Prevent Macs from automatically booting when opening the lid or connecting to powerSolved

Hello @ronnie,

Yes, you can turn off auto-boot using a simple Terminal command. This works on macOS Sequoia 15 and later.

1. To disable auto-boot when opening the lid and connecting to power:
   Both the lid and power adapter

   sudo nvram BootPreference=%00

   1	sudo nvram BootPreference=%00

2. To disable auto-boot only when opening the lid:
   Only the lid

   sudo nvram BootPreference=%01

   1	sudo nvram BootPreference=%01

3. To disable auto-boot only when connecting to power:
   Only the power adapter

   sudo nvram BootPreference=%02

   1	sudo nvram BootPreference=%02

After running the command, enter your administrator password when prompted and press Return.

To check if the auto-boot feature is disabled, shut down your MacBook and close the lid. After a few seconds, open the lid or connect it to power. If it doesn’t turn on automatically, the setting has been successfully applied. You will now need to press the power button (Touch ID sensor) to start it manually.

If you ever want to revert the change, run the following command in Terminal:

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
Best,
Ben Clarke
Hexnode UEM

Hey, I’m using an Intel Mac and want to disable auto-boot too. Is there a command for that?

Hi @sybylla! I’m also using Intel Macs and have disabled auto boot using a Terminal command.

After entering your administrator password, the auto-boot feature will be disabled. If you ever want to re-enable it, run:

My Mac sometimes powers on when I place it inside the computer bag. Does anyone know why this happens?

@sybylla It’s possible that your MacBook isn’t fully shut down – you might just be closing the lid, which puts it into sleep mode instead. This can cause the battery to drain while inside your bag. Several factors could contribute to this, including an improper shutdown, Bluetooth activity, magnetic interference, or sleep function bugs.

Here are some solutions:

1. Properly shut down your Mac: Click the Apple menu > Shut Down to turn off your Mac completely. Alternatively, press and hold the power button until the screen goes black to force shutdown before placing it in your bag.
2. Turn off Bluetooth: If your Mac is in sleep mode with Bluetooth enabled, it may detect and connect to nearby wireless devices like AirPods or a Magic Mouse, which can wake it up.
3. Reset Energy Saver preferences: Certain settings in System Settings > Battery (or Energy Saver on older macOS versions) can cause your Mac to wake from sleep:
   1. Wake for network access: This lets other computers access shared resources on your Mac, potentially waking it up.
   2. Enable Power Nap: This allows your Mac to check emails, calendars, iCloud updates, and perform Time Machine backups while in sleep mode.
4. Disable auto boot when opening the lid: This feature automatically powers on your Mac when you lift the lid. Turning it off may help prevent unintended wake-ups.

Try these steps to prevent your Mac from powering on unexpectedly.