Which Macs and macOS versions? +
Apple Silicon Mac laptops on macOS 14 or later. The Option-close gesture needs a lid angle sensor: MacBook Air M2 (2022) or later, or 14-inch / 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) or later.
Will my agents and terminal sessions keep running? +
Yes. Closing the lid only turns the screen off: agents, terminal sessions, builds, and downloads keep running, and the Mac stays on the network for SSH and screen sharing. Running Claude Code or another coding agent overnight? There is a
step-by-step guide. While Clamshell is armed, the Mac stays fully awake instead of sleeping and briefly waking, the pattern some Claude Code users report using up their usage limit overnight (
how that happens).
Do I need an external display? +
No. macOS normally needs an external display attached before the lid can close; Clamshell removes that. No monitor, no dock, no HDMI dummy plug.
Is this the same as clamshell mode? +
Same idea, without the monitor. Clamshell mode is what macOS calls working with the lid closed, and macOS only allows it when an external display is attached. Clamshell removes that requirement: close the lid and the Mac keeps running on its own. Here is the full story on
clamshell mode without an external display.
Why doesn't caffeinate or my keep-awake app work with the lid closed? +
Most keep-awake tools only prevent idle sleep. Closing the lid uses a different sleep path. The detailed guides explain
why caffeinate does not override it and what
pmset disablesleep changes. Clamshell keeps the Mac awake through lid close without admin rights, and normal lid sleep returns the moment you disarm.
Will it drain the battery or overheat? +
Your Mac runs as it would with the lid open: idle work sips power, heavy work draws what it always draws. It works the same on battery, and Clamshell stays armed through every plug or unplug. An optional low-battery switch lets the Mac sleep if the charge drops below a level you choose, instead of running flat. If macOS reports serious or critical thermal pressure, Clamshell disarms, the Mac goes back to normal lid-close sleep, and arming stays blocked until it cools. This check is always on.
Does it need admin access? +
No. Clamshell needs no admin rights: no kernel extension, no driver, no privileged helper, no sudo.
What if I quit Clamshell or it crashes? +
Disarming or quitting returns the Mac to normal lid sleep, and Clamshell warns you if that does not complete. The direct edition can also relaunch after an unexpected exit when its crash-recovery agent is permitted. Restarting always restores normal lid-close sleep.
Is Clamshell on the Mac App Store? +
No. Clamshell for Mac is available only from clamshell.dev and on
Setapp. An App Store app with the same name is unrelated.
Can I get a refund? +
Yes. Every purchase has a 14-day money-back guarantee, for any reason. The details are in the
refund policy, or just email
support.
