Use only External Display?

I have a external display (Apple Cinema Display) hooked up to my Macbook Pro (model with the volume keys on F10-12) (and PowerBook G4), and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get ONLY the external display to work. I can get the displays to clone, and I can move the desktop to the cinema display, but I want to be able to close the laptop (maybe) or at least disable the laptop display completely. I feel dumb for not being able to figure this out, can anyone share some knowledge on this topic.

You need an external keyboard and mouse, and you'll need to close the lid and let the MBP sleep with monitor/keyboard/mouse connected and then wake it up, at which point only the external display will be active.
Follow the instructions in the linked kbase articles for USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
Hope this helps...

Similar Messages

  • I want to use my external display only...

    Hello
    I have the white MacBook and a 32'' panasonic TV connected via mini-DVI/DVI/HDMI, I have both wireless Apple Keyboard and Mouse (by bluetooth). How can I close the MacBook's screen without getting it to sleep mode and use the external display only while the MacBook's screen is closed??
    Please help.

    Click here and follow the instructions.
    (47126)

  • How can I use an external display with my MBP lid closed and disconnected to power?

    I know that I can use an external display when my MBP lid is closed and it is connected to power. I was wondering why it does not work when the power cable is removed.
    I only use an external display when I am at home so my MBP acts like a Mac Pro or Mac Mini in that way, but it is not good to leave the battery charging constantly on a MBP so I want to disconnect the power and use external display and have the lid closed. Is this possible or do I have to leave my lid open when running on battery power?

    I'm plugged into my wall socket at least 90% of the time - probably more. I always make sure that I take my MBP off mains about once every two weeks and let it run down to about 30-40% and then plug it back up. This keeps the ions flowing and the battery healthy. My MBP will be one year old on March 20, 2013, and my battery health is still at 99%. I run in clamshell mode most of the time now - since I bought a 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display. Only occasionally am I off mains - and then because I'm exercising my battery, usually.
    Don't worry about running of mains most of the time - just be sure and unplug about once every two weeks (or twice a month) and let your battery dip to the 30-40% mark and you'll be fine.
    Good luck,
    Clinton

  • Is there a way to use an external display while keeping the Macbook open?

    I'm trying to use my external display as my primary (and only display). I would be operating in clamshell mode, but this can lead to overheating issues. Is there an easy way to leave the Macbook open but turn its screen off manually when another display is connected?
    I've found that by closing the macbook, plugging in a mouse, waiting for the macbook to start in clamshell mode, and then opening the display, I can do this. Is there an easier way (i.e., an option to tell the macbook display to turn off)

    could you not just connect it with the vga adapter and then turn the brightness of your screen all the way down so there is no light? i had to do that for my ibook g4 when i cracked the lcd, but thankfully i have my macbook now.

  • How to wake up opened MacBook from sleep -x only external display running

    How to wake up opened MacBook from sleep - only external display running? I dont shut down my MacBook and I am using only external monitor. Lid closed it is not good idea, sometimes is MacBook and main MacBook display to warm. So I must six times per day open and close my MacBook. Any solutions?

    Sure, the added heat sink and dissipator will help. Although a gel pad has a lot of heat capacity, meaning it has the ability to absorb a lot of heat, eventually it will saturate with heat from the MB and reach a point of stasis. Then it gets rid of heat the same way the Mac does, namely radiation and conduction into other things around and in contact with it, including air. Of course the Mac has a fan if it needs it. The gel pad doesn't.
    If the gel pad is sitting on a metal surface, like a steel file cabinet or something like that, it helps to drain the heat away from the pad, and by extension, the Mac. The aluminum cookware worked like that. I had heat capacity of its own, but more importantly, it added to the surface area that was performing convection cooling. So, yes, both together give a better result.

  • How do i use an external display with my macbook pro?

    How do I use an external display with a macbook pro?

    Just buy the proper adapter cord, such as MiniDisplay port to HDMI for example.  Plug it in and it will be automatically recognized.  Use System Preferences > Displays to set options.
    The display can Mirror your primary desktop or Extend the Desktop.
    Regards,
    Captfred

  • How can i force my mac book pro to use an external display

    how can i force my mac book pro to use an external display
    my screen is black

    What sort of adapter are you using?
    Clinton

  • Can no longer use an external display in closed clamshell mode

    Hi,
    I have this weird problem that just started couple days ago. 
    I own a MacBook Pro Early 2011 since March. 
    It's always hooked up to an external display and the MacBook Pro's LCD is turned off (closed clamshell mode).
    Lately, if the MacBook Pro's LCD is turned off, the external display won't show anything.
    But as soon as I open the lid, the external display will then mirror the MacBook Pro LCD.
    If I close back the lid, the external display will get blank.
    I also tried to change the display settings with no luck.
    In other words, I can no longer use my external display with the MacBook Pro in closed clamshell mode.
    I'm wondering if someone experienced this problem before.  Thanks for help.

    Hello sebastieng
    Open both, your MBP connected to the external screen. Open Preferences click here on "Displays" and then make the external Window to the main window by dragging the bar (line?) on top of the laptop window to the external window, which makes the second window the main window.
    If this does not help you may read this:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131
    Hope this helps
    marek

  • Using an external display with the macbook air

    hi, i wanna know if i can use an external display with the macbook air as the tunderbolt is a bit pricey? i was thinking about buyin a LCD moniter wih a VGA port. many thanks

    Yes.  You can use VGA DVI or HDMI monitors by buying a  Minidisplay port to xxx adapter and the the appropriate cable (vga, dvi or hdmi).
    The MiniDisplayport adapter plugs into the Thunderbolt port.
    Regards,
    Captfred
    Here's a sample HDMI adapter.  All these available in the Apple online store.
    http://store.apple.com/us/product/H1824ZM/A/Moshi_Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_Adapt er?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng

  • Using an external display

    Whats the highest resolution external display that the eMac can support? Because I wanted to use the external display as a main screen and set the eMac in the floor.
    Also, does anyone recommend a widescreen external diplay?

