Share via

How do I switch off the display on my laptop when I close the lid

Anonymous
2025-06-03T10:41:30+00:00

I use an external monitor attached to my laptop. On my previous installation I had a 17inch laptop running Windows 10 professional and linked to a Dell 24 inch external monitor. The setup was that if I closed the laptop lid its display was switched off and the display shown on the Dell utilising the full screen.

I am now using Windows 11 on a 15 inch laptop but I cannot find any setting which will allow me to set the laptop to switch off if I close the lid. The other problem is that if I setup the display settings to only use the external monitor it is shown using the full size of the screen but nothing appears on the laptop screen, which I presume would mean that if I used the laptop only there would be no display unless I changed back to display one before disconnecting the Dell unit. The display setting in Windows 11 allows me to use display one, display two, both or to extend. If I select both the external monitor screen is in a reduced size so that it matches the size of the 15 inch laptop. If I select the external monitor only I cannot view the laptop screen. If I extend the displays I can see that the external monitor uses the full screen size and the laptop screen is also visible however the mouse now functions on both screens.

What I would like to do is to revert back to the Windows 10 settings whereby the laptop screen switches off when the lid is closed the the external monitor utilises the full screen instead of matching the 15 inch monitor screen.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-03T12:40:09+00:00

    Hello, my name is Mario, and I would be happy to assist you with your issue.

    I’m sorry for what happened!

    Press Win + S and type "Control Panel", then open the Control Panel.

    Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.

    In the left-hand menu, click "Choose what closing the lid does."

    Under "When I close the lid":

    Set it to "Do nothing" (for both On battery and Plugged in).

    Click Save changes.

    Best regards,

    Mario B.

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-03T12:12:07+00:00

    Hello. Please provide PC model # and specs If possable.

    Press Win+R

    Type control.exe

    Go to " Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\System Settings "

    Then choose do nothing when lid close. This will keep the computer running when lid closed.

    Now some laptops have a ground wire built in to the screen hinge.

    When you close the laptop it will auto turn off the laptop it self bc of that wire if so equipped.

    The reduced size could be because that new laptop may not have enough ram in the GPU chip to process the output. Also it could be an outdated display driver, It would help to check the manufactures website for updates on the gpu drivers [ If it has a gpu chip ].

    Answer: * More info needed on PC to know if it is powerful enough to do dual screen"

    0 comments