Windows enables sleep mode by default every time you close the lid of your notebook.
This mode allows you to temporarily save all open documents and running programs in the RAM memory, reducing energy consumption and allowing the user to resume the activity from where he left off, once the lid is reopened.
However, it is possible change the behavior when the laptop lid is closed at any time, through a very simple procedure.
In the following paragraphs, I will explain in detail how to specify what happens when the laptop lid is closed, choosing whether to shut down the computer, enable sleep mode or hibernation mode, or leave nothing to do.
How to change the behavior of the system when the lid is closed
To change the behavior of the system when the laptop lid is closed, you will need to use the Windows Control Panel. As mentioned at the beginning, the procedure to carry out is really very simple, here are all the steps you need to carry out:
The first thing to do is to access the screen “Power Options” present in the Control Panel, to do this you have two possibilities:
- Press the keys on the keyboard WIN+Rin the Run window type “powercfg.cpl”then click the button “OK” or press ENTER.
Alternatively:
- Type in the Windows search form “Control Panel” and then click on the first result or press ENTER;
- Click on the entry “System and Security”;
- Click on the entry “Power Options”.
After you log in screen “Power Options”the next steps are as follows:
- Click on the entry “Specify what happens when the lid is closed” present in the left side menu;
- Use the drop-down menus next to the item “When the lid is closed” to choose what to do when the notebook lid is closed.
Laptop lid lock settings
Using the drop-down menus next to the item “When the lid is closed”you have the choice of what happens when the lid is closed whether the notebook is running on battery power or plugged into AC power.
Through the drop-down menus it is possible to choose one of the four available options: “Do not intervene”, “Suspension”, “Hibernate” And “Shut down”.
Don’t intervene
The option “Do not intervene” if selected, it allows you to close the lid of the laptop, without the latter being switched off or the system going into hibernation. This means that closing the lid of the notebook absolutely nothing will happen, in fact, opening it again you will find yourself in the situation you were in before closing it.
This is an option that can come in handy when you’re temporarily away from your notebook and want to prevent someone from accidentally pressing a key or clicking on the touchpad.
It is highly not recommended to use when the notebook is powered by battery, for two simple reasons:
- closing the lid leaves the system fully active and continues to consume power, which may cause the battery to run out and the system to shut down unexpectedly, resulting in the loss of any unsaved work.
- Also, if the system remains on after closing the lid it is very important to avoid placing the laptop in a case or bag, as this could cause excessive heating and therefore possible damage to the hardware.
Suspension
By selecting the option “Suspension”, when you close the laptop lid, the system will enter sleep mode. The latter temporarily moves all open documents, apps and running programs to the RAM memory, turns off the screen and cuts power to all components, except the RAM memory.
Once the lid is reopened, just press any key on the keyboard or move the mouse to start the system again. This mode is very convenient if you plan not to use the notebook for short periods of time and want to avoid saving all documents and closing all running apps and programs before shutting down the computer completely.
Attention: the sleep mode consumes very little energy, however, even that minimum of energy consumed, if continued for a long time could completely drain the battery if the notebook is not powered by an electrical network.
Hibernation
The hibernation mode in some ways is similar to the mode seen previously, but has a significant difference. In fact, hibernation mode, once enabled, copies open documents, apps and running programs to the disk, this allows the system to completely cut off the power and therefore consume very little energy.
This allows your computer to stay in this mode for a very long time and if the battery were to run down completely, you would not lose any unsaved work, as they are automatically moved to disk when you enter hibernation mode.
To exit hibernation, once you open the notebook lid, just press the power button.
Note: opening the drop-down menu, you may not see the item “Hibernation” since the latter is often deactivated by default, however it is possible to activate the mode through a quick procedure, to understand how to do it, I suggest you read the guide How to activate hibernation mode.
Shut down the system
The “Shut Down” option, if selected, will shut down the computer completely when the lid is closed. All unsaved documents will be lost and running apps and programs will be closed.
Basically, by enabling this mode, every time you close the lid, it will be like clicking on the “Shut down” button in the Start menu.
