To keep your laptop running while turning off the screen, you can configure your power settings to prevent the computer from sleeping or shutting down when the laptop lid is closed. This is a common way to keep background tasks running or use an external monitor with the lid closed.
Adjusting Laptop Lid Close Action
The most straightforward method, especially on Windows, involves changing what your laptop does when you close the lid. The provided reference outlines the steps for this process.
Here's how you can set your laptop to stay on when the lid is closed:
- Open the Start Menu: Press the Windows Key on your keyboard or click the Start icon on your taskbar.
- Search for "lid": Type "lid" into the search bar.
- Select "Change what closing the lid does": Click on the search result that matches this description (usually found under Power Options).
- Locate "When I close the lid" options: In the Power Options window that opens, you will see settings related to closing the lid for both "On battery" and "Plugged in" power states.
- Choose your desired behavior: For each power state you want to modify, click the dropdown menu next to "When I close the lid" and select "Do nothing". This tells the laptop to keep running when you close the screen.
- On battery: Consider selecting "Do nothing" if you need background tasks to run even when unplugged (this will drain the battery faster).
- Plugged in: Selecting "Do nothing" when plugged in is common for using external displays with the lid closed.
- Save your changes: Click on Save changes at the bottom of the window to apply the new settings.
By setting the "When I close the lid" action to "Do nothing," you effectively turn off the screen by closing the lid while keeping the rest of the laptop components (CPU, memory, network, etc.) active.
Testing the New Setting
After saving the changes, you can test the setting:
- With the laptop on and unplugged (if you changed the "On battery" setting), gently close the lid. The laptop should remain on (fans may still run, status lights may stay lit). Open the lid to confirm the system is still running as you left it.
- With the laptop plugged in (if you changed the "Plugged in" setting), close the lid. The laptop should stay on. This is particularly useful if you have an external monitor connected – the display should switch over to the external screen.
This method directly addresses keeping the laptop 'on' while the screen (specifically, the integrated display) is 'off' via closing the lid, as detailed in the provided reference.
