Minimalist Desk Setup
  • How to turn off those green and orange privacy dots on your Mac's external screens for good.
  • The exact steps to change a core system setting from your Mac's recovery mode.
  • What you're giving up security-wise, and how to turn the dots back on.

Those little green and orange lights on your second monitor can get pretty annoying. They're supposed to tell you when your camera or mic is on, but maybe you're giving a presentation or just don't want the distraction. Here's the way to switch them off right from your Mac's recovery mode.

What You'll Need

  • Any Mac (with an Intel chip or Apple's own silicon).
  • The administrator password for that Mac.
  • About ten to fifteen minutes where you won't be interrupted.
  • It's a good idea to plug your laptop into power.

Compatible Devices: This works on Macs running newer macOS versions like Sonoma, Sequoia, or what comes after. The steps are the same whether you've got a MacBook Air, a MacBook Pro, an iMac, or a Mac Studio.

Understanding the Privacy Indicators

First, you should know what you're changing. Apple added those dots as a core privacy feature. The green one means your camera is active, and the orange one means your microphone is. They're a system-level heads-up so you know an app is using those inputs. If you turn them off for your external monitors, you won't get that visual warning anymore. That means an app could theoretically access your camera or mic without you seeing a clue on that screen. This guide is for folks who find the lights really distracting on a second screen during things like presentations or movies.

Warning: Turning these off is a security trade-off. You're taking away a layer of privacy protection. Only do this if you get the risk and generally trust the software on your computer. We'll also show you how to turn everything back on.

How to Disable Privacy Indicators on External Displays

You have to do this from macOS Recovery. It's a special startup mode that lets you tweak system settings you can't normally touch from your desktop.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Back Up Your Mac (Seriously, Do This)
    Before you mess with system-level stuff, make sure your data is safe. Use Time Machine or whatever backup method you prefer.
  2. Turn Your Mac All the Way Off
    Click the Apple logo () up in the top-left corner and pick Shut Down. Wait until it's completely off.
  3. Boot Into macOS Recovery
    Press and hold your Mac's power button. Keep holding it until you see a window with startup options pop up. It'll show your internal disks and one labeled "Options." You'll see "Loading startup options..." first.

    Look for a window called "Options" with a continue button. If you just see your normal login screen or desktop, you didn't hold the button long enough. Shut down and give it another shot.

  4. Enter Recovery Mode
    Click that Options button, then click Continue. It'll ask you to pick a user and type in that account's administrator password.
  5. Open Terminal from the Utilities Menu
    Once you're in the Recovery environment, you'll get a macOS Utilities window. Look at the menu bar at the very top of your screen. Click on Utilities and then choose Terminal. A Terminal window will open.
  6. Type the Command to Turn Off the Indicators
    In that Terminal window, carefully type or paste this command and hit Return:
    nvram boot-args="amfi_get_out_of_my_way=0x1"

    If it works, you won't get a "success" message, you'll just see a new line ready for another command. This command sets a boot argument that tells your system to stop showing the privacy dots on external displays.

  7. Restart Your Mac
    Close the Terminal window. From the Apple menu () in the Recovery menu bar, select Restart. Your Mac will reboot like normal.

After your Mac restarts and you log back in, plug in your external display. Now when an app uses the camera or microphone, those green and orange dots shouldn't show up on that second monitor. The indicator on your Mac's own built-in screen will still work, though.

Pro Tip: Want to test it? Open an app like FaceTime or Photo Booth. You should see the green dot on your Mac's main screen (if it has a camera) but not on any external displays you've connected.

How to Re-Enable Privacy Indicators

If you change your mind and want the safety lights back, you just need to clear that boot argument.

  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Boot into macOS Recovery again by holding the power button until the startup options appear.
  3. Click Options > Continue and log in.
  4. From the menu bar, go to Utilities > Terminal.
  5. Type this command and press Return:
    nvram -d boot-args
  6. Close Terminal and restart your Mac from the menu. After it reboots, the privacy dots will be back on all your displays.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Terminal Command Doesn't Work or Shows an Error

Problem: You get an error when typing the nvram command, or the dots are still there after you restart.

Solution:

  • Double-check you typed the command exactly right: nvram boot-args="amfi_get_out_of_my_way=0x1". Watch the quotes and the spacing.
  • This command only works from macOS Recovery. It won't do anything if you try it in Terminal during your normal Mac session.
  • If you have a Mac with Apple Silicon, you might need to disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) first. From Recovery, open Utilities > Terminal and type csrutil disable, then restart back into Recovery to run the main command. Warning: Turning off SIP makes your Mac less secure. Remember to turn it back on with csrutil enable when you're finished.

Issue 2: External Display Not Recognized After Change

Problem: Your Mac has issues connecting to the external monitor after you do this.

Solution: This probably isn't related to turning off the privacy dots, but here are the usual fixes:

  • Make sure your macOS is totally up to date. Go to System Settings > General > Software Update.
  • On the monitor itself, check that the input source is set to the right port (like HDMI, USB-C, or DisplayPort).
  • Try resetting the monitor to its factory defaults using its own menu.
  • Test with a different cable or a different port on your Mac.

Issue 3: Changes Revert After a macOS Update

Problem: The privacy dots come back after you install a big macOS system update.

Solution: Major updates can sometimes wipe the NVRAM settings clean. If the indicators show up again on your external screen after an update, you'll just need to go through the steps in this guide one more time to disable them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this void my Mac's warranty?

Nope. Using Terminal commands in Recovery Mode to set boot arguments is an advanced but supported system change. It doesn't void your hardware warranty. But if you start directly messing with system files, you could cause problems.

Does this disable indicators on my Mac's built-in display as well?

It does not. From what we've seen and tested, this method only turns off the privacy lights on external displays. The green or orange dot will still show up on your MacBook's or iMac's main screen.

Is this reversible?

Yes, totally. As the guide shows, you can turn the indicators back on whenever you want by clearing the boot argument with the nvram -d boot-args command in Recovery Mode.

Will this affect the functionality of my camera or microphone?

Not at all. Your camera and mic will keep working like they always have. The change is only about the warning light on your extra screens. Apps that have permission can still access them.

Is this safe from a security perspective?

There's a trade-off here. Those dots are a useful privacy feature. Turning them off means you lose a visual alert on your external monitors. In a worst-case scenario, bad software could record without you knowing. Only disable the dots if you're sure about the safety of the apps you run.

Do I need to do this every time I restart my Mac?

No. The setting gets stored in NVRAM and sticks around through normal restarts and shutdowns. You'd only have to do it again if you manually turn the indicators back on, or if a major macOS update clears the setting.

Final Thoughts

Managing those privacy dots on your external screens is pretty simple once you know how to get into macOS Recovery. This guide walks you through turning them off for a cleaner look, but you've got to balance that convenience with the privacy you're giving up. The good news is you can always switch them back on. If you hit a snag, the troubleshooting tips above should help you sort it out.

Sources

  • https://9to5mac.com/2026/02/14/how-to-disable-privacy-indicators-on-external-displays-camera-microphone-connected-to-your-mac/
  • https://www.reddit.com/r/mobiles/comments/1r4ms44/how_to_disable_privacy_indicators_on_external/
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macmacosprivacyhow-toexternal displaycameramicrophonesecurity