How to use a MacBook with the lid closed

There can be many reasons that lead you to want to use your MacBook with the lid closed. Since you can use it with a larger external screen until you want to continue downloading your files with the lid closed.

Keep reading if you want to know how to enjoy your Apple laptop even with the lid down.

How to use MacBook with the lid closed

We’ll start by explaining how to use your MacBook with an external display and keep the lid closed. Luckily, it is very easy to configure. This is what you have to do:

1. Connect an external keyboard (can be wireless).
2. Connect an external mouse (can be wireless).
3. Connect an external monitor.
4. If you use a mouse and a Bluetooth keyboard, make sure that Bluetooth is enabled and that the peripherals are paired with the Mac.
5. After the desktop of your Mac laptop appears on the external screen, close the MacBook cover.
6. It is possible that your external monitor will turn off for a moment. But then it will show your ‘Desktop’ (you may need to wake up your Mac by pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse).
7. You may find that your MacBook needs to be plugged in through the power adapter. So that the screen appears on the external monitor.

Recommended: How to change the language of your Mac

How to turn on a MacBook with the lid closed

It’s easy to wake up your MacBook from sleep without having to open the lid .You just have to click, move the mouse or touch the keyboard. But, what happens if you want to start the Mac without opening the lid to see the power button?

Follow the next steps:

1. Open ‘System Preferences’.
2. Click on ‘Energy Saving’.
3. Click on ‘Schedule’.
4. You will see that a window opens. Choose the days and hours you want your Mac to start. Keep in mind that the Mac will only turn on when it is connected to the power. So you can leave it unplugged. And when you want it to be turn on, just plug it in.

How to make a MacBook work with the lid lowered

Suppose you do not want your MacBook to fall asleep when you close the lid. Maybe it’s busy downloading something and you do not want it to stop. But you need to take it somewhere. Or maybe you’ve left it downloading an update overnight or synchronizing the backup of your Time Machine and prefer not to see the keyboard backlit.

Another possibility is that you want to play music from the MacBook without having to have the lid open.

The problem is that your Mac will fall asleep when you close the lid if it is not plugged in and connected to an external display.

In the ‘system preferences’ you can establish that you never go to sleep. But it seems that closing the lid will cause the Mac to fall asleep in spite of everything.

Fortunately there are some third-party applications that you can use to prevent this from happening:

1. 1. Insomniac: can be downloaded in the App Store.
   2. Amphetamine: this option is free, you can also download it in the App Store.
   3. Caffeinated : another payment option to prevent your MacBook from sleeping when you lower the lid.

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