No improvement in clamshell mode in Ventura

[inkswamp]

Was really hoping there would be an improvement to clamshell mode on my MBA with the Ventura upgrade, but no such luck. Works (or doesn't work) just the same as before. I still have to do all the same ridiculous stuff to get this to "just work." Waking the machine up requires me to lift it out of the dock and open the lid for 1+ minute before the screen comes up—and sometimes it doesn't wake up. Closing the MBA sometimes causes everything to sleep forcing me to repeat all that. Have tweaked every settings in the OS I can think of and plugged and unplugged cables, and it just never works correctly without a whole lot of fiddling around and luck. Very disappointing.

I know some people have it working just fine so instead of pulling my hair out, I thought I'd ask people who have an MBA working with clamshell mode how you're set up. What hardware/docks/cables are you using and how do you have them set up? Did you discover any settings in the OS that make a difference with clamshell functionality? Any tips/pointers/gotchas. Just a wide open call for anyone with any advice or observations.

 

[Juicy Box]

I think clamshell Mode hasn't changed much in 20+ years.

I haven't had to do clamshell mood in a few years, but the last Mac that I did it with was a late 2011 17" MacBook Pro.

Sometimes I had a TB3 dock plugged into it but most of the time it was just an external monitor (connected with Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable), a wired Apple keyboard (23 year old one), and a USB Wireless mouse with the transmitter plugged into the keyboard.

The power was plugged in all the time with MagSafe.

I would occasionally have some issues with the Mac being in clamshell mode, but if I recall, most of the time it was when I was booting into Windows. There may have been some MacOS related issues with clamshell Mode, but I don't remember anything that stands out or happened all the time.

I don't remember having to many issues from not waking from sleep with a key press from the external keyboard, seemed to consistently work well.

What hardware/docks/cables are you using and how do you have them set up?

Maybe tell us what hardware you are using, including what Mac you are using as well as your monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power set up.

 

[jdb8167]

Was really hoping there would be an improvement to clamshell mode on my MBA with the Ventura upgrade, but no such luck. Works (or doesn't work) just the same as before. I still have to do all the same ridiculous stuff to get this to "just work." Waking the machine up requires me to lift it out of the dock and open the lid for 1+ minute before the screen comes up—and sometimes it doesn't wake up. Closing the MBA sometimes causes everything to sleep forcing me to repeat all that. Have tweaked every settings in the OS I can think of and plugged and unplugged cables, and it just never works correctly without a whole lot of fiddling around and luck. Very disappointing.

I know some people have it working just fine so instead of pulling my hair out, I thought I'd ask people who have an MBA working with clamshell mode how you're set up. What hardware/docks/cables are you using and how do you have them set up? Did you discover any settings in the OS that make a difference with clamshell functionality? Any tips/pointers/gotchas. Just a wide open call for anyone with any advice or observations.

I use my M2 MacBook Air in clamshell almost exclusively when in my home office. The MBA is attached to an LG 24" 4K display with a Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard with Touch Id through a Caldigit SOHO USB-C dock. The Touch Id wakes up the MBA reliably though sometimes the external display won't stay on unless i move the mouse cursor with the trackpad for a few seconds. In the worst case, I have to press the Touch Id for a second time.

Ventura is essentially the same as I found with Big Sur on my M1 MacBook Air and on Monterey with both the old M1 and now the new M2 MacBook Air.

 

[iamfredrik]

My M2 Air won’t wake up in clamshell mode when connected to an old Dell P2415Q via miniDP if I turn the monitor off overnight. My MBP late 2013 does not have this problem when connected to the same monitor. The only workaround I’ve come up with thus far is to never turn off the monitor.

 

[Zest28]

Was really hoping there would be an improvement to clamshell mode on my MBA with the Ventura upgrade, but no such luck. Works (or doesn't work) just the same as before. I still have to do all the same ridiculous stuff to get this to "just work." Waking the machine up requires me to lift it out of the dock and open the lid for 1+ minute before the screen comes up—and sometimes it doesn't wake up. Closing the MBA sometimes causes everything to sleep forcing me to repeat all that. Have tweaked every settings in the OS I can think of and plugged and unplugged cables, and it just never works correctly without a whole lot of fiddling around and luck. Very disappointing.

I know some people have it working just fine so instead of pulling my hair out, I thought I'd ask people who have an MBA working with clamshell mode how you're set up. What hardware/docks/cables are you using and how do you have them set up? Did you discover any settings in the OS that make a difference with clamshell functionality? Any tips/pointers/gotchas. Just a wide open call for anyone with any advice or observations.

Just buy the Apple Studio Display. It's designed to work with Apple computers.

 

[iamfredrik]

My M2 Air won’t wake up in clamshell mode when connected to an old Dell P2415Q via miniDP if I turn the monitor off overnight. My MBP late 2013 does not have this problem when connected to the same monitor. The only workaround I’ve come up with thus far is to never turn off the monitor.

New workaround discovered. I use the monitor as a usb hub. Unplugging the usb cable and plugging it back in works. I may have to try a different cable or try an external usb hub.

 

[Aggedor]

M1 MBA here, which I use every day in clamshell mode, connected to a 4K display via HDMI, bluetooth keyboard and mouse. No issues at all. A few clicks of the mouse and the computer will wake the display.

 

[eyeseeyou]

M1 MBA here, which I use every day in clamshell mode, connected to a 4K display via HDMI, bluetooth keyboard and mouse. No issues at all. A few clicks of the mouse and the computer will wake the display.

I'm messing with working with my MacBook in clamshell mode. I can wake it up when it's asleep with my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Sometimes more unintentionally than I'd like.

When I restart my MacBook, for whatever reason, my Bluetooth devices are no longer connected, and I have to take my MacBook out of clamshell mode and log in using the MacBook keyboard.

Is this the same experience for you?

 

[Aggedor]

I'm messing with working with my MacBook in clamshell mode. I can wake it up when it's asleep with my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Sometimes more unintentionally than I'd like.

When I restart my MacBook, for whatever reason, my Bluetooth devices are no longer connected, and I have to take my MacBook out of clamshell mode and log in using the MacBook keyboard.

Is this the same experience for you?

No, restarts are fine - the keyboard and mouse are awake by the time the login screen pops up.

 

[genexx]

I have Zero Issues with my MBA M2 using in Clamshell Mode 95% of the Time.

Sleep after 3 Minutes
Wake with BT MX Keys or MX Ergo Trackball
Monitor Dell S2722DC conected via USB-C PowerDelivery DP over TB3 + USB 2 Hub working after Sleep

 

[the3rdParty]

My experience indicates that this may be linked to the type of connection. At my office I use my MBP M1 Pro connected to two monitors via USB C (Dell U2520D), Logitech bluetooth keyboard, with no issue.

At home the same computer connected via HDMI to a single 4k monitor (Dell 2721QS) with the same keyboard just refuses to wake / reconnect unless I open the computer. Annoying.

 

[Jack Neill]

I had nothing but issues with my M1 Air with clamshell mode and a Dell WDT19 dock, I changed to a different Monitor and now it works fine. It was really frustrating for sure.