Windows 10 normally puts your laptop into low-power sleep mode when you close the lid. This can be a problem when hooking your laptop up to an external monitor. Use the Control Panelnot Windows 10s Settings appto change this behavior.
If you do this, be careful! Closing your laptops lid and throwing it in your bag while its still on could cause some serious problems due to poor circulation or blocking of vents. Your laptop will continue to run, wasting its battery and potentially even overheating in your bag. Youll need to manually put your laptop to sleep, hibernate it, or shut it down using its power buttons or in the options in the Start menu rather than simply closing the lid.
To change the default behavior of Windows 10 when you close the lid, right-click the battery icon in the system tray, and then click on Power Options.
If you dont see the battery icon, click on Show Hidden Icons and then right-click on the battery iconor head to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options instead.
Next, click Choose what closing the lid does in the pane to the left.
RELATED: How to Enable the Ultimate Performance Power Plan in Windows 10
From the drop-down menu for When I close the lid, select Do Nothing.
There are two separate options here: On Battery and Plugged In. You can choose different options for each. For example, you might want to have your laptop stay on when you close the lid while its plugged in but go to sleep when its on battery.
The settings you choose will be associated with your Windows power plan.
Warning:Remember, if you change the On Battery setting to Do Nothing, always make sure your laptop is shut down or in either Sleep or Hibernation mode when you place it in your bag to prevent overheating.
After youve made the changes, click Save Changes and close the Control Panel.
You should now be able to close the lid on your laptop without it going into sleep mode. If you want to switch either of the settings back to the default, head back to the Contol Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options and change it back.
RELATED: The Best Laptops of 2021 for Work, Play, and Everything In Between