How to use laptop with external monitor and lid closed on Windows 11
You want to change these settings if you want to use a Windows 11 laptop with an external monitor.
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OnWindows 11, if you have a laptop, you can connect an external display to work with a larger canvas as if you were working on a desktop computer.
The only caveat is that if you want to use the device exclusively with the external monitor or place the laptop on a holder, the device will turn off as soon as you close the lid. However, Windows 11 includes a setting that allows you to change the close lid action to prevent the laptop from turning off.
Thisguidewill walk you through the steps to use a laptop with an external monitor with the lid closed on Windows 11.
How to change closing lid action to use external display on Windows 11
To prevent the laptop from turning off when closing the lid and using an external monitor on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, when you close the lid, the laptop will remain operational from the second display.
How to change primary display setting on Windows 11
To configure the laptop to use an external display as the primary monitor, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the laptop will turn off the display and only use the external monitor.
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Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
