In 2016, Apple started including an car power-on characteristic for its caller MacBook models that activated erstwhile you opened the notebook lid aliases plugged successful USB-C powerfulness erstwhile the lid was open. This is simply a cool small convenience if you don’t want the added measurement of pressing the powerfulness fastener — positive it could get the machine moving if, for immoderate reason, that fastener stops working.
But what if you unfastened the lid conscionable to cleanable the surface aliases are troubleshooting the machine for immoderate different issue? Or possibly you are building a slabtop and don’t want it to powerfulness connected conscionable because you plugged it into power? Or what if you don’t want to automate everything? In these cases, car power-on is either a insignificant inconvenience aliases a straight-up annoyance.
The first MacBooks to get this characteristic had Intel processors, and it continued complete to each caller model, including erstwhile Apple switched to its ain Apple Silicon M-series processors. There’s a Terminal bid for the Intel MacBooks that tin beryllium utilized to disable unfastened lid power-on, but erstwhile Apple launched the M1 MacBook Air successful 2020, that bid nary longer worked. However, successful January 2025, Apple yet added an charismatic measurement to disable autoboot upon opening the lid of M1 and newer MacBooks.
Here’s really to disable car power-on erstwhile opening the lid of either type of Mac.
Disable car power-on connected an Apple Silicon M-series MacBook
You’d deliberation Apple would conscionable adhd a elemental “enable powerfulness connected erstwhile opening lid” toggle successful System Settings, but that would beryllium excessively easy. Instead, you’ll person to do a spot of activity nether the hood of your macOS package by measurement of a typical Terminal bid that Apple has sanctioned.
The command, according to Apple, will activity connected each Apple Silicon models moving macOS 15 Sequoia. However, we’ve besides successfully tested it connected macOS 14.7 Sonoma. For reference, these instructions are for newer models for illustration the 2020 M1 MacBook Air and the 2024 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models pinch M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
Here’s really to disable autoboot erstwhile opening the lid and / aliases plugging successful powerfulness while the lid is unfastened connected your Apple Silicon M-series MacBook:
- Log successful to your MacBook utilizing an admin relationship (if you’re the only user, you are apt the admin already).
- Open up the Terminal exertion from the Applications > Utilities folder. You tin get location from Finder by going to the Go menu connected the toolbar and selecting Applications.
- In Terminal, transcript and paste ONE of the pursuing commands, depending connected what you’d like, and past property Return:
- If you want to disable autoboot erstwhile you unfastened the lid aliases erstwhile you plug successful a charger while the lid is open:
- sudo nvram BootPreference=%00
- If you want to disable autoboot ONLY erstwhile you unfastened the lid:
- sudo nvram BootPreference=%01
- If you want to disable autoboot ONLY erstwhile you plug successful a charger:
- sudo nvram BootPreference=%02
- Terminal will past inquire you for an admin password. Enter your personification password (it won’t show you’re typing). Then property Return.
Now you tin unopen down the computer, adjacent the lid, and trial if it works.
To revert your settings backmost to the defaults, travel the steps supra but participate this bid instead:
- sudo nvram -d BootPreference
Disable car power-on connected an Intel MacBook
Are you still rocking a 2016 aliases newer Intel-based MacBook? If it’s still moving and doing what you request it to do, that’s great! But if the darn autoboot is bothering you — say, if you’re experimenting pinch building a headless aliases slabtop MacBook — this Terminal bid tin hole that.
Here’s really to disable autoboot erstwhile opening the lid aliases plugging successful powerfulness while the lid is unfastened connected your Intel-based MacBook:
- Log successful to your MacBook utilizing an admin relationship (if you’re the only user, you are apt the admin already).
- Open up the Terminal exertion from the Applications > Utilities folder. You tin get location from Finder by going to the Go menu connected the toolbar and selecting Applications.
- In Terminal, transcript and paste the pursuing bid into the model and past property Return:
- sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00
- Terminal will past inquire you for an admin password. Enter your personification password (it won’t show you’re typing). Then property Return.
Now, you tin unopen down the computer, adjacent the lid, and trial if it works.
To undo your mounting backmost to default, travel the steps supra until you get to the Terminal but participate this bid instead:
Enjoy the deficiency of autoboot!