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MacBook Pro 16 Microphone in Clamshell
- Thread starter davecom
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If the laptop is closed, why would the mic be active? Unless, I'm reading your question incorrectly.
It's wired to the T2 ship, if the lid is closed so the microphone are disabled, safety mesure.
Okay thanks everyone. I appreciate knowing that. They should grey it out then in Sound Preferences or the Sound Menu Bar if it's disabled...
Another weird thing is when the lid is closed my External Mic works for Siri but not for text Dictation... Sucks because I really need to do Dictation when the lid is closed. Double-checked the external mic is selected in both the dictation and the sound preferences. Weird that it works fine for other things but not Dictation.
Another weird thing is when the lid is closed my External Mic works for Siri but not for text Dictation... Sucks because I really need to do Dictation when the lid is closed. Double-checked the external mic is selected in both the dictation and the sound preferences. Weird that it works fine for other things but not Dictation.
Yeah, is what it is. The new privacy "feature" came with the T2 chip, don't think there is a workaround besides getting an external mic.
Apple's new MacBook Air and 2018 MacBook Pros disconnect the microphone when you close the lid to stop hackers from eavesdropping on your conversations
It's a good step forward for security, but it doesn't help if your Mac laptop's lid is open.
www.businessinsider.com
I am having the same problem. Airpod external mic does not work for voice dictation when the clamshell is closed. This is extraordinarily frustrating. My macbook pro is connected to two external monitors when it is docked at home. Voice dictation is disabled. Tried dozens of times trying to fix this - reset
Hi everyone,
I am having the same problem. Dictation is not working with an external microphone when the lid ist closed. Has anyone found a solution?
Greetings from Germany
I am having the same problem. Dictation is not working with an external microphone when the lid ist closed. Has anyone found a solution?
Greetings from Germany
Because clamshell mode refers to using it in a desktop setup with external monitor, keyboard and mouse. It's how I use my 2017 15" Pro and it works just fine, built-in speakers and mic included.
This is an issue specific to the 2019 16" MacBook Pros that we are discussing in this thread.
Right I understand, I was stating why one would want the microphone in use when the lid is closed..
The best thing you can do is report it to Apple. If there are enough reports, it might get fixed. Do it through a support request or feedback:
Product Feedback
We would love to hear your comments about any of our hardware and software products. Send us your thoughts.
www.apple.com
A workaround for this is that you can turn on Voice Control. I'm actually using it to write this. It lets you use your MacBook Pro 16 inch with an external microphone for dictation in clamshell. It's not great but it might be sufficient. I hope this bug is fixed in Big Sur, so we can use regular dictation with our machines.
Unfortunately, the problem doesn't seem to have been fixed in macOS Big Sur. So, we are back to workarounds. One, as mentioned by @davecom, is to use Voice Over. Strangely, Voice Over doesn't give you much feedback while you are dictating; also, I couldn't get it to do you enter text in text areas in Safari. Another workaround is be to use the dictation feature provided by Google Docs, in Chrome, as Google Docs doesn't provide this feature from Safari. Hopefully, we will soon be laughing about all those limitations we had "back in the days".
Glad to see there's already a thread on this. I've had my 16" since the introduction and never noticed this until I got a new LG monitor for Christmas hooked it up with a dock then tried to use Siri. Then got no response from Siri. Has anyone figured out the best way to use Siri with lid closed and on a monitor?
I sent a feedback request to Apple.
I sent a feedback request to Apple.
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In my experience, if you boot with the lid closed, then dictation works (not sure about Siri, which I don'd use). However, next time you unplug the MacBook and plug it back, dictation might not work anymore, and if it is the case, and you care enough about it, you'll unfortunately need to reboot. (Which I've done, way too many times.)
Yes, this is the way to go. Hopefully they keep track of the number of customers who have this problem, and use that information to prioritize which issue to fix first.
I noticed the same issue months ago with the new MacBook 2019 Catalina I received from the workplace, and now I'd like to use it while recording screenshare tutorials while the lid is closed and the MacBook underneath my monitor stand without needing earphones...
I'm looking at sound settings and there's no option to re-enable it with the lid closed, in fact it doesn't mention the lid at all anywhere that I'm seeing in settings, it just says it's selected but the input volume bar doesn't move. If I open the lid or plug in headphones, it works again.
This is really frustrating and I see no point in disabling the mic if I'm still using the operating system. OK fine disable it if I lock the computer or put it to sleep, but not while I'm using it. I find it kind of hard to believe Apple didn't consider this or neglected adding an option to leave it active as an option, or at least give me a prompt when I use Quicktime record or get a phone call. This is overboard security.
So we just complain to Apple? Or is this not addressable through a software update? I'm afraid they may have ruined this part of their device haha
I'm wary of trying Voice Over while recording a video tutorial as I've never used it and am afraid weird things will start activating or closing or popping up on screen because of it. Your experience here with it would be good.
I'm looking at sound settings and there's no option to re-enable it with the lid closed, in fact it doesn't mention the lid at all anywhere that I'm seeing in settings, it just says it's selected but the input volume bar doesn't move. If I open the lid or plug in headphones, it works again.
This is really frustrating and I see no point in disabling the mic if I'm still using the operating system. OK fine disable it if I lock the computer or put it to sleep, but not while I'm using it. I find it kind of hard to believe Apple didn't consider this or neglected adding an option to leave it active as an option, or at least give me a prompt when I use Quicktime record or get a phone call. This is overboard security.
So we just complain to Apple? Or is this not addressable through a software update? I'm afraid they may have ruined this part of their device haha
I'm wary of trying Voice Over while recording a video tutorial as I've never used it and am afraid weird things will start activating or closing or popping up on screen because of it. Your experience here with it would be good.
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@mavidaru no, it physically disconnects when the lid is closed so there is no software way around it (that’s the point, it’s for security purposes). It’s a minor annoyance if you want to use the built in mic in clamshell mode but I guess the answer has to be the open the computer or get and external mic to plug in.
It's not a minor annoyance, it's a major annoyance, and an inconvenience that may end up damaging the laptop unless I completely rearrange my desk and maybe replace the monitor stands so it doesn't have to be tucked under one of them.
I consider this a design flaw, unless Apple states somewhere why this is necessary.
I've had laptops where there was a hardware WiFi switch, so I don't know why they can't have a hardware mic switch.
I consider this a design flaw, unless Apple states somewhere why this is necessary.
I've had laptops where there was a hardware WiFi switch, so I don't know why they can't have a hardware mic switch.
It's definitely an inconvenience for clamshell users, but it's an important security feature considering that Macbooks are issued to students, corporate employees, and government employees. From a privacy standpoint, this inconvenience isn't something that can be necessarily solved with a software solution since software restrictions can be circumvented and typically when device privacy/security is a priority, hardware killswitches for laptop mics/cameras are a requirement.
Personally, I'd love to see dedicated hardware switches for WiFi/Bluetooth/microphone, but it's a relatively niche feature that wouldn't fit well with Apple's minimalistic design.