- To change the lid close action on Windows 11, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options, and click “Choose what closing the lid does,” use the “When I close the lid” setting and choose the action for “On Battery” and “Plugged in:”
- “Do nothing –” keeps the device running when closing the lid.
- “Sleep –” puts the laptop in low power usage.
- “Hibernate –” saves the current session and shuts down the laptop.
- “Shut down –” powers down the laptop.
On Windows 11, by default, when you close your laptop’s lid, the system will put it to sleep. However, this may not always be the best option for you.
There are several reasons why you might want to change the lid close action on Windows 11. For example, if you’re running low on battery and need to conserve power, changing the lid action to hibernate can help to save even more battery. However, if you’re plugged in and don’t need to worry about battery life, you might prefer to keep your laptop running even when the lid is closed.
If you use an external monitor or projector, you may want to keep your laptop running with the lid closed so you can continue working on the external display. Or, if you’re concerned about security, you may want your device to sleep to prevent someone from quickly opening the lid and accessing your files without a password.
Whatever the reason might be, Windows 11 includes several ways to change the action when closing the display on your laptop.
This guide will teach you the steps to change the close lid action on Windows 11.
Change lid close action on Windows 11
To change the action when closing the lid on a laptop, use these steps:
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Open Start on Windows 11.
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Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
Quick tip: You can also use the “Windows key + R” keyboard shortcut, type “Control,” and click the “OK” button to open the Control Panel. -
Click on Hardware and Sound.
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Click on Power Options.
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Click the “Choose what closing the lid does” option from the left pane.
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Under the “Power button and lid settings” section, use the “When I close the lid” setting and choose the action (“Do nothing,” “Sleep,” “Hibernate,” or “Shut down”) for “On Battery” and “Plugged in.”
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Click the Save changes button.
Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will stay running, put the laptop to sleep, hibernate, or shut down the system according to your configuration when closing the laptop’s lid.
If you don’t see the “Hibernate” option, it’s because you don’t have the feature enabled. You can click the “Change settings that are currently unavailable” option from the “System Settings” page and check the “Hibernate” option. If the option is missing, you need to enable the feature from Command Prompt.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].