How to Change What Happens When You Close Your Laptop Lid in Windows 11

To change what happens when you close your laptop lid in Windows 11, select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery, and then expand Lid & power button controls. Next to Closing the lid will make my PC, choose Do nothing, Sleep, Hibernate or Shut down, once for Plugged in and once for On battery. On older versions of Windows 11, use Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does.

Applies to: Windows 11 laptops.

What each option does

• Sleep is the default. The laptop saves your open apps and work in memory and uses a little power, so it wakes up in a second or two when you open the lid.
• Hibernate saves your work to the drive and turns the laptop off almost completely. It uses less battery than sleep but takes longer to start again.
• Shut down closes everything and turns the laptop off. Save your work before you close the lid.
• Do nothing keeps the laptop running with the lid closed. Use it when the laptop is connected to a monitor, or when something needs to keep running, such as a download.

You can choose a different action for when the laptop is plugged in and when it’s on battery. A common setup is Do nothing when plugged in and Sleep on battery.

Method 1: Use Settings (Windows 11 version 24H2 and later)

1. Select Start > Settings, or press Windows logo key + I.
2. Select System > Power & battery.
3. Select Lid & power button controls to expand it.
4. Next to Closing the lid will make my PC, choose an action under Plugged in and under On battery.

The change applies right away, so there’s nothing to save. On recent updates, a change made here applies to all your power plans, which helps it stick.

In the same section, you can also choose what the power button and sleep button do.

If you don’t see Lid & power button controls, your PC is on an older version of Windows 11, or it isn’t a laptop. Use Method 2.

Method 2: Use Control Panel

1. Select Start, type Control Panel, and open it.
2. Select Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. In the left pane, select Choose what closing the lid does.
4. Under Power and sleep buttons and lid settings, open the When I close the lid lists for On battery and Plugged in, and choose an action.
5. Select Save changes.

You don’t need to select Change settings that are currently unavailable for the lid options. That link only unlocks the shutdown settings further down the page.

Which option should you choose?

• You carry your laptop around: leave both on Sleep. It’s the quickest way to pick up where you left off.
• You leave it closed for days: choose Hibernate on battery, so the battery doesn’t run down while it sits in a bag.
• You use it with a monitor, keyboard and mouse: choose Do nothing under Plugged in. The full desk setup is in closing your laptop and keeping a monitor on in Windows 11.
• You want downloads or backups to finish with the lid closed: choose Do nothing, keep the laptop plugged in, and put it somewhere with airflow.

Be careful with Do nothing on battery. If you close the lid and put the laptop in a bag, it keeps running, gets hot, and drains the battery. Shut it down or put it to sleep from the Start menu first.

If Hibernate isn’t in the list

Hibernate only appears in the list when hibernation is turned on for your PC, and turning it on needs administrator rights. Choose Sleep or Shut down instead. To turn hibernation on, follow the steps for hibernating Windows 10; the options are the same in Windows 11.

If the lid setting doesn’t work

• The laptop still sleeps with the lid closed. Check that you changed the column that matches how it’s powered right now. Also check the sleep timer, which can put the laptop to sleep after a set time even when the lid does nothing. That timer is changed when you stop your computer from sleeping in Windows 11.
• The setting keeps changing back. Make the change in Settings if you can, then restart. On a work or school laptop, your organization may manage power settings, and you’ll need to ask your IT department.
• The screen turns off but the laptop stays on. That’s normal with Do nothing. The built-in screen always turns off when the lid closes. Only an external monitor stays on.
• The laptop won’t wake up when you open the lid. Press the power button briefly. If it was set to Hibernate or Shut down, it takes longer to start.

Frequently asked questions

Is it bad to close the lid with Do nothing?

Not while it’s on a desk and plugged in. Just don’t pack it away while it’s running, because a closed laptop has less airflow.

Does Do nothing keep my apps running?

Yes. Everything keeps working, including music, downloads and calls, until you open the lid or the sleep timer kicks in.

Will the lid setting drain my battery?

Sleep uses a little battery. Hibernate and Shut down use almost none. Do nothing uses the most, because the laptop stays fully on.

Can I add a power button to the taskbar instead?

Yes. A shortcut gives you one-click shut down, covered in putting a power button on the taskbar in Windows 11.

Next steps

If battery life is why you changed the lid setting, checking battery health in Windows 11 shows how worn the battery is. The difference between sleep and hibernate is explained in Shut down, sleep, or hibernate your PC.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.