How to Turn Off a MacBook Pro

Shut down your laptop even if it won't respond

by
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
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Sam Costello
Updated on September 04, 2021
reviewed by
Jerrick Leger headshot
Jerrick Leger
Lifewire Technology Review Board Member
Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses.
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Article reviewed on Aug 22, 2021
Jerrick Leger

What to Know

  • In most cases, the simplest way to turn off a MacBook Pro is Apple menu > Shut Down.
  • If your MacBook Pro won't respond and you can't click the Apple menu, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off.
  • Another option when the MacBook Pro won't respond is to hold down Control+Option+Command and the power button.

This article explains how to shut down a MacBook Pro even if the computer is unresponsive or frozen.

How to Turn Off a MacBook Pro

Most of the time, when you're not using a MacBook Pro, putting it into sleep mode is good enough (more on sleep mode at the end of this article). However, there are times you'll want to turn off a MacBook Pro completely. For example, when your battery is low, and you can't recharge it right away, or when you can't have a powered-on laptop, such as when going through airport security or when planes are taking off and landing.

It's easy to shut down a MacBook Pro with just a couple of mouse clicks in most cases. Here's what to do:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner.

    Mac desktop with the Apple menu highlighted

  2. Click Shut Down.

    Apple menu on a Mac with "Shut Down" highlighted

  3. Want all of your apps and documents to automatically reopen the next time you turn on your MacBook Pro? In the dialog box, check the box next to Reopen windows when logging back in.

    Mac shutdown box with "Reopen windows when logging back in" highlighted

  4. Click Shut Down to continue turning off the MacBook Pro.

    Mac shutdown dialog with "Shut Down" highlighted

Make sure not to close your MacBook Pro lid until the computer is fully turned off. If you do that, the MacBook Pro may go into sleep mode and not shut down.

How to Turn Off a MacBook Pro That Won't Respond

If your MacBook Pro won't respond or is frozen, you won't be able to click the Apple menu or use the steps from the last section. In that situation, you have two options:

  • Hold Down the Power Button: Hold down the power button, which is usually located in the keyboard's top-right corner, until the computer shuts down.
  • Hold Down Other Keys: You can also hold down Control+Option+Command and the power button until the MacBook Pro turns off.

What's the Difference Between MacBook Pro Power Off and Sleep Mode?

While sleep mode and powering off a MacBook Pro seem similar, here are some differences to understand.

When a MacBook Pro is in sleep mode, it suspends the operation of the computer. All your apps and documents are open, but the computer is not active. That also means that it can spring back to life when you open the lid or press a key on the keyboard. Sleep mode is best for temporary usage interruptions but doesn't comply with airline safety regulations.

Fully powering off a MacBook Pro means the computer isn't running at all. All apps and documents are closed, and the computer isn't using battery power. Sleep mode uses very little battery, but some power is still needed. Powering down is best for long stretches when you won't use the computer.

FAQ
  • How do I turn off my pop-up blocker on my MacBook Pro?

    You can turn off the pop-up blocker in Safari, the default web browser on a Mac. Select Preferences > Security and turn off the Block pop-up windows toggle.

  • How do you turn off the camera on a MacBook Pro?

    To control access to your camera on MacBook, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy. Then, select Camera and uncheck apps for which you want to turn off the camera.

  • How do I turn off the Trackpad on my MacBook Pro?

    Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Accessibility. Select Mouse and Trackpad and then choose Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present.

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