In 2016, Apple introduced an auto power-on feature on its MacBook lineup. This feature activates when you open the lid or plug in a USB-C charger while the lid is open, offering convenience but sometimes causing inconvenience.
However, this feature can be a nuisance for users who simply want to clean their screens, troubleshoot hardware issues, or mod their MacBooks into slabtops without the computer booting up inadvertently.
The first models equipped with this feature used Intel processors, and it carried over to Apple Silicon M-series processors. Initially, Apple provided a Terminal command to disable auto power-on for Intel MacBooks, but this stopped working with the launch of the M1 MacBook Air.
Fortunately, in January 2025, Apple addressed the issue by introducing an official method to disable auto power-on on M1 and newer MacBooks.
Here’s how to disable auto power-on on both Intel and Apple Silicon MacBooks.
Disable Auto Power-On on Apple Silicon M-series MacBooks
While Apple could have included a simple toggle in System Settings, the company provided a Terminal command instead. This command is sanctioned by Apple and works on all M-series models running macOS 15 Sequoia, including previous versions.
Here’s how to disable auto power-on for M-series MacBooks:
- Sign in to your MacBook using an admin account; if you’re the sole user, you likely already have admin privileges.
- Locate the Terminal application in the Applications > Utilities folder. Use Finder, go to the Go menu, and select Applications.
- In Terminal, copy and paste one of the following commands, depending on your preference, and then press Return.
- To disable auto power-on when opening the lid or plugging in a charger with the lid open:
- sudo nvram BootPreference=%00
- To disable auto power-on only when opening the lid:
- sudo nvram BootPreference=%01
- To disable auto power-on only when plugging in a charger:
- sudo nvram BootPreference=%02
- Terminal will request your admin password. Enter it (the password won’t appear when typing) and press Return.
