Turn off external displays without unplugging them.

Hello,
I would like to have my TV plugged into my Mac 24/7 but not actually use unless I want to. Is there a way to turn off the use of the display while it is still plugged in? Kind like Window's option to tell it that one is attached?
Thanks!

Yes and no. First, there's no such feature in Windows - quite the opposite (there's no option to enable such a thing).
In OS X, you can manually mount a filesystem with the sync flag from the command-line (not from Finder), which will sync all writes to the filesystem. This is good and bad. It's good in that you have a decent chance that all data is written to disk before you yank it out, bad because you can't buffer writes, so disk performance suffers severely.
That said, as long as you are using a journaling filesystem (HFS + Journaling for OS X, NTFS for Windows, or EXT3/EXT4/JFS/XFS/ReiserFS for Linux), then pulling a disk out without unmounting it will not damage the filesystem. You will loose any buffered data not already committed to disk, but the filesystem will be readable and data that is written will not be corrupted.

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How to turn off external display?

Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to turn off a second display without unplugging the hdmi cable. If it can be done programmatically, then that would be great.
There is a bug where if you shut down and restart, then mission control adds the second display to the main display.
Thanks,
kel

hey i might be able to help you out
a few things you should know i have my phone set to turn off my backlight after 20 seconds... also i do not use the bedside mode it just dims the screen...
you can change this in your options under screen/keyboard
now then to turn off your external display while your charging you phone go to your home screen and select you clock
then push your menu button and select options
the under the the CLOCK tap it should say: WHEN CHARGING... set that option to DO NOTHING...
and there you go i hope this helps...
~HaZe42o~

Stop sending signal to external display without unplugging the cable

Stupid question: if I toggle through the display settings (F7), it doesn't seem as if any go to shutting off the external display (like maybe I want to make a change I don't want my audience to see, I would like to shut it off without unplugging, then turn it back on when I'm done). Did I just not toggle through enough? Or is there a different mechanism to accomplish this?
(I also looked in System Preferences --> Display, but see no command for shutting off the external display once it is connected/detected.)
Thanks!

Hi, Phlaug. There is no such setting. But if you use Extended Desktop mode instead of Display Mirroring mode, nothing that appears on your MBP's screen needs to appear on the external display (or projector) that your audience is seeing.
Instructions from Mac Help, under the Help menu:
*Setting up multiple displays as an extended desktop*
If your computer is connected to more than one display or to a TV or projector, you can set them up as a continuous display for your desktop.
To set up multiple displays as an extended desktop:
Connect the displays to your computer.
Connecting multiple displays or a projector
Open System Preferences, click Displays, and then click Arrangement.
Open the Display arrangement pane of Displays preferences
Follow the onscreen instructions.
You can also show the same image on all the displays connected to your computer. This is called “video mirroring.”
Setting up multiple displays to show the same image
If your computer is connected to more than two displays, you can specify that some are mirrored displays and others show the extended desktop. For example, if you have three displays, you can have two displays showing the same information and the third display showing the extended desktop. To set up a combination of displays showing mirrored and extended desktop images, set up the three displays as an extended desktop, and then Option-drag a display icon onto another display icon to mirror the two displays.
If you are playing a DVD on a television connected to your computer, click the Arrangement button in Displays preferences and move the menu bar to the television. If you don’t see an Arrangement button, your computer is only capable of mirroring (showing the same image on all screens). For more information, see the manual that came with your computer.

Turn off external display output?

I've bought a nice big LCD TV mainly for consoles. Because I have it next to my iMac i've also connected that to the TV using a mini-dvi adapter and a dvi-hdmi cable.
It works great but I only want to use it for playing downloaded video and the like on the big tv.
When I'm not using it I want my iMac to free up the resources it must be using to achieve screen spanning but I cannot figure out a way to tell the iMac to disable external display output.
I've tried display mirroring figuring that it won't be eating up video RAM, but it causes page tearing on my mac when dragging windows around for example.
Even when the TV is unplugged from the mains the mac seems to be outputting to the dvi out, the only way to stop it is the yank the mini-dvi connecter from the back.
Are there any hacks or utilities that can manually turn dvi support on and off?

