Use only external monitor without clamshell mode MBP 16

[jmsmuy]

Hi guys,
Sorry to bother you again, but I have another doubt, and haven't been able to find a solution.
I want to use only my external monitor on my 16" mbp, and don't want to have to close the lid (want to use the speakers, camera, mic).
According to what I found I have to either turn the brightness down (and switch to mirrored mode) which i find is extra work for my mbp (and I know that since using both dgpu and igpu uses about 20w on the radeon high side while with only dgpu i see about 7w)
Other solutions as running the command to config the nvram and using the hot corners don't seem to work (nvram command returns error and hot corners shuts down both my displays!)
Anybody run into this?

Thx in advance!
Juan

 

[XNorth]

There is no way to use the built-in mic and speakers in clamshell mode. Use an external mic and speakers.

Edit: yes the mic and speakers work, but you would be defeating the purpose of the best built-in sounding mic and speakers on any current laptop.

 

[alexballvideos]

Apparently /maybe SwitchResX can do this? I was looking into it this week as I've been working from home. laptop is soo hot and it doesn't really ramp the fans up a whole lot until the cpu really gets some multi-core load.

I got an apple market research survey email about my 15" 2018 MacBook Pro just this week. At the end it said, if you could change one thing about the MacBook Pro what would it be. I wrote...

Run only the external display while the laptop was open.

I think it works like this in windows 10 via bootcamp. it's been awhile since I started in Windows.

 

[Steve686]

There is no way to use the built-in mic and speakers in clamshell mode. Use an external mic and speakers.

You can use the speakers in clamshell mode and they actually have decent volume when you do.

All you need to do is select MacBook Pro Speakers as Output when connected to a monitor.

Microphone Input is not possible on my setup.

 

[jmsmuy]

You can use the speakers in clamshell mode and they actually have decent volume when you do.

All you need to do is select MacBook Pro Speakers as Output when connected to a monitor.

Microphone Input is not possible on my setup.


View attachment 903436

Actually the speakers and the mic work, but the speakers sound bad, the mic not great, and the cam only sees a big black blotch 😂
[automerge]1585976683[/automerge]

Apparently /maybe SwitchResX can do this? I was looking into it this week as I've been working from home. laptop is soo hot and it doesn't really ramp the fans up a whole lot until the cpu really gets some multi-core load.

I got an apple market research survey email about my 15" 2018 MacBook Pro just this week. At the end it said, if you could change one thing about the MacBook Pro what would it be. I wrote...

Run only the external display while the laptop was open.

I think it works like this in windows 10 via bootcamp. it's been awhile since I started in Windows.

I tried SwitchResX, but was unsuccessful, i'll give it another try 😃

 

[iMacDragon]

Actually the speakers and the mic work, but the speakers sound bad, the mic not great, and the cam only sees a big black blotch 😂
[automerge]1585976683[/automerge]

Oh? Microphone is definitely not supposed to work due to some magnetic switch, is this with the lid actually open or closed?

 

[alexballvideos]

Actually the speakers and the mic work, but the speakers sound bad, the mic not great, and the cam only sees a big black blotch 😂
[automerge]1585976683[/automerge]

I tried SwitchResX, but was unsuccessful, i'll give it another try 😃

It does work, just tried it. You need to enable the daemon from switchresx system preferences (adds switchresx icon near the clock) And then from that dropdown menu go to color lcd > disable (past all the resolutions listed) the internal monitor. BUT! Make sure you enable it before disconnecting your external monitor. Otherwise black screen haha and have to force reboot.

 

[jmsmuy]

Oh? Microphone is definitely not supposed to work due to some magnetic switch, is this with the lid actually open or closed?

You're right haha, i tried the speakers but not the mic, not sure why i expected them to work.

It does work, just tried it. You need to enable the daemon from switchresx system preferences (adds switchresx icon near the clock) And then from that dropdown menu go to color lcd > disable (past all the resolutions listed) the internal monitor. BUT! Make sure you enable it before disconnecting your external monitor. Otherwise black screen haha and have to force reboot.

Just tried it and it does work! but it seems there is some mux still going on between the igpu and the dgpu since power consumption doesn't go down. Still the best solution for the time being! Thx!!

 

[bengtc]

anyone figure this out? would love to run in clamshell mode but leave the lid open