Can the lid be closed when hooked up to an external display?

[212rikanmofo]

When at home, I plan on using my 4k TV as my main display. My question is, will I be able to close the lid completely on my MBP when I have an external display connected to it? I will be using an external keyboard and mouse of course.

 

[GreatOverlordGollum]

Yes, this works, and is known as the clamshell mode

 

[212rikanmofo]

Great! Thanks for confirming that.

 

[haruhiko]

Yes it’s called the clamshell mode and it’s one of the best feature of MacBooks.

 

[lawrencesmac]

Just a reminder. You need the power connected to use in clamshell mode.

 

[GumaRodak]

What about the heat impact from chassis to display? Will the display survive heavy loads longterm?
Thx

 

[AlumaMac]

What about the heat impact from chassis to display? Will the display survive heavy loads longterm?
Thx

FWIW, I ran a 2015 MacBook Pro 15" in clamshell mode for 5 years. Did lots of rendering in Fusion360. The display had no issues at all, however, I had 2 swollen batteries and the final nail was the discrete gpu dying (most likely due to thermals). M1 thermal ramifications longterm, who nows.

 

[buyusfear]

I’m echoing others, but yes, this is yet another reason that makes these new laptops such beasts of a machine.

For the first time ever, I will be able to take my “desktop” on the road. While not a first for a Macbook, it’s now in a device with incredible horse power.

Currently, I sit down, move my Bluetooth mouse, and the computer and displays wake from sleep.