Windows 10: Quick Tip: How to Use External Monitor with Laptop Lid Closed in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Mobile users who are some times stationary might need to connect to an larger external display. Depending on your needs, you might just want to use larger display for all your on screen work, especially if you have two of them connected. Out of the box though, connecting those external monitors then closing the lid might not work as desired. With the exception of a docking station, users will need to first configure settings in the Control Panel > Power Options to make this work. Here is how you do that. Press Windows key + R then type control Hit Enter or click OKClick Hardware and SoundCl

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Closing laptop lid shuts down external monitor

I have a laptop, (Windows 10) with an external monitor. Whenever I close the laptop lid after powering up the computer the monitor goes dark. How can I power up, close the lid and keep the monitor live?

 

Windows 10 sleeps when using external monitor and closing the laptop lid.

Hey Likitha

Thanks for your response.

Before we assist further, I would like to ask you a few questions:

• Have you set Sleep function to activate on closing the laptop lid?
• Did you check if the laptop goes to sleep when not connected to external monitor and lid closed?

To respond to your questions

(1) I have set the sleep function to operate on laptop lid close only when the laptop is on battery power. When it is plugged in I have set it to do not sleep ever.

(2) I have tested that it does *not* go to sleep when I the laptop is plugged in and I close the laptop lid

Further information:

(1) When I first turned the laptop on I attached it to the monitor and closed the lid. It then ran successfully for approximately an hour before hibernating.

(2) I then restarted the system, external monitor plugged in, lid closed and it went to hibernate after approximately 2 minutes.

 

Close laptop lid - external monitor

Yep. The computer remained and I could use the external monitor. But all windows on the laptop screen moved over. Currently when the lid is closed, the windows remain on the laptop screen which is then "off"