MacBook Pro’s are able to run with their lid closed (clamshell mode) when connected to an external display as long as you’ve connected a usb keyboard and mouse (likely either/or) to the laptop before closing the lid.
Closing the lid after connecting the external keyboard/mouse, will put the MacBook Pro to sleep, but clicking/moving the mouse or pressing keys on the keyboard will wake your Mac from sleep.
Make sure you’ve connected the external monitor before closing the lid, else the MacBook won’t display the desktop in clamshell mode.
Here are the full original instructions from Apple on how to use MacBook Pro / PowerBook G4’s with lid closed.
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