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How can I keep my laptop running with the lid closed?

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Summary: The default configuration for most Windows laptops is to go into standby when the lid is closed. We'll look at how to change that.

When I close the lid of my Toshiba notebook, the internet stops, meaning that if I want to download stuff, the lid always has to be open, which is really annoying. Any way to change this without connecting another monitor and mouse?

It's probably not the internet that's stopping - it's the entire computer.

The default configuration for most laptops these days is to go into Stand-by, or even Hibernation, when the laptop is closed.

Fortunately it's just a setting you can control in Windows.

Windows includes a fairly robust, if somewhat confusing, array of power management options. And like many options, they're in Control Panel.

Fire up Control Panel, and double click on Power Options. You should see something along these lines:

Control Panel - Power Options

Click on the Advanced tab for this:

Control Panel - Power Options - Advanced Tab

Note the items in the Power Buttons section, in particular the one labeled "When I close the lid of my portable computer:". This has two or three options: Stand by (the default), Hibernate (if you have hibernation enabled) and Do nothing.

I'm guessing it's Do nothing that you really want. It also happens to be what I use most of the time - particularly when I'm mobile I'd like to be able to close my laptop for carrying without having it shut down on me.

Click on the list drop-down arrow at the far right of Stand by:

Control Panel - Power Options - Advanced Tab - Selecting Do nothing

Click on Do nothing, and then click on either OK or Apply.

You should now be able to close your laptop and have it keep downloading without interruption.

Related:

Article 12189 | Posted January 24, 2008

Recent Comments

What about with a MacBook Pro? Any tips?

Posted by: Greg Bulmash at January 25, 2008 02:49 PM

And I'll answer my own question, though this is only for people who are using it as a desktop replacement and hooking it up to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Closing it puts it into sleep mode, but if you're running on AC power with an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, just click the mouse to wake it up.

Posted by: Greg Bulmash at January 25, 2008 06:04 PM

It could run down your battery if it keeps running while closed or if you put it in a case it could overheat and fry the laptop.

Posted by: Tony Martin at January 25, 2008 06:55 PM

I think it's weird that they've never bothered to put in an option to simply power down the monitor without powering down the actual laptop when you close the lid.
Clearly many people don't want the computer to completely power down or stand by when they shut the lid, but there is no point in having the monitor still on drawing power when the lids closed...

Just a thought.

Posted by: Stygies at January 27, 2008 05:20 AM

Go to settings and set it to stay on when the lid is closed.

Posted by: George Arauz at January 30, 2008 01:31 PM

If the questioner's Toshiba laptop is anything like mine (Satellite Pro L10)it may not work as described. Whatever settings I try, closing the lid puts it into hibernation. Worse, if I hibernate it and then close the lid, it toggles it back to life again (which might be a solution, of course)!

Posted by: John Chamberlain at January 31, 2008 03:41 AM

Thank you so much for that,
i have been searching for ages as my downloads for my products are cutting short.
Well Thank you again.

Plus with windows vista:-

you could go on your power icon in your bottom right side of you screen.
right click on the poer icon and go to power options. Then go to what if my laptop closes its lid(This should be on the top left side of your screen) then click on do nothing on all drop down menus.

And there you have it.
Or you could use the start bar power searcher and add in "power options" then use that.

Thank you again James Davies,
Linea-Soft "copyrighted 2007 - 2008"

Posted by: James at February 4, 2008 01:36 PM

hi. i am able to make my laptop 'Do Nothing'. but when i peek inbetween to take a look the screen is still on. is it possible if i want the laptop to continue to 'Do Nothing', but have a blank screen to save power. there is no 'Blank Screen' option in my window.

Posted by: marcus at April 14, 2008 07:33 AM

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