MacBook 14 Inch 2021 - Powers on with any button press.

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Level 1

97 points

MacBook 14 Inch 2021 - Powers on with any button press.

I am old and used to an off button, a full off buton. I can live with opening the lid of my MacBook Pro powering it on just about but I may dig into my Mac and get an external power on/off tiny switch soldered on to it so I can fully turn it off bypassing the battery completely.

However, I have just discovered that any button I press turns my MacBook on while I have the lid open and the MacBook is off.

What is the point of a power button if any key turns it on?

I do not want that.

Can I turn that "Feature" off?

Help appreciated.

Adrian.

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Dec 1, 2025 2:23 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 1, 2025 2:28 PM in response to losdelrock

You can disable the auto boot at lid open, but not from a key press.

Prevent a Mac laptop from turning on when opening its lid or connecting to power - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Dec 1, 2025 2:26 PM in response to losdelrock

It's a "feature". Nothing to be done about it.

You can voice your displeasure to Apple here: Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 3

Dec 1, 2025 3:01 PM in response to losdelrock

You’re welcome. Actually, they disabled the terminal command for a couple of versions but revived it with Sequoia (and finally ‘officially’ supported it with a kbase article), presumably due to user feedback. So good that you submitted yours.

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Answer 4

losdelrock Author

Level 1

97 points

Dec 1, 2025 2:55 PM in response to neuroanatomist

You do not know how happy this has made me.

2 out of 3 ain't bad. Just need the key press thing.

Why do they do this and the long suffering Community has to figure out terminal commands for a BASIC (my first programming language 1981) on/off switch?

Thank you again.

Adrian.

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Answer 5

HWTech

Level 9

68,432 points

Dec 1, 2025 9:02 PM in response to losdelrock

losdelrock wrote:

You do not know how happy this has made me.

2 out of 3 ain't bad. Just need the key press thing.

Why do they do this and the long suffering Community has to figure out terminal commands for a BASIC (my first programming language 1981) on/off switch?

Thank you again.

Adrian.

FYI, touching the Trackpad can also power on some of these laptops.

I also wonder about why these "features" are needed. I guess it was someone "Thinking Different".

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Answer 6

SergZak

Level 6

10,672 points

Dec 1, 2025 10:35 PM in response to HWTech

HWTech wrote:

I also wonder about why these "features" are needed. I guess it was someone "Thinking Different".

Thinking too different. If I turn off my lights via a wall switch, I most definitely don't want them to turn back on unless I purposely turn the switch back on.

IMO, this is a pretty silly "feature" for a computer that you just want to turn off and to STAY off.

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