Dell close laptop with external monitor

Faculty and staff can learn how to resolve external monitor display issues.

Issue Overview

Description: When a laptop lid is closed and is connected to a dock with external monitor[s], the display signal is lost, and the monitors go blank.

Cause: This issue is often caused by a power setting that determines what happens when the lid is closed. Other power modes, such as sleep, may contribute to the issue as well.

To troubleshoot this issue, review the steps below.

Troubleshooting External Monitor Display Issues

You should verify that the laptop is not set to go to sleep when the lid is closed while plugged in. To do so,

1. Right-click anywhere on a blank area of the desktop.
2. Select Display Settings.
   1. Alternatively, you can search for Power & Sleep in the Windows search box.
3. Select Power & Sleep from option on the right-side.

4. Select Additional power settings.

   You may need to scroll down, or enlarge the window to see that option.

   
   

5. Select Choose what closing the lid does.
   
6. In the drop-down list under Plugged in and When I close the lid, choose Do Nothing.
   
7. Select Save Changes.
8. Exit all windows.
9. Test the new setting. When you close the lid of the laptop, the external monitors should continue to display after a brief re-scaling.

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