The Spontaneous Boot
Modern MacBooks (released in 2016 and later) include a hardware feature that Apple calls “Boot on Lid Open.” If your MacBook is completely shut down (not just asleep), the moment you physically lift the screen lid, the computer will automatically power on, play the startup chime, and begin booting into macOS.
While this saves you the trouble of pressing the power button, it is highly undesirable if you are simply opening your laptop to clean the screen with a microfiber cloth, or if you need to open the chassis to replace the battery or upgrade components. Having a computer instantly boot up while you are trying to perform hardware maintenance is dangerous. You can disable this automatic startup feature via the Terminal.
How to Stop Auto-Boot on Lid Open
You must use a low-level NVRAM command in the macOS Terminal to change this hardware behavior.
- Click the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner to open Spotlight Search (or press
Cmd + Space). - Type Terminal and press Enter to open the app.
- In the Terminal window, carefully copy and paste the following command exactly as written:
sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00- Press Enter.
- You will be prompted to enter your Mac’s administrator password. (Note: As you type your password, nothing will appear on the screen. This is a normal security feature. Just type it and press Enter).
Your MacBook will now behave like a traditional laptop. When it is completely shut down, opening the lid will do absolutely nothing. The screen will remain black, and the computer will stay off until you intentionally press the Power button (or Touch ID button). If you ever want to re-enable the feature, repeat the process but use the command sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03.