Most laptops have a mini HDMI port or a USB-C port that can be used as an input for an external monitor. If your laptop doesn’t have either of these ports, then unfortunately, you won’t be able to use an external monitor. However, if your laptop does have one of these ports, then follow the steps below to get started! Once you’ve checked compatibility and verified that your laptop is ready to work with an external monitor, the next step is to connect it.
All you need is an HDMI cable or USB-C cable depending on the type of connection your laptop has. Once the cable is connected from your laptop to the external monitor, you can now close your laptop lid and enjoy working on a bigger screen! Lastly, go into Settings > Display > Multiple Displays and select how you would like the display to work when using multiple screens – i.e., extending one screen onto another or only showing content on a single display.
Introduction to How To Close Your Laptop Lid And Use An External Monitor On Windows 11, 10
We often get asked how to best use an external monitor with a laptop running Windows. The answer is actually quite simple – just close your laptop lid and use the external monitor as your primary display! This setup has a few benefits.
First, it frees up your laptop’s screen real estate so you can have more workspace. Second, it can help improve your productivity by making it easier to switch between applications. And third, it can help reduce eye strain since you’re not looking at a small screen all day.
To close your laptop lid and use an external monitor on Windows 10 or 11, simply follow these steps:
- Connect your external monitor to your laptop using an HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
- Open the Settings app (you can find it in the Start menu or search for it).
- Go to System > Display.
- Under “Multiple displays,” select “Duplicate these displays” or “Extend these displays.” Duplicating will show the same content on both screens, while extending will give you separate desktops that you can work on independently.
- Close your laptop lid and start working on your external monitor!
That’s it! Now you can enjoy the extra screen space and improved productivity that using an external monitor with your laptop provides.
What You Need to Know About Closing Your Laptop Lid
If you’re using a Windows laptop, there’s a good chance you’re not using it to its full potential. One of the biggest limitations is the small screen size. Sure, you can connect an external monitor, but then you have to deal with the awkwardness of having your laptop’s keyboard and trackpad right in front of you.
The good news is that there’s a way to use your laptop with an external monitor without sacrificing usability: by closing your laptop’s lid. When you close your laptop’s lid, Windows will automatically detect the change and turn off the LCD display. The only problem is that Windows doesn’t know what to do with your external monitor. To fix this, you need to change one setting in the control panel.
Here’s how:
- Open the Control Panel and go to Display.
- In the Display settings dialog box, select “Duplicate my display.” This will cause Windows to treat your external monitor as if it were another monitor connected to your computer.
- Close the Control Panel and enjoy using your extra-large desktop!
By closing your laptop’s lid, you can increase your productivity and make the most of those extra inches on your external monitor.
Configuring Windows 10/11 for External Display
Assuming you have an external monitor that you want to use with your Windows 10 or 11 laptop, there are a few things you need to do in order to configure Windows for the best experience. Here’s a quick rundown of what needs to be done:
- Connect your external monitor to your laptop.
- On your laptop, find the “Display” settings in the Control Panel and open it.
- In the “Display” settings, select the “Multiple displays” drop-down menu and choose one of the options:
Extend these displays: This option will give you a desktop that spans across both monitors. Your laptop’s screen will be used as a secondary monitor.
Duplicate these displays: This option will show the same thing on both screens. Anything you do on one screen will be shown on the other screen as well.
Show only on 1: This option will turn off your laptop’s screen and only show what’s on your external monitor.
Show only on 2: This option is the opposite of “Show only on 1.” It will turn off your external monitor and only show what’s on your laptop’s screen.
Once you’ve selected an option from the “Multiple displays” drop-down menu, click “Apply” to save your changes.
That’s it! You’ve now configured Windows 10/11 for use with an external display .
Installing Drivers and Setting Up the Monitor
Assuming you’ve already set up your external monitor, the next thing you need to do is install the drivers for it. The process for doing this will vary depending on the make and model of your external monitor, so consult your user manual or the manufacturer’s website for specific instructions. Once the drivers are installed, you should be able to configure the external monitor’s settings through Windows’ Display Properties dialog. To access this, right-click on the desktop and choose Properties from the pop-up menu. Then click on the Settings tab and you should see your external monitor listed as a second display.
