December 13, 2024
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Posted June 7, 2020 at 6:43pm by iClarified
These are instructions on how to immediately turn off your Mac's display without putting the entire computer to sleep.

This is handy if you need to turn off the screen and don't have time for screen saver or energy saver preferences to kick in.

There are several methods to choose from...



Using Your Keyboard:
If you have an Eject key on your keyboard, simply press Control + Shift + Eject at the same time. Your display will immediately turn off.

If you have a Power key on your keyboard, simply press Control + Shift + Power at the same time. Your display will immediately turn off.

Using Your Keyboard With Touch Bar
Press Control + Command + Q at the same time, then press Escape at the login screen. Your display will immediately turn off.

Using Touch Bar
Select System Preferences from the Apple menu at the top left of your screen.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Open Keyboard.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Click Customize Control Strip...
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Drag Screen Lock icon to the bottom of the screen into the Touch Bar and tap Done.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

You can now tap the the Screen Lock icon on your Touch Bar to quickly reach the login window, then tap Escape to turn off the display immediately.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep


Using Your Mouse
Select System Preferences from the Apple menu at the top left of your screen.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Open Mission Control.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Click Hot Corners from the bottom left of the Mission Control settings window.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Choose Put Display to Sleep from one of the corner dropdowns.
How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Now when you move your mouse to that corner, your display will go to sleep.


Using Terminal
Open a new Terminal window and enter the following command:
pmset displaysleepnow

How to Turn Off Your Mac's Display Without Putting Your Computer to Sleep

Your display will immediately turn off.
Add Comment
Would you like to be notified when someone replies or adds a new comment?
Yes (All Threads)
Yes (This Thread Only)
No
iClarified Icon
Notifications
Would you like to be notified when we post a new Apple news article or tutorial?
Yes
No
Comments
You must login or register to add a comment...
Recent. Read the latest Apple News.
RECENT
Tutorials. Help is here.
TUTORIALS
Where to Download HomePod Firmware Files From
Where to Download macOS Sequoia
AppleTV Firmware Download Locations
Where To Download iPad Firmware Files From
Where To Download iPhone Firmware Files From
Deals. Save on Apple devices and accessories.
DEALS