: http://opensource.apple.com/release/os-x-1010/

Will someone please figure out a terminal command to turn off the MacBook Pro screen while using a external monitor?

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Answer 8

sleeknub

Level 1

7 points

Oct 31, 2014 5:15 PM in response to kkwan77

Good point. Given that I can not see a legitimate reason for not allowing this, I will entertain any plausible explanation. More and more, Apple seems to treat its customers like complete idiots, but I don't see how a feature like this could confuse anyone...

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Answer 9

kkwan77 Author

Level 1

52 points

Nov 3, 2014 11:00 PM in response to sleeknub

Found the solution here: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/152203/osx-10-10-yosmite-turn-off-macbo ok-pros-display-while-connect-to-external-moni

In terminal:

Enable: sudo nvram boot-args="

niog=1

"

To undo: sudo nvram -d boot-args

This works brilliantly!

Steps I use:

1) After putting in the terminal command, reboot and close the lid immediately

2) Keep the lid closed during boot up and once logged in, open the lid

3) The MacBook Pro's screen is off

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Answer 10

jorisvda

Level 1

4 points

Nov 3, 2014 11:12 PM in response to kkwan77

It works!!!

But I have the impression that it made my macbook slower. Anyone else has the same impression?

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Answer 11

kkwan77 Author

Level 1

52 points

Nov 3, 2014 11:19 PM in response to jorisvda

Have not noticed this, it's the same as before for me.

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Answer 12

HernanSz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 4, 2014 4:17 AM in response to kkwan77

Worked for me, thanks!

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Answer 13

Nov 28, 2014 8:11 AM in response to kkwan77

Thanks for the solution. Step 2 states that you don't open the lid until you are logged in... if that's the case then I assume you need an external keyboard in order to login while the lid is closed to use this method?

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Answer 14

kkwan77 Author

Level 1

52 points

Nov 28, 2014 1:19 PM in response to DownEasta

Yes, you will need to use an external keyboard/mouse. (tbh haven't tried this without an external kb/mouse)

Also a sidenote: if the Macbook Pro is asleep, before waking close the lid then awaken it–once logged in then you can raise the lid and the screen will be turned off.

If you awaken it with the lid open then the screen will turn back on. So make sure to close the lid prior to waking up the Macbook Pro.

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Answer 15

sleeknub

Level 1

7 points

Nov 28, 2014 8:47 PM in response to DownEasta

There are (at least) two ways to get this to work, one of which is mentioned by kkwan77's most recent comment (which requires a mouse or keyboard to wake up the computer with the lid closed). The second way (which I prefer) is to close the lid to your laptop right after you press the power button. Then, wait until the login screen appears. At this point you can open the lid and type in your password using the built-in keyboard. I use this all the time and it works fine. I'm not sure why kkwan77 says you have to wait until after login.

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