Use Mac Notebook in Closed Clamshell or Closed Display Mode

Requirements for closed-display mode:

• Power adapter
• External keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
• External display

Enable closed-clamshell (display closed) mode

Use these steps to enable closed-clamshell (display closed) mode.

Note: If your external display isn't recognized when it is connected and the computer is powered on, try connecting the display while the computer is asleep or while the computer is off; wake or power on the computer after you connect the display. 

If you're using a wired keyboard and mouse

1. Make sure the computer is plugged in to an outlet using the AC power adapter.
2. Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your computer.
3. With the computer turned on connect the Mac notebook (using the appropriate Apple adapter if necessary) to the appropriate port on the external display or projector and turn the display or projector on.
4. After your computer's Desktop appears on the external display, close the computer's lid.
5. When you close the lid: 
   • In OS X Lion and later, the external display will change to a blue screen, then will show your desktop.
   • In Mac OS X v10.6.8 and earlier, wake the computer up by clicking the mouse button or by pressing a key on your external keyboard.

You should now be able to use your Mac notebook as you normally would, with a USB keyboard and mouse.

If you're using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on a Bluetooth enabled Mac notebook

1. Make sure the computer is plugged in to an outlet using the AC power adapter.
2. Verify that Bluetooth is turned on by using the Bluetooth pane of System Preferences or the Bluetooth menu icon.
3. Pair your Bluetooth keyboard or mouse with the computer. For step-by-step instructions, see this article for keyboard pairing or see this article for mouse pairing.
4. In System Preferences, be sure that the Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer option is selected.
5. With the computer turned on connect the Mac notebook (using the appropriate Apple adapter if necessary) to the appropriate port on the external display or projector and turn the display or projector on.
6. After your computer's Desktop appears on the external display, close the computer's lid.
7. When you close the lid: 
   • In OS X Lion and later, the external display will change to a blue screen, then will show your desktop.
   • In Mac OS X v10.6.8 and earlier, wake the computer up by clicking the mouse button or by pressing a key on your external keyboard.

You should now be able to use your Mac notebook as you normally would, with a USB keyboard and mouse.

How to disconnect your Mac notebook from the display after use

For best results, put your computer to sleep before disconnecting your display.

Some DVI and Mini DisplayPort displays—including Apple's aluminum-framed DVI displays and the 24-inch and 27-inch LED Cinema Displays—can be unplugged without putting the computer to sleep. If you aren't sure whether your display supports this feature, put your computer to sleep before unplugging the display.

Opening the internal display while in closed-clamshell mode

Opening the display on your Mac notebook while it's in closed-clamshell mode will have different results based on the operating system you're using.