Ashwin Lewis
By default, most laptops are set to go to sleep when you close the lid. This can be an issue if you want to put your laptop away while it's still running, or if you want to use it as a desktop with an external monitor. However, you can change this setting on your laptop. In Windows, you can go to the Control Panel and select Power Options or Power Settings to choose what action you want to happen when you close the lid, such as hibernate, shut down, sleep, or do nothing. On a Mac, you can go to System Preferences > Battery and choose the Power Adapter tab on the sidebar to prevent the laptop from sleeping when you close the lid. It's important to note that closing the lid on some laptops may restrict airflow, which could lead to overheating and potential damage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Default behaviour | PC goes to sleep when the lid is closed |
| Operating Systems | Windows 10, Windows 11, Mac |
| How to change default behaviour | Go to Power Options in the Control Panel and select the "action" for lid close |
| Options for "action" | Sleep, Hibernate, Shut Down, Do Nothing |
| Risks of "Do Nothing" option | Heat from the components may get stuck, potentially causing physical damage |
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What You'll Learn
- Change settings to 'Do Nothing' when the laptop is charging
- Prevent overheating by ensuring vents are not blocked
- Use hibernation mode when not using the laptop for an extended period
- Change settings in Windows 10 and Windows 11 from the Control Panel
- Use an external monitor, keyboard and mouse for a desktop experience
Change settings to 'Do Nothing' when the laptop is charging
To change your laptop settings to do nothing when it is charging, you can try the following methods:
Check your device manufacturer's website
Each device manufacturer implements Smart charging in slightly different ways, so it is best to visit your device manufacturer's website to learn how to turn it off for your specific device.
Check your battery health
If your laptop is plugged in but not charging, there is a chance that your battery needs to be replaced. Old or defective laptops may have a battery that is no longer capable of holding a charge. You can check your laptop's battery health in Windows by generating a battery report from the command line. This will tell you the current capacity of the battery and its usage history. If the capacity has dropped significantly, there might be a problem.
Try a software tweak
You can try uninstalling Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery completely and then rebooting, which should prompt Windows to reinstall the driver.
Check your power settings
You can also check your power settings to see if your laptop is set to sleep when you close the lid. On Windows, you can do this by selecting Search on the taskbar, typing "control panel", and selecting it from the results. Then, select System and Security, and in the Power Options section, select Change what the power buttons do. From there, you can select Change settings that are currently unavailable, and then select options based on how you want Sleep to work. For a laptop, expand the list for When I close the lid in the On battery column and deselect Sleep.
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Prevent overheating by ensuring vents are not blocked
One of the main causes of laptop overheating is blocked or clogged vents. Laptops are designed to expel hot air and take in cool air through their vents, but these can easily get blocked by dust, dirt, hair, or other debris. To prevent overheating, you should regularly check and clean your vents with a soft brush, a can of compressed air, or a vacuum cleaner. Make sure to turn off and unplug your laptop before doing this, and avoid using liquids or harsh chemicals that could damage your laptop's components.
To ensure your vents are not blocked, you should also avoid using your laptop on soft surfaces like beds, sofas, carpets, or pillows. These surfaces can block the vents and trap heat, causing your laptop to overheat. Instead, place your laptop on a flat, hard surface like a table or a desk. Even on a hard surface, your laptop can benefit from some extra elevation to create more space for the air to circulate. You can use a laptop stand, a book, or a laptop cooling mat to prop up your laptop and improve airflow.
Another way to improve airflow and ventilation is to elevate the back end of your laptop, allowing more air to flow underneath it. You can use a stand, a book, or another flat surface to elevate your laptop and keep it cool. Make sure that the item you use is not blocking the bottom fan hole. If a book doesn't help, you can try something more uneven, like sticking four sockets from an egg tray to the four corners of your laptop.
In addition to keeping your vents clear, you can also prevent overheating by limiting the number of programs that run when you start up your laptop, changing your settings to power-saving mode, and shutting down your laptop when you're not using it.
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Use hibernation mode when not using the laptop for an extended period
Hibernation mode is a useful feature that can be used when you know that you won't be using your laptop for an extended period and won't have the opportunity to charge the battery during that time. It is similar to sleep mode, but it saves your apps and documents while using very little energy.