Hello Mark
I'm using a 27" flat screen TV, mini DVI and 12' S-Video cable.
Mostly I watch DVD movies on that Display while working at the iMac's 17" it's also great for iPhoto Slideshows and PowerPoint.
Not to worry the TV supports it's own display and all you are doing is sending a signal to it's video card. Just turn it off or change the channel.
I tend to stay away from mirroring for the same reasons, but also because the TV's across the room.
Again not to worry the TV supports it's own display and all you are doing is sending a signal to it's video card. Just leave it connected up to prevent damage to DVI port, Adapter and cable. "yank not"
Just be sure to gather up all your windows back to the iMac Display befor shutting off or changing the channel.
Dennis
17" iMac Intel Core Duo 1.5GB Ram Mac OS X (10.4.9) Maxtor 300GB FireWire Creative Inspire 2.1 2G Nano

Turn off Airport Extreme without unplugging?

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Satellite M500 - Closing LID turns off external display

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Thanks in advance.

Hello
This is only an option that you have to change in Windows Power Management. Go to power options and select the power profile that you are using. Edit the plan and scroll down until Power buttons and lid => Lid close action. Change this option to do nothing. With Apply and OK you save this settings.
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Greets

Can't turn off 17 " Display without shutting down comp. Using 2 displays

I'm running a new 23 inch Apple Display & a 17inch older Flat Panel Apple Display, I don't want to keep the 17in. on all the time, only want to use it to edit in Final Cut
How can I turn off the 17inch Display independently? Apple Care couldn't help has anyone come up with a work around?
Thanks

go to control panel, click on power option or
management whatever, then go to battery, and u
should see the options.
Thanks, but that was not working for some reason. Getting the new drivers fixed it.

Turn off the display but prevent sleep

Hello,
I am new to the Mac OS system and am facing a difficulty.
I want to keep my macbook running through the night downloading the updates, however I want the display to be off. For this I have used apps like caffeine and no sleep and have also modified the system preferences. But still whenever I turn off my display, after some time the macbook goes to sleep and all my downloads and updates are paused.
Is there any workaround which allows me to turn off the display without letting the mac to go to sleep ??

Have you tried the energy saving setting that controls the hard drive sleep, and set it to Never?
Then it won't matter the minutes display is set to wait until sleep, so long as it's not also never.
If there is a problem with this not working, you may check into an SMC reset; or perhaps also
the NVRAM/PRAM, as one or both may be in control over some aspect of this (dys)function.
•Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
•About NVRAM and PRAM
There may be other issues with the later versions Mavericks energy saver selections; in the
older systems the matter was refined and less a problem. Your mileage may vary.
Good luck & happy computing!
edited 2x

Should iphone 4 receive messages when turned off and display them when switched back on

should iphone 4 receive messages when turned off and display them when switched back on

It's up to the cellular carrier, but I believe most (if not all) will enqueue the messages when your iPhone is off.
So generally speaking, a few minutes after you turn your iPhone on, your messages should display. Similarly, your voicemails would arrive.

How do you turn off Auto-Sync without connecting the ipod to PC?

My Purchased Tracks was deleted off my computer, but I still have all of them on my ipod. I have iTunes 7, so I am aware I can transfer all my purchased music from my ipod to itunes. But I know auto-sync is set up, so when I connect it to my computer, won't it automatically sync itunes with my ipod and therefore delete my purchased music on my ipod? Can I turn off auto-sync without connecting my ipod?

A couple of ways...
Hold down the Shift + Ctrl keys when you plug in the iPod. (For a PC)
Or...
Connect your iPod, but before it starts to sync, click that little X on the right hand side of the ITunes display at the top of the page. (Next to the "Do Not Disconnect" message.)
Then click box at bottom that says manually manage music.

