How to Close Your Laptop and Use an External Monitor

PDF download Download Article
Use an external monitor with your laptop closed
PDF download Download Article

Are you using your laptop with an external monitor and keyboard? If you want to continue using your laptop with the screen closed, you'll need to adjust your power settings. This way, you can close the lid and keep your PC running. Here's how to close your laptop and use a monitor on a Windows 10 or 11 computer or MacBook laptop.

Quick Steps

  1. Type "change what closing the lid does" in the Start menu.
  2. Click the first result.
  3. Click the "When I close the lid" drop-down menus.
  4. Select Do nothing .
  5. Click Save changes .
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows

PDF download Download Article
  1. This is the Windows logo.
  2. Results will load as you type.
    Advertisement
  3. The Control Panel will open to your System Settings for the battery. [1]
  4. There will be two drop-down menus: On battery and Plugged in . You'll need to change the setting for both.
  5. Repeat this step for the other drop-down menu for "When I close the lid".
  6. This is at the bottom of the menu.
    • Now, when you close your laptop lid, it will stay on instead of powering off.
    • You can connect your laptop to a monitor and external keyboard for a bigger workspace.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. You won't be able to close your lid and use the external display on battery mode without the use of a third-party app.
    • If you haven't already, connect your external monitor and keyboard to your laptop.
  2. On older devices, this will be System Preferences .
  3. On older devices, you'll select Energy Saver and then Power Adapter .
  4. On older devices, this will look like Turn Display Off After .
  5. The display will turn black.
  6. This will wake your display. You can also move a connected external mouse to wake it up.
    7. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • Since shutting your laptop screen won't turn off your device, make sure to fully power it down when you're done using it. Otherwise, this can cause issues with your battery.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      11 Tips & Tricks to Fix a Missing Windows Laptop Mouse Cursor
      How to
      Display HDMI on a Laptop: Quickstart Guide
      2 Easy Ways to Reset an HP Laptop without the Password
      How to
      Connect a Laptop to a Monitor
      How to
      Activate the Touch Screen on an HP Laptop
      Using The Webcam in Your Laptop to Take Photos
      How to
      Enter BIOS Advanced Debug Mode on Your Acer Laptop
      How to
      Turn on the Keyboard Light on a Dell
      3 Fast Ways to Find the Model Number on Your HP Laptop
      How to
      Control Fan Speed on a Windows 10 Laptop
      How to
      Transfer Files Between Laptops
      How to
      Connect a Desktop to a Laptop (Windows and Mac)
      How to
      Turn on the Touchpad on Your Laptop
      How to
      Connect Speakers to Your Laptop
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/learning-center/how-to-use-external-monitor-with-laptop-closed

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,707 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement