MacBook assumes I want it to start up, because it got touched...

Question

MacBook assumes I want it to start up, because it got touched...

Has anyone come up with a hack yet to allow a M1 16 inch MacBook Pro to remain Shut Down, even when randomly touched by, say, a flying insect? I am revisiting a problem I posted here four years ago...

And I still find it annoying and presumptuous programming. When I turn a machine OFF, I want it to stay OFF. Until I push the "ON" button. Not just ANY button. Not just ANY key, or a whimsical hair alighting on the trackpad.

No, a SPECIFIC key, or button, or combination of keys/buttons, or set of conditions, or particular series of events, or even a mystical incantation (that might be fun.)

NOT putting my hand on the body of my car and having the engine start up and the lights come on. UNLESS I set preferences for it to do so, AND am able to reset such Preferences at my discretion.

Mutter, mutter, grumble, grumble. But others have commented on this in the past- anyone found a work-around?

2021, 16-inch, M1 Pro Chip, 16GB RAM, Sequoia 15.6.1

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Oct 14, 2025 12:16 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 14, 2025 8:39 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I've been using Macs since 1994. Lots of Powerbooks, MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and all the numerous iterations of System software, starting with System 7, 8, 9, then all the 10s, then all the Xs. Now all the Californias. I am not talking about waking it from sleep.

And of course, the machine will shut down. As long as it remains untouched after that (by, for instance, opening the cover, cleaning the screen, wiping crumbs or smears from the keyboard or trackpad, etc.) it will remain powered off. Touch anything, the machine will boot.

The issue I referenced is not particular to me, nor is it a glitch or aberration. The M1 MacBook Pro (and, as I gleaned from my last Support Community discussion regarding this, apparently ALL Apple-Chipped MacBooks from 2020 on) is designed intentionally to power up with the raising of the cover, or with ANY momentary contact with ANY key, or ANY contact with the trackpad, no matter how light or glancing such contact may be.

When I first submitted this to the attention of the Support Community, circa mid-to-late 2021, I was relieved (and simultaneously disappointed) to find that others had noted this designed behavior. At that time, no one reported having discovered any work-around, or cleverly-scripted hacks to be implemented via the Terminal Application.

Time has passed, and it remains inconvenient, and annoying. Hence my re-posting.

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2025 2:22 PM in response to SylvesterHayhurst

SylvesterHayhurst wrote:

Has anyone come up with a hack yet to allow a M1 16 inch MacBook Pro to remain Shut Down, even when randomly touched by, say, a flying insect? I am revisiting a problem I posted here four years ago...

And I still find it annoying and presumptuous programming. When I turn a machine OFF, I want it to stay OFF. Until I push the "ON" button. Not just ANY button. Not just ANY key, or a whimsical hair alighting on the trackpad.

No, a SPECIFIC key, or button, or combination of keys/buttons, or set of conditions, or particular series of events, or even a mystical incantation (that might be fun.)

NOT putting my hand on the body of my car and having the engine start up and the lights come on. UNLESS I set preferences for it to do so, AND am able to reset such Preferences at my discretion.

Mutter, mutter, grumble, grumble. But others have commented on this in the past- anyone found a work-around?

2021, 16-inch, M1 Pro Chip, 16GB RAM, Sequoia 15.6.1

I would encourage you to submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

ref: a step in the right direction, but falls short of your preference:

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

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Answer 3

Oct 14, 2025 12:54 PM in response to SylvesterHayhurst

I can't say I've ever had an MBP or MBA turn on from being powered off unless I press down on the button for several seconds.

Are you perhaps asking about waking it from sleep? Actually, I don't recall having a problem with that, either.

Have you tried just shutting it?

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Answer 4

Oct 14, 2025 9:12 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks so much. Indeed, it is a step in the right direction. I appreciate your referral.

I may even get my courage up and try using the Terminal Application, which I think I've only done once before (can't remember what I was about, 'twas years ago.)

I mean, what could POSSIBLY go wrong?!

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