Close Surface Pro with external monitor

Anonymous
2013-04-16T19:52:18+00:00

How can I close my Surface Pro (w/Type keyboard), without shutting down, and have the display turn off while the external monitor remains on?

I have a Surface Pro w/ Windows 8, Touch keyboard, and an external (non-touch) monitor.

Like my previous laptop, I'd like to close the Surface Pro, and:

  1. Keep the computer operating,
  2. Turn off the Surface display, and
  3. Continue using my external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

How can I do this? Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Kevin

Surface | Surface Pro | USB-C

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-16T21:08:37+00:00

    Hello kevinberchelmann,

    I can help you with part of this. You'll want to go to Control panel/Power options. On the left side select Choose what closing the lid does. You'll have two categories - When I press the power button and When I close the lid (there are other settings you can change in this screen too).

    Set them for both battery and plugged in where you want them, then select Save changes at the bottom.

    267 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-17T11:22:23+00:00

    Just press windows+P or use the charms/devices options to change the active display to only use the external monitor.

    191 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-09T02:40:06+00:00

    Hello kevinberchelmann,

    I can help you with part of this. You'll want to go to Control panel/Power options. On the left side select Choose what closing the lid does. You'll have two categories - When I press the power button and When I close the lid (there are other settings you can change in this screen too).

    Set them for both battery and plugged in where you want them, then select Save changes at the bottom.

    Thank you, brilliant answer. Helped me immediately.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-16T21:44:11+00:00

    Hello kevinberchelmann,

     

    I can help you with part of this. You'll want to go to Control panel/Power options. On the left side select Choose what closing the lid does. You'll have two categories - When I press the power button and When I close the lid (there are other settings you can change in this screen too).

     

    Set them for both battery and plugged in where you want them, then select Save changes at the bottom.

    Here's a silly question.... Does 'Closing the Lid' apply to 'lifting the lid while in stand/leg mode'?

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-04-16T23:14:15+00:00

    Hello Hal Seltzer,

    I'm not familiar with stand/leg mode, is that from a laptop with Windows 8? It sounds like you'd want it to do the opposite, wake the PC up by opening the lid.

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