If you want to use your laptop’s LCD screen as well as the external monitor, you can select the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor option. Otherwise, if you only want to use the external monitor, select Use this device as the primary monitor. You can also adjust the resolution and color depth settings for each display from here. You may also want to calibrate your external monitor to ensure that it displays colors accurately.
Keep Screen on when laptop closed Windows 11
For this, you can use a calibration tool that is typically included with graphics cards or that can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. Drivers are what allow your computer to communicate with the hardware, and without them, the hardware won’t work.
There are two ways to go about installing drivers: manually or automatically. Manually installing drivers can be time-consuming and difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available online that can walk you through the process step-by-step. The easier way to install drivers is to use a driver update utility.
These utilities will scan your computer for all of the installed devices and then compare those against a database of available drivers. If there are any outdated or missing drivers, the utility will download and install them for you automatically. Once you have the drivers installed, it’s time to set up the external monitor. This is usually done via a setting in Windows called “Multiple Displays.” To access this setting, go to Control Panel > Display > Change display settings.
Under the “Multiple displays” drop-down menu, select “Extend these displays.” This will cause Windows to treat your external monitor as an extension of your laptop’s screen. You can then drag windows between the two screens and position them however you like.
Other Tips and Tricks
If you’re using a Windows-based laptop and want to be able to close your lid and still use an external monitor, there are a few things you can do. First, you’ll need to go into your power settings and make sure that the “Allow hybrid sleep” option is turned off. This will prevent your computer from going into sleep mode when you close the lid. Next, you’ll need to go into your display settings and make sure that the “Duplicate display” or “Extend display” option is selected.
This will allow your external monitor to show the same thing as your laptop screen. You can close your laptop lid. Your computer will stay on and you’ll be able to use your external monitor just like you would if your laptop was open.
Finally, you’ll need to make sure that your laptop is plugged in and receiving power. This will prevent the computer from going into sleep mode when the lid is closed and ensure that your external monitor continues to receive a signal even when the laptop lid is closed. If you’re using a Windows laptop with an external monitor, there are a few other tips and tricks you can use to optimize your experience.
How to close laptop screen when using HDMI
For example, did you know that you can adjust the power settings so that your laptop only goes to sleep when you close the lid? To do this, go to the Control Panel and search for “power options.” Under the “Power buttons and lid” section, select “Sleep” from the drop-down menu next to “Lid close action.”
You can also customize what happens when you press the power button on your laptop. By default, pressing the power button puts your computer into sleep mode. However, you can change this behavior so that pressing HDMI Port/Output the power button either does nothing or turns off your computer entirely. To do this, go to the Control Panel and search for “power options.” Under the “Power buttons and lid” section, select either “Do nothing” or “Shut down” from the drop-down menu next to “Power button action.”
If you want to make sure your external monitor is always used when your laptop is docked, you can enable a setting called “Presentation Mode.” To do this, go to the Control Panel and search for “power options.” Under the “Advanced settings” section, expand the “Display” subsection and select “Enable presentation mode.” This will ensure that your external monitor is always used when your laptop is docked.
Conclusion
Closing your laptop lid and using an external monitor on Windows 11, 10 is a simple process. Once you have configured the settings, all you need to do is close your laptop lid and plug in the external monitor. This will allow you to use both screens simultaneously and increase your productivity. With this guide, we hope that you can now enjoy working with multiple monitors without having to open up your laptop every time!
Using an external monitor while closing the laptop lid also provides a variety of benefits. This includes improved screen real estate, allowing you to multitask more efficiently; improved viewing angles; and better sound quality. It also allows you to keep your laptop cool and quiet by not having it constantly running its internal fan. If you need multiple monitors for work or entertainment purposes, setting up an external monitor with your laptop is definitely worth considering.