Many of us connect our laptops to large external monitors for better convenience and productivity. After connecting the laptop to an external monitor, many users prefer to use an external keyboard and mouse.
When connecting the laptop to an external screen and input device, many of us keep the laptop lid open even while using only the second screen (external monitor) as closing the laptop lid turns off the laptop.
In Windows 10 and earlier versions, by default, the laptop goes into the sleep mode when you close the laptop lid (screen). Because of this, most users keep the lid open even while using only the external monitor (second screen).
The truth is that there is a provision in Windows 10 and earlier versions to let the laptop keep running even after closing the lid without entering the sleep or hibernation state. The feature is very useful for users who use the laptop with an external monitor and external keyboard and mouse.
The feature comes in handy when you want to connect your laptop to a second screen and use external keyboard and mouse.
Run the Windows 10 laptop with the screen closed
Step 1: Right-click on the battery icon on the taskbar and then click Power Options.
Step 2: In the left-pane of Power Options window, click Choose what closing the lid does link. This action will open System Settings window.
Step 3: In the Power and sleep buttons and lid settings section, you will see When I close the lid option. Select “Do nothing” for both “On battery” and “Plugged in” options.
Click Save changes button. That’s it! If you close the laptop lid/screen now, nothing happens. You can connect your laptop to an external monitor, connect external mouse and keyboard, and then close the lid to continue running the laptop.
When you want to shut down or hibernate the laptop, use the external monitor, keyboard, and mouse setup.
Our how-to hibernate Windows 10 laptop when you close the screen lid guide might also interest you.
You says
If this works so well for you guys, tell me this; How exactly do you get your laptop to wake up again when you want to use it. It will either be in sleep mode or it will be hibernating. You have to open it, don’t you?
If you have to do that, then Windows doesn’t really support clamshell mode.
Onyebuchi says
My problem is when i open my laptop lid it will tone on and I have tried all the options you give me yet is not working please what do I do
DOYLE D SHERMAN says
my computer program does not allow “do nothing” mode
Dr. Lovely Sharma says
it helps a lot…just correct options…faced no problem at all…
stephanie Randolph says
worked like a charm to me! Love this!
Sus says
This also made no difference to me – ‘do nothing’ setting definitely saved, but still shuts down when I close the lid….
smook says
This doesn’t work, these settings still shut off the laptop monitor for some reason. I just want the external monitor stay secondary, like it fucking used to.
Richard says
My problem is that when I close the lid the monitor turns off but the external keyboard and external mouse stop working
J.C. says
Great! I’m hoping this will allow me to keep the laptop running all the time as an always-on Plex Media Server.
GM Rosenblatt says
Is there a way to have the laptop screen go off when the lid is closed but the external monitor to remain on? I could do this in Windows 7!
Ron says
When I do this the laptop wont turn back on with the external mouse and keyboard, so I have to open the lid every time I turn the computer on even though its connected to the monitor and external mouse and keyboard, does anyone know how to fix this
waitwhut says
Hello there,
I did all that was written in the article but itdidn’t work. I tried with setting the options to Sleep and choosing again Do nothing, tried restarts and even shutting down and then turning the laptop back on but it was still the same result.
Does someone know how to fix it now?
Thanks
peter says
nice to overheat the laptop