How to Prevent a Laptop from Shutting Down When Closing the Lid in Windows 11

Many laptop users experience their device automatically going into sleep mode or shutting down when the lid is closed. In Windows 11, this behavior can be adjusted through system settings. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to keep your laptop running even when the lid is closed.

Step 1: Open Power Settings

First, you’ll need to access the power settings. To do this:

  1. Right-click the battery icon in the lower-right corner of the screen (in the notification area).
  2. Select Power and sleep settings.

Step 2: Go to Additional Power Settings

Next, access the advanced settings:

  1. In the power settings window, select Additional power settings to open the classic control panel for power management.
  2. In the power control panel, click on Choose what closing the lid does, located on the left side.

Step 3: Change Lid Close Action

Here, you can set how your system responds when the laptop lid is closed:

  1. Under the When I close the lid section, choose the action you want. Available options include:
    • Sleep — the laptop will go into sleep mode.
    • Hibernate — the system will save the current state and shut down to conserve energy.
    • Do nothing — the laptop will remain powered on.
  2. To keep the laptop running with the lid closed, select Do nothing.

Step 4: Save Changes

After selecting the desired option, click Save changes. Now, your laptop will no longer shut down or enter sleep mode when the lid is closed.

Additional Tips

Keep in mind that when using this setting, your laptop may overheat if left closed and powered on for extended periods. Additionally, battery life may drain more quickly, so it’s best to use this setting when the laptop is connected to a power source.

With this setup, your laptop is ready to keep running even with the lid closed, making it ideal for setups like using an external monitor.