When sharing screen from work with my home computer, is there any way to turn off the display at home?

Hi, sorry if this is a silly question, but when I'm viewing my desktop on the home computer from work (as in I've connected by finding my computer in the finder and hit the "Share Screen" button - is there any way to turn off the display at home? It seems a bit of a waste of power to have the screen on when I'm not actually there - I just need to be able to see all my programs etc on the remote screen in order to use them. My home computer is a 2011 iMac running latest Mountain Lion, work is a 2010 MacBook Pro.
Thanks in advance!
Matt

I've set up another user on my home Mac and left that one logged in. Now when I connect from work it asks me if I want to share the screen or log on virtually as my user. I think choosing the second option doesn't power up the screen.
Matt

How can i turn off my display?

Hi everyone, so, i`m using my MacBook Pro with one Samsung T220 Display, and i want to turn off the display of the MacBook when i get out, like i make with the samsung, only click até thw power button, and that`s it, turn off. How can i do the same thing with the MacBook Display and turn off the display when i want and don`t using the screensavers? Thanks a lot, sorry for my english, i`m learning.

You can either turn the brightness on the internal display all the way down, or close the display and use the MBP in clamshell mode (with an external keyboard/mouse):
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131

Turning Off the Display

Hi,
Is there a way to turn off the display manually? I use flight simulator a lot and there is motion on the screen so it won't turn off automatically. I was hoping there was a key command or something I could use to turn it off when I left the game running for a little.
Thanks,
Jeff

Fn+F3 turns off the display(s) selected with Fn+F7.
But with motion on the screen it won't stay turned off.
Also hitting Fn+F3 will end full screen mode and return FS to a window which I think pauses it. If you know of a way to continue running FS in a diminished window Fn+F3 would work. Otherwise I think only way is to use Fn+F7 to select an external monitor only and then power off that monitor when you want to leave FS going.
Message Edited by zilla on 2009-05-29 07:43 PM
T500: Vista 32, 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 15.4" 1680x1050, 500GB 7200rpm, ATI Radeon HD3650 + Intel 4500MHD. T42: XP, 1.7GHz, 2GB RAM, 14.1" 1024x768, 250GB PATA, ATI Radeon 7500.

Any way to turn off LCD display, and just use a TV?

For when I am watching a movie, or a tv show on my MBP to my television. I dont like having the LCD screen on, wasting its life away.
If I tell the MBP to turn off the display after a minuet, (in power settings) will that leave the TV out on?
If there is anyway to do this, thanks.

While it is connected to the TV, put the MBP to sleep by closing its lid. Now, wake it up again, not by opening it, but by use of an external USB device like a mouse. This will cause only the TV to be active. Once the TV lights up, you can open the lid on the MBP if you like and the screen will remain off.
You have to have the MBP plugged into its AC adapter for the above to work.

How to turn off one monitor without disconnecting it

I have two monitors on the mini, one is 24 connected with mini-dvi to DVI and another is 19 connected with mini-displayport to VGA.
Most of the time, I only use the 24 one and don't need the 19 one. However, if I don't disconnect the cable, the Mac still think the 19 one is connected and I can move windows onto it. So I have to connect the cable when I need it and disconnect it after using, every time!
Is there a software way (such as a shortcut) to turn off a monitor without disconnecting the cable?

As gavinlufc said, sometimes it works to power off the monitor you don't want to use. But that doesn't always work because in many cases the Mac will detect the monitor as being present regardless of whether it is powered on or powered off.
Unfortunately, there is no other way to do what you desire short of unplugging, as you are already doing. This feature gets requested from time to time by others. You could file a request with Apple through the OS X feedback page.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html
I just put in such a request. The more they get, the more they will consider making the change.

Turn off external displays without unplugging them.

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