To close your laptop screen while keeping the computer running, especially useful when connecting to an external monitor, you need to change your laptop's power settings.
The exact answer, based on the provided reference for Windows 10, involves configuring what action your laptop takes when the lid is closed.
Configure Windows 10 to Keep Running with Lid Closed
By default, most laptops are set to sleep or shut down when the lid is closed. You can change this behavior through the Power Options settings.
Here are the steps to follow in Windows 10:
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Open Control Panel: Search for "Control Panel" in the Windows search bar and select it from the results.
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Navigate to Power Options: In the Control Panel, find and click on Power Options. (You might need to change the "View by" setting to "Large icons" or "Small icons" to see it easily).
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Choose what closing the lid does: On the left-hand side of the Power Options window, click on "Choose what closing the lid does".
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Modify Lid Close Action: You will see settings for "When I close the lid". There are separate options for when your laptop is:
- On battery
- Plugged in
For each of these, click the dropdown menu and select "Do nothing".
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Save Changes: Click on the Save changes button at the bottom of the page.
Summary of Power Settings Change:
| Power Source | Default Action (Often) | Action to Select |
|---|---|---|
| On battery | Sleep or Shut down | Do nothing |
| Plugged in | Sleep or Shut down | Do nothing |
Once you have set both options to "Do nothing" and saved the changes, you can close your laptop lid, and the computer will continue to run, allowing you to use it with an external display, keyboard, and mouse if desired.
This method ensures your laptop stays active even when the built-in screen is physically closed.
