Have you ever wanted to use your laptop with an external monitor, or perhaps keep a download running, but found that closing the lid puts everything to sleep? It’s a common frustration. The default setting on most laptops is to go into a low-power sleep mode when you shut the lid, which is great for battery life on the go but not always ideal for a stationary setup.
The good news is that you can easily change this behavior. With just a few adjustments in your computer’s settings, you can tell your laptop to stay awake and keep working, even when its lid is firmly closed. This guide will walk you through the simple steps.
Adjusting Your Laptop’s Lid-Close Action
The setting that controls what happens when you close the lid is found in your computer’s power plan options. This is a built-in feature of both Windows and macOS, so no extra software is needed. The process is straightforward and only takes a minute.
How to Change the Setting in Windows
For Windows 10 and 11 users, start by opening the Start Menu and typing “Control Panel,” then select it. Inside, find and click on “Power Options.” On the left-hand side, you will see a link that says “Choose what closing the lid does.” Click on that. You will then see a series of drop-down menus for both “On battery” and “Plugged in.” Simply find the “When I close the lid” option and change it from “Sleep” to “Do nothing.” Remember to click “Save changes” at the bottom. For a more permanent desktop setup, setting this for “Plugged in” is a smart choice.
Configuring Your Mac to Stay Awake
If you use a Mac, the process is just as simple, though the setting has a different name. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and open “System Preferences” (or “System Settings” on newer versions). From there, select “Battery” or “Energy Saver.” In the sidebar, you may need to select “Power Adapter” to see the correct options. Look for a checkbox labeled “Prevent your Mac from sleeping automatically when the display is off” or a similar phrasing. Checking this box will allow your Mac to continue running with the lid closed, as long as it’s connected to a power source.
A Few Helpful Tips for This Setup
When you use your laptop in this way, remember that the built-in screen will be off, so you will need an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse to interact with it. Also, because the laptop is on and the lid is closed, pay attention to heat. Ensure the vents are not blocked to allow for proper airflow and prevent overheating.
Changing this simple setting can make your laptop much more versatile, turning it into a powerful desktop computer when you need it to be. It’s a small change that makes a big difference for your workflow.
Leave a Reply