How to close laptop without turning off?

I work as a graphic designer and faced similar issues. Using custom scripts and third-party apps can also give more control. For instance, Advanced Power Management options in some BIOS settings can be tailored to your liking:
1. Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (often by pressing F2 or Del during boot).
2. Navigate to the “Power” section.
3. Find “Lid close action” or similar option and set it to “Do nothing.”
4. Save and exit the BIOS setup.

This solution is more advanced but offers a deeper level of customization.

If you’re using a Linux distribution like Ubuntu, there’s a way to handle this through system settings.
1. Open “Settings.”
2. Go to the “Power” section.
3. Look for the option that deals with what the laptop should do when the lid is closed.
4. Change this setting to “Do nothing.”

Now, the laptop will stay on when you close the lid.

Sometimes, built-in options don’t fit specific use cases. For more fine-tuning, a third-party application like InsomniaX or Caffeine for Mac or Insomnia for Windows can be helpful.

• For example, InsomniaX can disable sleep when you close the lid. Simply install the app, open it, and activate the required settings.

This approach offers more flexible control over power management settings.

By leveraging these various methods, you can find a solution that best fits how you use your laptop without having to worry about it turning off when you close the lid.

For those using Windows 11, the settings might look a bit different:
1. Click the Start menu and go to “Settings.”
2. Select “System” and then “Power & sleep.”
3. In the “Related settings” section, click “Additional power settings.”
4. This brings up the classic Control Panel. Follow the instructions to change the lid-closing actions to “Do nothing.”
5. Apply the changes.

This approach keeps your workflow uninterrupted when closing the lid for portability.

I’ve experienced the same issue. Particularly if you’re using macOS, you’ll benefit from an approach involving external peripherals. Here’s what I do:
1. Connect an external display, keyboard, and mouse to your MacBook.
2. With everything connected, close the lid. The screen will initially go black.
3. Press a key on the external keyboard or click the mouse to wake the system.

Your MacBook should now function with the lid closed while recognizing the external display as the primary screen.

You can configure your laptop to keep running even with the lid closed relatively easily, especially on Windows. Here’s what you should do:
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Navigate to “Hardware and Sound,” then select “Power Options.”
3. Click on “Choose what closing the lid does” from the side menu.
4. You will see options for “When I close the lid” under both “On battery” and “Plugged in” conditions. Change both settings to “Do nothing.”
5. Save changes and exit.

Now, your laptop won’t shut down or go to sleep when the lid is closed.