Are you tired of your laptop going to sleep or shutting down every time you close the lid? Do you want to customize this behavior to suit your needs? Look no further. In this article, we will explore the various ways to change what closing the lid does on your laptop, depending on your operating system and preferences.
Understanding the Default Behavior
Before we dive into the customization options, let’s understand the default behavior of closing the lid on different operating systems.
Windows Laptops
On Windows laptops, closing the lid typically puts the laptop to sleep. This is a power-saving feature that helps conserve battery life. However, you can change this behavior to suit your needs.
Mac Laptops
On Mac laptops, closing the lid also puts the laptop to sleep. However, if you have an external display connected, closing the lid will not put the laptop to sleep.
Chromebook Laptops
On Chromebook laptops, closing the lid puts the laptop to sleep. However, you can change this behavior to keep the laptop awake and continue using it with an external display.
Changing the Behavior on Windows Laptops
To change what closing the lid does on a Windows laptop, follow these steps:
Method 1: Using the Power Options
- Go to the Start menu and click on the Power icon.
- Click on Power options.
- Click on Choose what closing the lid does.
- Select the desired behavior from the drop-down menu.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Sleep | Puts the laptop to sleep. |
| Shut down | Shuts down the laptop. |
| Do nothing | Does not put the laptop to sleep or shut it down. |
Method 2: Using the Registry Editor
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type regedit and press Enter.
- Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power
- Create a new DWORD value named LidCloseAction.
- Set the value to 0 (sleep), 1 (shut down), or 2 (do nothing).
Changing the Behavior on Mac Laptops
To change what closing the lid does on a Mac laptop, follow these steps:
Method 1: Using the Energy Saver Preferences
- Go to the Apple menu and click on System Preferences.
- Click on Energy Saver.
- Click on the Options tab.
- Select the desired behavior from the drop-down menu.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Sleep | Puts the laptop to sleep. |
| Do nothing | Does not put the laptop to sleep. |
Method 2: Using the Terminal
- Open the Terminal app.
- Type the following command: sudo pmset -a lidwake 1
- Press Enter to execute the command.
This will prevent the laptop from sleeping when the lid is closed.
Changing the Behavior on Chromebook Laptops
To change what closing the lid does on a Chromebook laptop, follow these steps:
Method 1: Using the Settings App
- Go to the Settings app.
- Click on Device.
- Click on Power.
- Select the desired behavior from the drop-down menu.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Sleep | Puts the laptop to sleep. |
| Do nothing | Does not put the laptop to sleep. |
Method 2: Using the Chrome Flags
- Type chrome://flags in the address bar.
- Search for the flag “lid close action”.
- Select the desired behavior from the drop-down menu.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Sleep | Puts the laptop to sleep. |
| Do nothing | Does not put the laptop to sleep. |
In conclusion, changing what closing the lid does on your laptop is a simple process that can be done using various methods depending on your operating system and preferences. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can customize your laptop experience to suit your needs.
What does closing the laptop lid do by default?
Closing the laptop lid is set to put the laptop to sleep by default. This is a power-saving feature that helps conserve battery life when the laptop is not in use. When the lid is closed, the laptop’s screen turns off, and the system enters a low-power state.
This default setting can be useful for many users, but some may prefer to change it to suit their needs. For example, some users may want to close the lid and continue using their laptop with an external monitor, while others may want to shut down the laptop completely when the lid is closed.
Why would I want to change what closing the laptop lid does?
You may want to change what closing the laptop lid does if you use your laptop in a way that doesn’t fit the default setting. For example, if you often use your laptop with an external monitor, you may want to close the lid and continue working without the laptop’s screen getting in the way. On the other hand, if you’re concerned about battery life, you may want to set the laptop to shut down completely when the lid is closed.
Changing the lid closure setting can also be useful if you’re using your laptop in a specific environment. For example, if you’re using your laptop in a hot or dusty environment, you may want to set the laptop to shut down completely when the lid is closed to prevent overheating or damage.
How do I change what closing the laptop lid does in Windows?
To change what closing the laptop lid does in Windows, you’ll need to access the Power Options settings. You can do this by searching for “Power Options” in the Start menu and selecting the “Power Options” result. From there, you can click on the “Choose what closing the lid does” option on the left side of the window.
Once you’ve accessed the lid closure settings, you can select what you want to happen when you close the lid. You can choose from options like “Do nothing,” “Sleep,” “Hibernate,” or “Shut down.” You can also choose to have the laptop behave differently when it’s running on battery power versus when it’s plugged in.
How do I change what closing the laptop lid does in macOS?
To change what closing the laptop lid does in macOS, you’ll need to access the Energy Saver preferences. You can do this by clicking on the Apple menu and selecting “System Preferences,” then clicking on “Energy Saver.” From there, you can click on the “Options” tab and select what you want to happen when you close the lid.
Once you’ve accessed the lid closure settings, you can select what you want to happen when you close the lid. You can choose from options like “Sleep” or “Shut down.” You can also choose to have the laptop behave differently when it’s running on battery power versus when it’s plugged in. Note that the options may vary depending on the version of macOS you’re running.
Can I set the laptop to do different things when the lid is closed and I’m using an external monitor?
Yes, you can set the laptop to do different things when the lid is closed and you’re using an external monitor. In Windows, you can access the Power Options settings and select the “Choose what closing the lid does” option. From there, you can select what you want to happen when you close the lid, and you can also choose to have the laptop behave differently when it’s connected to an external monitor.
In macOS, you can access the Energy Saver preferences and select the “Options” tab. From there, you can select what you want to happen when you close the lid, and you can also choose to have the laptop behave differently when it’s connected to an external monitor. Note that the options may vary depending on the version of macOS you’re running.
Will changing what closing the laptop lid does affect my laptop’s battery life?
Changing what closing the laptop lid does can affect your laptop’s battery life, depending on the setting you choose. If you set the laptop to shut down completely when the lid is closed, it will likely conserve more battery life than if you set it to sleep or do nothing. On the other hand, if you set the laptop to do nothing when the lid is closed, it may continue to use battery power even when the screen is off.
It’s worth noting that the impact on battery life will depend on various factors, including the laptop’s hardware, the operating system, and your usage patterns. If you’re concerned about battery life, you may want to experiment with different lid closure settings to see what works best for you.