How to Close Your Laptop and Use External Monitor on Windows
Laptops prioritize portability, leaving many users wanting a larger display. That’s where external monitors come in. They mirror your laptop’s display on a bigger screen. If you’re aiming to save your laptop’s battery and concentrate on one task, it’s best to close your laptop and use an external monitor.
Even we struggled to find this option on our Windows desktop while using an external monitor. Microsoft has made a questionable design choice by not including it in the display settings. It is hidden as a check box under the power settings in Control Panel.
Now, let’s show you how to find it. But first, let’s make sure you are ready to close your laptop lid and use an external monitor on Windows.
How to Connect and Use External Monitor
To use an external monitor with a closed laptop, configure the display correctly. Follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your Windows PC.
2. Go to System > Display.
Step 3: Click Identify to detect the assigned digit for the monitor. The digit should appear on the screens.
Step 4: Click on the drop-down menu next to Identify, and select ‘Show only on 1’ or ‘Show only on 2’ – depending on the number assigned to your external monitor. Once you do this, the display contents will only be shown on the external monitor.
Ensuring Your PC Stays Awake When You Close Your Laptop Lid
How to Use an External Monitor With Laptop Closed
Your Windows PC can keep your laptop active even when the lid is closed under the power options in the Control Panel menu. Here’s how to access it.
Step 1: Open the Control Panel on your Windows PC.
Step 2: Go to ‘Hardware and Sound’.
Step 3: Click Power Options.
Click ‘Choose what closing the lid does’ in the sidebar.
Step 5: To use your external monitor when the laptop lid is closed, select “Do nothing” from the drop-down menu next to “When I close the lid.”
Step 6: Repeat for Plugged-in mode.
Click Save Changes to confirm.
When connecting your laptop to an external monitor, you can simply close the laptop for the changes to take effect. But there are a few things to keep in mind.
What You Need to Know While Closing Laptop With External Monitor
When using an external monitor with your laptop closed, there are a few important things you need to know.
Obviously, you will need to use an external keyboard and mouse. You cannot use your laptop’s keyboard and touchpad since it will be closed.
Furthermore, you will also have to use an external webcam.
To put your PC to sleep or shut it down, you can directly do it from the power menu using the external monitor.
However, to turn on your PC, you must open your laptop and use the power button.
Use the right resolution and the correct display scaling options when using an external monitor.
Since your laptop will still be active even when you close the lid, the speakers of your laptop can act as the audio output device.
FAQs on Using a Laptop With an External Monitor
1. Make sure you have connected the HDMI cable to both ends. Also, check if your monitor is plugged in and turned on.
2. “Extend display” allows you to use the external monitor to expand your laptop’s display.
3. To make the content larger on your external monitor, adjust the resolution in Settings > Display. You can also increase the scaling percentage.
Keep the External Monitor On
This article provides tips for using an external monitor with a closed laptop to enhance media viewing and productivity.
As Fred Humiston, the author behind Twothirds.us, I focus on providing practical and easy-to-follow guides and solutions for a variety of technical issues that people commonly face.
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