Keyboard shortcut for Display sleep in macOS Sierra

Question

Level 1

16 points

Keyboard shortcut for Display sleep in macOS Sierra

Hello,

When I was using ElCapitan (on my iMac), there was a keyboard shortcut for putting display to sleep, which was Control+Shift+Eject, and for me it was very handy.
Since I upgraded to Sierra, this shortcut no longer works. Has this key combination been changed? I tried searching for it but no results.
Alternatively, is there a way how to create my own shortcut for this action? I don't really want to use Hot corners (even though I know that you can use modifier keys with corner (for instance Command+right top corner)).

Thanks

iMac, iOS 10.0.1, null

Posted on Oct 17, 2016 7:33 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 14, 2017 8:04 AM in response to chuck_3rd

Hi, all experts of OS X Sierra.

(This maybe should be a new post/subject, but I try here for a start.)

"BIG problems" - with my iMac 27, late 2011 since upgrading to Sierra.

(this is a way of trying to understand what 'keys' are doing in this subject)

Problem:

1. my iMac goes black.

2. it is NOT LCD, cables, power, back light.

3. getting close – it probably have something to do with the inverter to the lcd-backlight. "LCD Inverter" for back light on the lcd-display.

My question is:

exactly what command is sent to iMac with Sierra when I press Control-Shift-Eject?

It seems that EVERY time I press that keyboard combination the screen ALWAYS lights up - but mostly black out after about two seconds. OBS - the computer still works fine (but black) - confirmed by using TeamViewer. I can run the computer from another unit.

Why does NOT my LCD inverter STAYS lit more than 2 seconds? Thermal problem?

(note - sometimes it works fine for several days!)

Please let me know your thoughts.

//Bj

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Answer 2

Eric--F

Community Specialist

Oct 18, 2016 3:18 PM in response to kristian289

Hello kristian289,

Thanks for asking about the keyboard shortcut here in the Apple Support Communities. I am happy to check this out with you.

The first thing we want to ensure is that all your data is safe. You can make a backup using Time Machine and an external hard drive. Use this article for help making a backup of your Mac: Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac .

I am running macOS Sierra, and the keyboard shortcut you described works on my iMac. This means there may be an issue with your keyboard, the user account, or the operating system. For this, I first recommend that you change the batteries in your keyboard if it is a wireless keyboard, and then we can access the Keyboard Viewer by going to System Preferences > Keyboard. There is a checkbox for "Show viewers for keyboard, emoji, and symbols in the menu bar." Check that, then click the viewer in the menu bar and open it. It will be shown in the menu bar as country flag based on your chosen language input for your keyboard. From there, click "Show Keyboard Viewer." Press the control key, and verify it is enabling on your screen in the Keyboard Viewer. Then try the shift key. The eject key likely does not show, but if you have an iMac with a DVD drive, you can put a CD or DVD into the drive, and then eject it using the key, letting us know the key is working properly. If the keyboard is not working properly, try with another keyboard.

If all the keys are working properly, the next step is to boot into safe mode. Safe mode will tell us if the issue is related to a startup item or plugins, and sometimes is all that is necessary to correct some problems. When you boot to safe mode, log in to your account and check if the issue is also occurring in safe mode or not. This help article will help you with the steps for safe mode: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up . If everything is working properly in safe mode, but then is not working after you restart the Mac to leave safe mode and boot back into your user account, please check the section titled "If an issue doesn't happen in safe mode" for troubleshooting steps.

If the issue is also happening in safe mode, you want to test this in another test administrator user account on your Mac. A test user will let us know if the issue is isolated to your account, or system wide. Please check this help article: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac . If the issue is being experienced in the test user also, then we need to check the section titled "If an issue happens in more than one user account" from the article provided above which will lead you to this help article: Mac OS X: How to troubleshoot a software issue .

Thanks again and have a great rest of your day.

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Answer 3

kristian289 Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 19, 2016 1:15 AM in response to Eric--F

Hi Eric~F,

thank you for your vast and thorough reply! It is weird that this key shortcut did not work when I was trying it, especially when I was trying to use it on two different computers.

However, when I was testing the keys while having the Keyboard Viewer open, suddenly the shortcut started working. Now I can put the screen to sleep by pressing control+shift+eject.

Thanks a lot for your answer!

Kristian

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Answer 4

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Oct 19, 2016 9:55 AM in response to kristian289

kristian289,

We are happy that we could help sort out the issue. Maybe all it needed was to have the keyboard viewer re-sync all the connections for this to start working properly. If the issue returns, please do not hesitate to try the rest of isolations steps in the previous reply and reach back out to us.

Thanks again and have a wonderful day!

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