How to Prevent MacBook Pro from Starting When the Lid Opens

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

Preventing MacBook Pro from Starting When the Lid Opens

If you want to stop your MacBook Pro from automatically starting up when you open the lid, you can adjust the settings in macOS. By default, MacBook laptops are designed to power on when you open the lid, but you can change this behavior to suit your preferences. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the steps to prevent your MacBook Pro from starting when the lid is opened.

Note: The steps may vary slightly depending on your MacBook Pro model and the version of macOS you are running.

Part 1: Adjusting Lid Opening Settings

Open System Preferences:

Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen to open the Apple menu.

Select "System Preferences" from the menu.

Choose Energy Saver:

In the System Preferences window, click on "Energy Saver."

Select Power Adapter Tab:

In the Energy Saver settings, you'll see two tabs: "Battery" and "Power Adapter." Click on the "Power Adapter" tab.

Uncheck "Start up automatically after a power failure":

Under the "Power Adapter" tab, you will find the option labeled "Start up automatically after a power failure."

Uncheck the box next to this option.

Part 2: Adjusting Lid Settings in Terminal (Advanced Users)

If you prefer a more advanced method using Terminal, you can achieve the same result with the following steps:

Open Terminal:

Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search.

Type "Terminal" and press Enter to open the Terminal application.

Enter the Command:

In the Terminal window, enter the following command and press Enter:

sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00

Enter Your Password:

You'll be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in (you won't see it on the screen as you type), and press Enter.

Restart Your MacBook:

After entering the command and password, restart your MacBook Pro for the changes to take effect.

Part 3: Verifying the Changes

To verify that your MacBook Pro no longer starts automatically when the lid is opened, simply close the lid, wait for a moment, and then open it. If the changes have been applied correctly, the MacBook should remain in a powered-off state. You can then manually turn it on by pressing the power button.

By following these comprehensive steps, you can successfully prevent your MacBook Pro from automatically starting when the lid is opened, allowing you to have more control over the startup process and conserve battery life when needed.

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