Sleep Mode: Does Your Pc Really Rest?

does no sleep work when lid is closed

Many people have reported issues with their laptops not going to sleep when the lid is closed. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as stickers or notes blocking the lid from closing properly, a faulty lid-close sensor or switch, or a USB device preventing the laptop from sleeping. In some cases, the power settings may need to be adjusted to ensure the laptop goes to sleep when the lid is closed. Additionally, certain laptops may have a wake on AC feature that can be disabled in the BIOS settings to prevent the laptop from waking up when plugged in.

Characteristics and Values

Characteristics Values
Laptop does not sleep when the lid is closed The lid-close sensor/switch may not be working
The lid is not closing properly due to stickers or notes
The ribbon cable connecting to the sensor is loose
A USB device is keeping the laptop awake
The BIOS config/keyboard-mouse/trackpad is interfering
The "wake on AC" setting is enabled
The laptop is set to "do nothing" when the lid is closed
The laptop is plugged into a secondary display
Laptop sleeps when the lid is closed but wakes up when plugged in Modern Standby is enabled

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Lid-close sensor/switch not working

If your laptop is not going to sleep when you close the lid, it could be due to a faulty lid-close sensor/switch. This sensor is also known as a reed switch or a hall sensor. It is usually located near the touchpad or the bottom left corner of the laptop screen.

To locate the sensor, you can use a small magnet while the laptop is on, but only if the hall sensor board is still connected. If you cannot locate the hall sensor board, try using a different magnet and moving it around close to the sensor to see if that cures the problem.

If the sensor is not the issue, there are a few other things you can try. First, check that the lid is closing properly and that nothing, such as stickers or notes, is preventing it from doing so. You should also check that no external devices, such as a USB hub, are keeping your laptop awake. Additionally, you can try resetting the power settings or running powercfg -restoredefaultschemes and rebooting.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to change the "close lid" setting to make the machine hibernate instead of sleep. To do this, press the Windows key, type "control panel", and press enter. Navigate to Hardware and Sound, then Power Options. In the side panel, click "Choose what closing the lid does" and change the setting to "Hibernate".

Finally, if your laptop is plugged in, you can try going into the BIOS and disabling "wake on AC".

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Laptop not sleeping when plugged in

If your laptop is not sleeping when plugged in, it could be due to a few reasons. Firstly, check if the lid is closing properly. Sometimes, stickers or notes on the lid can prevent it from closing fully, causing the laptop to remain awake.

Another reason could be a faulty lid-close sensor or switch. In some laptops, there is a magnet on the top left of the monitor, about 1.5 inches from the corner, which acts as a sensor. If this sensor is not working properly, the laptop might not detect when the lid is closed and may not enter sleep mode.

Additionally, certain USB devices connected to the laptop can interfere with its ability to enter sleep mode. Try disconnecting any USB devices and see if the laptop sleeps properly when plugged in.

If the problem persists, it could be related to power settings or driver updates. Ensure that your power settings are configured correctly for when the laptop lid is closed while plugged in. You can access these settings by going to Control Panel > Power Options, or by right-clicking on the battery icon in the system tray and selecting Power Options. Make sure the settings for "When I close the lid" are set to sleep.

Also, check that all your drivers, especially those related to power management and the graphics card, are up-to-date. You can usually find driver updates through the device manager or the manufacturer's website.

For some laptops, there are specific workarounds recommended by the manufacturer. For example, for Dell laptops, it is suggested to go into the BIOS and disable "wake on AC." Similarly, for Lenovo ThinkPads, enabling the S3 mode from BIOS might solve the issue.

Finally, if none of the above solutions work, you might need to consider changing the "close lid" setting to make the laptop hibernate instead of sleep. This can be done by navigating to Hardware and Sound in the Control Panel, then to Power Options, and changing the "When I close the lid" setting to "Hibernate."

By following these steps and troubleshooting suggestions, you should be able to resolve the issue of your laptop not sleeping when plugged in.

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Workaround: change close lid setting to hibernate

If you're looking for a way to make your laptop close to sleep when you shut the lid, but without actually turning it off, you can try changing the close lid setting to hibernate. This is a useful option if you want to conserve battery power when you're not using your laptop for an extended period, but still want to be able to pick up where you left off when you reopen it.

