How to Close Your Laptop and Use an External Monitor

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Use an external monitor with your laptop closed

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: August 12, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using Windows
|
• Using Mac
|
• Video
|
• Warnings

|Show more |Show less

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.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows

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1. 
   1
   Click the Start menu. This is the Windows logo.

   • This method will work on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2. 
   2
   Type change what closing the lid does. Results will load as you type.
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3. 
   3
   Click the first option. The Control Panel will open to your System Settings for the battery.
4. 
   4
   Click the drop-down menu for "When I close the lid". There will be two drop-down menus: On battery and Plugged in. You'll need to change the setting for both.
5. 
   5
   Select Do nothing. Repeat this step for the other drop-down menu for "When I close the lid".
6. 
   6
   Click Save changes. 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.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Mac

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1. 
   1
   Connect your MacBook to the power supply. 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. 
   2
   Click the Apple menu and select System Settings. On older devices, this will be System Preferences.
3. 
   3
   Select Lock Screen. On older devices, you'll select Energy Saver and then Power Adapter.
4. 
   4
   Set "Turn display off on power adapter when inactive" to "Never". On older devices, this will look like Turn Display Off After.
5. 
   5
   Close your lid. The display will turn black.
6. 
   6
   Press Space on your external keyboard. This will wake your display. You can also move a connected external mouse to wake it up.
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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.
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