    Hi cosmic,
    when I was still using my eMac I had it hooked-up to 23" monitor & the rez. on that one was 1440 x ? (don't remember the height). I was surprised that it could do it (that's why I can remember the width).

  • Use an external display ///

    hi guys,
    i am about to buy an external display for my old powerbook but i was asking myself if all the menu top bar of all my applications could be controlled from the external display ... u get my point ?
    if i ask you that , its because my laptop display is a bit broken at the top , its why i want to use external display ... cause now in all the applications the top menu bar is hidden by the screen bug/crash ... u get it ? ... and i dont wanna pay for an new 17 display , too old model u get my point ...
    ty 4 your help guys ...

    I use an external display also, but I have a Feb 2007 MBP. I can close my MBP (putting my MBP to sleep thus the external display also turns off) and click my remote or my external mouse or keyboard to wake it up. Since the MBP is closed it automatically sets the external display as primary with all menus. I'm not sure if your older Mac will operate the same way. I hope this gives u a better idea of what decision to make or what else to try or ask before making that decision.
    Have Fun!

  • HT3131 I would like to darken my Mac Air screen, so I can use may external display and the keyboard on the notebook--it is possible on a PC-does it work on a Mac?

    I would like to darken my Mac Air screen, so I can use may external display and the keyboard on the notebook--it is possible on a PC-does it work on a Mac?

    Sure it's possible.
    Go to System Preferences (under the Apple logo on the top left of the menu).
    Choose "Display".  There's a slider bar for the screen brightness.  Adjust it and you're all set.

  • Can you use any external display with a macbook?

    hi all,
    I was just wondering, can you use any external display with a macbook? (i.e. gateway, and dell displays?)

    To original poster:
    Yes.
    Provided you have the appropriate ports and cables, that is. Some monitors do not have all vga, dvi-i, dvi-d, hdmi, etc. ports, and it can be misleading that all those technologies appear to be compatible via conversion cables (they aren't all meant to be compatible, so look it up on the internet before buying).
    Cheers,
    Sylvain
    MacBook   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   dual boot Vista Ultimate

  • Bad display, use only external montior?

    I recently acquired a PB Ti with a bad display. Further, both hinges were cracked off entirely so the screen was only attached by the wires. I'm heading out of town and wanted to get this machine set up for a friend to upgrade from their iMac G3. My thoughts were that i'd just cut the wires from the PB screen, thus removing it completely and attach an external montior.
    Now, i only get a black screen on the monitor - no sign of life. The PB boots up fine (and when the display was attached it did support multiple displays) Is there a way to get around this? It seems as though the motherboard needs that electrical loop to know it has a display before it can send a signal to an external display. Anyone with experience please comment - thanks in advance!

    You might try seeing if "closing the lid" on the TiBook will cause it to completely ignore the built-in display. I realize you can't close the lid since it is gone. But the way the TiBook thinks that there is a closed lid is through a magnetic sensor located under the trackpad. Depending on which model it is, the mag sensor is either to the left or right side of the trackpad. What I would try is this: Boot the Mac to a point where you are pretty sure the OS is running. Take a magnet off your fridge and slide it around slowly on the trackpad. At some point, the sleep light should come on meaning you have located the mag sensor. Now, try attaching an external display and waking the TiBook by plugging a USB mouse in. Make sure the TiBook's AC adapter is connected. Hopefully the external screen will now light as the primary screen and the missing lid will be ignored.
    Another thing you might want to check, if you really did just cut the wires off, is that there aren't shorted out wires at the point where the cuts are. Sometimes on narrow pitch ribbon wire and other wire with closely spaced conductors, cutting through them will cause adjacent lines to short together. You might need a magnifying glass to check that and clean up the rough cut if necessary.

  • Can I use 2 external displays on new mid 2011 iMac?

    I'm thinking of getting the new 27" iMac with the 2GB video card. It lists in the tech specs two thunderbolt ports and a mini display port, but the images only show the two thunderbolt ports, so I assume Apple is counting one of those as being the dedicated mini display port. I'd like to be able to use an additional two external displays with this iMac, though one extra would be fine. I see on the video card manufacturers website, they say it can "theoretically" drive 6 displays, depending on output ports. Is this like on the Mac Pro tower that can drive 6 displays (3 displays from each video port, assuming you have 2 video cards)? Can the iMac drive 3 displays (internal and two external) off it's video port with the proper adapters, i.e. dual link dvi adapter, or just one extra external monitor? I'd be satisfied with one extra display, but being able to add a 2nd would be a nice help in Photoshop since the iMac doesn't have the anti-glare option like on the laptops. I'd like to keep the second thunderbolt port open for the upcoming thunderbolt raid storage enclosures. Thanks all for any help and information!

    Thank you, I have read that I could daisy chain the HD RAID enclosure on one of the thunderbolt ports with another monitor, if the monitor were at the end of the chain, but I do not know if the other port would still simultaneously support yet another external display at the same time.

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