Here's how to change the close lid setting to hibernate on a Windows PC:

  • Go to the Start menu.
  • Select "Power".
  • Choose "Hibernate". On some PCs, you may need to select "Shut down or sign out" first, and then select "Hibernate".
  • To set your PC to hibernate when you close the lid, follow the same directions as you would to set your PC to sleep when you close the lid.
  • Open the Start menu and select "Control Panel".
  • Select "System and Security".
  • In the Power Options section, select "Change what the power buttons do".

By following these steps, you can set your Windows PC to hibernate when you close the lid, which will help conserve battery power while still allowing you to resume your work when you reopen the lid.

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Ubuntu do nothing setting not working

If you want to prevent your Ubuntu laptop from going into sleep mode when you close the lid, there are several methods you can try.

Firstly, you can adjust your power settings. Open the dash (super key), search for "power", and select the correct option in the dropdown. However, this method may not work for all systems, as some users have reported that the "`when the lid is closed`" option is not visible in the power settings.

Another approach is to use the GNOME Tweaks tool, which can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Store. Once installed, run the application and turn off the setting to do nothing when the lid is closed. Alternatively, you can use the command line instructions provided by Ubuntu Handbook:

> Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window. When it opens, run the command to edit the config file: logind.conf.

> Depends on your Ubuntu edition and desktop environment, replace gedit in the command with gnome-text-editor for Ubuntu 24.04 and higher.

You can also try editing the /etc/systemd/logind.conf file directly. Open this file and find the line that begins with "HandleLidSwitch". You can then change the value to "ignore" if you want your laptop to do nothing when the lid is closed.

Some users have also suggested installing "dconf-tools" and using the dconf Editor application to change the power settings.

It's important to note that some Ubuntu versions may have issues with the "do nothing" setting. For example, one user reported that their laptop still went into sleep mode even after changing the settings. Therefore, you may need to experiment with different methods to find one that works for your specific Ubuntu version and hardware configuration.

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External monitor going to sleep on lid close

When using an external monitor with a laptop, users may encounter issues with the laptop going to sleep when the lid is closed. This can be frustrating, especially if you want to continue using the external monitor while keeping the laptop closed. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, here are some methods that might help:

Windows Settings:

In Windows, you can adjust power settings to prevent the laptop from sleeping when the lid is closed. Go to the Power Options in the Control Panel, and under "Choose what closing the lid does," select "Do nothing" for the "When I close the lid" option while plugged in. This tells the laptop to take no action when the lid is closed, allowing you to continue using the external monitor without interruption.

BIOS Settings:

If your laptop wakes up when you plug in the charger, you can try disabling the "wake on AC" setting in the BIOS. This will prevent the laptop from automatically waking up when it's plugged in, keeping it in sleep mode even when the charger is connected.

Hibernate Option:

If you're concerned about the laptop overheating in your bag, you can change the "close lid" setting to make the machine hibernate instead of entering sleep mode. This can be done in the Power Options by changing the "When I close the lid" setting from Sleep to Hibernate. Hibernate takes longer to wake up, but it ensures the laptop won't be active in your bag.

Linux Ubuntu:

Linux Ubuntu offers more flexibility in power settings. You can set the laptop to do nothing, sleep, or shut down when the lid is closed, regardless of whether it's battery-powered or plugged in. This provides a straightforward solution without the need for workarounds.

Hardware Issues:

Sometimes, the issue might be related to hardware. Check if there are any loose connections or sensors that aren't working properly. In some cases, external devices connected to the laptop may interfere with sleep mode. Try disconnecting any non-essential devices and see if that makes a difference.

In summary, while there is no universal setting, you can try adjusting power settings, exploring BIOS options, or considering alternative operating systems to prevent your laptop from going to sleep when the lid is closed while using an external monitor.

Frequently asked questions

The lid might not be closing properly due to stickers or notes. Try removing any stickers or notes on the lid and check if the laptop goes to sleep. If not, the lid-close sensor/switch might not be working.

Check your power settings and ensure they are set to "When lid is closed, sleep". If this doesn't work, you can try running powercfg -restoredefaultschemes and rebooting your laptop.

Try disconnecting any external devices connected to your laptop, such as a USB hub, as these might be keeping your laptop awake.

Go into the BIOS settings and disable "wake on AC". Alternatively, you can change the "close lid" setting to make the machine hibernate instead of entering Modern Standby.

You can try the following commands:

When on AC Power, do nothing when the laptop lid is closed: gconftool-2 -t string -s /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_ac nothing

When on Battery Power, do nothing when the laptop lid is closed: gconftool-2 -t string -s /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_battery nothing

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