Macbook in Clamshell mode

Publishing date: 16-12-2011

Sometimes people want to use their Macbook as a desktop computer and hook up an external monitor, external keyboard and mouse. But before your Macbook can be used while it's closed (clamshell mode) you need to do some things to make it work.

Make sure your Macbook is using external power and not the battery
Close your Macbook
Attach your external display
Attach you external USB keyboard (maybe bluetooth will also work, but I don't have one to test)
Attach your USB mouse if it's USB
Hit one of the buttons on your keyboard and you Macbook should wake up
If you have a bluetooth mouse, it will probably be detected in seconds

If you use the battery, your Macbook will wake up, but will also fall back asleep in seconds. Probably due to some protection mechanism from Apple.

If the above doesn't work for you, there are programs like InsomniaX that will refuse your Macbook to fall asleep with the lid closed. Use this at your own risk! There probably is a good reason why this option isn't standard in OSX.

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