How to keep your laptop on with the lid closed in Windows 10 and 11

How to keep laptop on with lid closed

1. Press the Windows + R keyboard keys to open the Run dialog.
2. Type control powercfg.cpl in the Run dialog.
3. Press Enter or click OK.
4. Click Choose what closing the lid does in the left sidebar.
5. Set When I close the lid under Plugged in to Do nothing.
6. Click Save changes at the bottom of the window.

You can now close your laptop's lid while it is plugged into power, and it will keep running instead of going into sleep mode.

Plugged in vs. On battery settings

Recommended settings:

• Plugged in: Do nothing
• On battery: Sleep

Setting Plugged in to Do nothing lets you download large files, play music in the background, or use an external monitor at your desk without leaving the screen open.

Leaving On battery set to Sleep acts as a safety net. If you close your laptop and put it in a bag while unplugged, the laptop goes to sleep instantly — preventing battery degradation or hardware failure due to overheating.

Is it safe to use a laptop with the lid closed?

For basic daily tasks like streaming music, downloading, or web browsing on an external monitor, keeping the lid closed is completely safe.

However, if you perform heavy, hardware-intensive tasks, keep these thermal tips in mind:

• Watch heat-sensitive displays: Many modern laptops expel hot air near the display hinge. Trapping intense heat against a closed screen for hours can stress the panel or top bezel.
• Use a vertical laptop stand: Elevating the laptop vertically opens up bottom air intakes and improves passive cooling.
• Leave the lid slightly open during heavy tasks: If fans are running at maximum speed for video rendering or gaming, leave the lid slightly open to maintain proper ventilation.