To use hibernation mode, first, check to see if the option is available on your PC. If it is, turn it on by opening the Power Options. You can do this by selecting Start, then Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings. From here, you can select 'Choose what the power button does' and then select 'Change settings that are currently unavailable'. Under Shutdown settings, select the Hibernate checkbox, and then select 'Save changes'.
Now that you have hibernation mode set up, you can hibernate your PC in several ways. You can select Start and then Power > Hibernate. Alternatively, you can press the Windows logo key + X on your keyboard, and then select Shut Down or Sign Out > Hibernate. You can also set your PC to hibernate when you close the lid or press the power or sleep buttons. To do this, follow the same directions as above, but in the 'When I close the lid' section, select 'Hibernate' instead of 'Sleep'.
It is important to note that, unlike sleep mode, hibernation mode may cause connected devices such as monitors, printers, or scanners to function improperly after waking up the PC. If this occurs, you may need to disconnect and reconnect the device or restart your PC.
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Change settings in Windows 10 and Windows 11 from the Control Panel
To change settings in Windows 10 and Windows 11 from the Control Panel, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, open the Control Panel. On Windows 10, you can do this by selecting the 'Start' button and then selecting 'Control Panel' from the menu. On Windows 11, you can access the Control Panel by going to the Start menu and selecting 'Settings', which will open the Settings app. From there, you can click on 'System', which will bring up a page with various settings options, including 'Control Panel' at the bottom.
Once you have opened the Control Panel, you can adjust various settings. For example, on Windows 10, you can change the settings for what action is triggered when you close your laptop lid. To do this, go to 'Hardware and Sound' in the Control Panel and then select 'Power Options'. From there, you can choose 'Choose what closing the lid does' and select your preferred option from the drop-down menu.
Similarly, on Windows 11, you can change power settings through the Control Panel. Go to 'System and Security' and then select 'Power Options'. Here, you can adjust the settings for what happens when you close your laptop lid or press the power button.
In addition to using the Control Panel, Windows 10 and 11 also allow you to change certain system settings via the command line, using either PowerShell or CMD. For example, you can use PowerShell commands to manage printers or adjust date and time settings. However, keep in mind that not all settings can be changed this way, and you may need to use the graphical user interface (GUI) for more complex adjustments.
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Use an external monitor, keyboard and mouse for a desktop experience
If you want to use an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse with your laptop closed, you can do so by following these steps:
First, ensure you have the necessary equipment: an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. You will also need the right cables to connect your laptop's display output to the monitor, and potentially a USB hub or dock if your laptop doesn't have enough ports or if you want a cleaner setup. Depending on your hardware, you may also be able to use a wireless keyboard and mouse by connecting a USB dongle or setting them up via Bluetooth.
Next, open the Control Panel on your laptop and navigate to the Power Options. In the Power Options section, select "Choose what closing the lid does" or "Change what the power buttons do." Adjust the settings so that your laptop does nothing when the lid is closed, instead of entering sleep mode. Click "Save changes" to apply these new settings.
Now, connect your external keyboard and mouse to the correct ports on your laptop or the connected USB hub/dock. If you are using a wireless setup, connect the USB dongle or pair the devices via Bluetooth.
Finally, connect your external monitor to the correct display output port on your laptop or the connected USB hub/dock. Once the external monitor is connected, close your laptop's lid. If you are using a MacBook, you may need to wake it up by pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse.
By following these steps, you can use your laptop with the lid closed, freeing up desk space and allowing you to work more comfortably with the external monitor, keyboard, and mouse setup.
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Frequently asked questions
To stop your laptop from automatically going to sleep when you close the lid, you can modify your laptop settings. On Windows 10, right-click the battery icon in the bottom right corner to access the Power section. From there, you can set the action you'd like your laptop to take when you close the lid, including options like 'Do Nothing', 'Hibernate', or 'Shut Down'.
Sleep mode uses a minimal amount of power to keep your PC in a ready state, allowing you to quickly resume work when you open the lid. Hibernate, on the other hand, is designed to draw even less power and is suitable when you don't plan on using your laptop for an extended period.
To enable Hibernation, follow the same steps as mentioned earlier. In the Windows 10 Power & Sleep Settings, you can choose 'Hibernate' as the action when closing the lid. This will save your work and conserve power when you're not using your laptop.
Yes, an alternative method is to use a tool or object to slightly wedge the lid and body of the laptop apart when closed. This prevents the lid switch from being activated and keeps the laptop from entering sleep mode. However, this may not be the most elegant solution and could impact the laptop's aesthetics.
