Windows/macOS will put your laptop to sleep by default once you close the top lid. If you wanted to play music, use a second external monitor, or listen to your favorite podcast while not looking at the screen, this could be such a bummer. However, there’s a way to keep the laptop running while the lid is closed.

In Windows, go to the computer’s settings > system > power/sleep options > and select the ‘additional power settings.’ Click on ‘what closing the lid does,’ edit, and save. For macOS, select system preferences and tap on the ‘energy saver’ option, then slide the ‘display sleep’ option to ‘never.’

The process is easy to follow, provided you can read and understand as I cover ways to keep your laptop on while the lid is closed in the simplest terms possible through the article. Whether your computer runs on Windows or macOS, there’s a simple toggle that will let you keep the laptop on with a closed display.

How Do I Keep My Laptop On While Closed?

As earlier stated, the process is an easy one, achieved by mimicking the following steps;

Step1: Launch Settings

Launch Settings from your laptop running the Windows operating system by tapping the icon at the left bottom of your screen. Now click on the geared icon named ‘settings’ and proceed to the next step.

For those using a Macbook and assuming that you are running macOS, tap on the system preferences at the top ‘apple menu’ and click on the ‘energy saver’ option. 

Step2: Configure The Sleep Options

Now that you’ve clicked the settings option, tap on the system > power/sleep, and then finally the ‘additional power settings’ from the menu at the right. Then, on the left of your highlighted options, tap the ‘what closing the lid does’ selection.

Change the settings from the dropdown list to ‘do nothing’ and save your settings.

On macOS devices, you should see a computer sleep/display sleep option, of which you’ll set the slider to ‘never.’

Can A Laptop Run While Closed?

The short answer is, Yes.

In a more detailed answer, the laptop will run and operate perfectly fine. However, note where the fans are to avoid overheating. I’ve seen laptops with ventilation zones placed at the top, next to the keyboard. With such air-conditioning, it’s not advisable to close the lid when using the computer.

If you close the lid while using the laptop, the heat produced might fry the computer’s components, a loss no one is willing to incur. Nevertheless, most laptops should work just fine with a closed lid without any arising issues.

Keep the ventilated regions free from blockage or anything that might interfere with air circulation in and out of the machine.

Why Do People Leave Laptops Running While Closed?

There are several reasons why people leave their laptops running while the lid is closed. Sometimes, on a fully adjustable laptop stand.

Although some view it as a bad habit that might damage the laptop in the long run, it’s such a lifesaver in some instances.

Some of the reasons include but not limited to;

• Extending the display to a second external monitor
• Listening to music, podcast, or a talk show
• Downloading a large file overnight and can’t stand bright light coming from the laptop
• Watching a movie via an extended Tv set
• Playing a game via an external monitor
  
  

How Do I Make My Laptop Not Go To Sleep When I Close It?

While I’ve already discussed the steps above, allow me to dive deeper into the topic and explain how to make the laptop stay awake with a closed lid using different versions of operating systems.

In this step, i'll show you how to toggle the setting using a laptop running windows 7,8, and 10. I’ll then cover steps to toggling the option on a computer running the latest Apple’s Os, macOS Big Sur. Without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the different solutions.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is an operating system developed by Microsoft, released in 2009 but discontinued on the 14th January 2020. Many people believe that this is one of the best Microsoft’s operating systems to date. However, this is a debatable discussion.

Now going back to business, windows 7 provides a very simple toggle that will let you use your laptop with a closed lid. You can find and toggle the setting through the following steps;

1. At the bottom right of your screen, locate the system tray and tap on the battery icon. If you can’t see the icon, click on the upward-facing arrow and tap on the battery icon.
2. Tap on the ‘battery settings’ indicated at the bottom of the screen. Alternatively, right-click on the battery icon and tap on the ‘power options.’
3. Now tap on the ‘choose what the lid does’ option located on the left side of your laptop’s screen.
4. Finally, pick an option from the drop-down and set the lid to ‘do nothing’ once closed.
5. Save your changes and close the lid to confirm that the laptop does not go to sleep.
   
   

Windows 8

Windows 8 is an operating system developed by Microsoft, released in 2012 but discontinued on the 12th January 2016 in a push to persuade people into upgrading to Windows 8.1.

The operating system reached its end of mainstream support in 2018 and will soon get to the end of life support in January of 2023.

The process of making your laptop running Windows 8 or 8.1 to not sleep with a closed lid is similar and also an easy one to follow. You can find and toggle the setting through the following steps;

1. At the bottom right of your screen, locate the system tray and tap on the battery icon. If you can’t see the icon, click on the upward-facing arrow and tap on the battery icon.
2. Tap on the ‘battery settings’ indicated at the bottom of the screen. Alternatively, right-click on the battery icon and tap on the ‘power options.’
3. Now tap on the ‘choose what the lid does’ option located on the left side of your laptop’s screen.
4. Finally, pick an option from the drop-down and set the lid to ‘do nothing’ once closed.
5. Save your changes and close the lid to confirm that the laptop does not go to sleep.

In an alternative way;

1. Hover your mouse to the right corner of your screen.
2. Search for the ‘power options’ in the search bar and click on it
3. Now tap on the ‘choose what the lid does’ option located on the left side of your laptop’s screen.
4. Finally, pick an option from the drop-down and set the lid to ‘do nothing’ once closed.
5. Save your changes and close the lid to confirm that the laptop does not go to sleep.
   
   

Windows 10

Windows 10 is an operating system developed by Microsoft, released in 2015, and the current latest version of the company’s operating system. You can find and toggle the setting in windows 10 through the following steps;

1. Tap the Windows logo at the bottom left of your laptop’s screen and launch the computer’s settings.
2. Tap on the system, power/sleep, and finally, the ‘additional power settings’ from the menu at the right.
3. Now tap on the ‘choose what the lid does’ option located on the left side of your laptop’s screen.
4. Finally, pick an option from the drop-down and set the lid to ‘do nothing’ once closed.
5. Save your changes and close the lid to confirm that the laptop does not go to sleep.

In an alternative way;

1. At the bottom right of your screen, locate the system tray and tap on the battery icon. If you can’t see the icon, click on the upward-facing arrow and tap on the battery icon.
2. Tap on the ‘battery settings’ indicated at the bottom of the screen or right-click on the battery icon and tap on the ‘power options.’
3. Now tap on the ‘choose what the lid does’ option located on the left side of your laptop’s screen.
4. Finally, pick an option from the drop-down and set the lid to do nothing once closed.
5. Save your changes and close the lid to confirm that the laptop does not go to sleep.
   
   

macOS BigSur

macOS BigSur (version 11) is the latest installation operating system of Apple’s MacBook computers. The OS was released in June 2020 and features a redesigned user interface with support for MacBooks sporting ARM-based processors.

It’s the first operating system from Apple to support such ARM-based devices. You can find and toggle the setting in macOS BigSur through the following steps;

1. Tap on the system preferences at the top apple menu.
2. Now click on the ‘energy saver’ option. 
3. Slide the computer sleep/display sleep slider to ‘never.’
4. Close the lid to confirm that the laptop does not go to sleep.

In conclusion, a laptop can still work perfectly fine with a closed lid provided you’ve followed the steps I’ve discussed through this article to the latter. However, make a note of where your laptop fan is located and avoid closing the lid if the fan is next to the keyboard.