It is an excellent idea to switch off your laptop screen without completely shutting down the computer, whether for energy conservation, to perform lengthy tasks without interruption or just for privacy reasons. The methods to turn off your PC’s screen while keeping it running are simple. In this article, we will show you a few methods.
How to turn off the screen of a laptop but keep the PC running
Given below are four methods you can try out on your Windows PC to turn off the screen while keeping the PC running:
- Use keyboard shortcut
- Adjust the power settings
- Change closing the lid settings
1] Use keyboard shortcut
In this method, you can use a keyboard shortcut to turn off the laptop screen while keeping your Windows PC running. Here is how:
- Press the Windows + P keys to open the Project menu.
- You can choose the PC screen only option from the menu to turn off the laptop screen while keeping the PC running.
2] Adjust the power settings
Let us see how to turn off the PC’s screen in a specified time interval while keeping the PC running by adjusting the power settings:
- Open Windows Settings and navigate to System > Power & battery.
- Under the heading Power, expand Screen and sleep.
- For the first two options On battery power, turn off my screen, and When plugged in, turn off my screen, click the drop-down box next to them and choose the preferred time you wish your PC screen to turn off while it still runs.
3] Change closing the lid settings
Most of us do not shut down our PCs but just shut its lid, causing them to enter a state of sleep or hibernation. Your PC does not run when you close the lid. It temporarily saves the state on the hard drive during hibernation. Once you open the lid of your PC, the system gets restored.
However, what happens if you still want the PC to function even with its lid closed? Fortunately, there is a way to customize this setting:
- Open the Control Panel and navigate to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
- On the left pane, click the Choose what closing the lid does option.
- You will find the When I close the lid option under the heading Power and sleep buttons and lid settings. Expand the drop-down menu to choose the Do Nothing option for On Battery and Plugged In.
- Click the Save changes button. Your PC will continue running the next time you close your laptop lid. You can even switch to an external monitor and use it while keeping the laptop lid closed.
This small but powerful change to your power management choices can significantly impact how you use your computer daily. I hope the post helps.
What is the shortcut to turn off laptop screen?
Third-party software can achieve this, but it is not reliable. Instead, you can minimize everything, press Alt + F4, and then choose to put the PC into sleep mode.
How do I completely turn off my laptop?
The best way is to save your work and shut down the PC. However, if you are stuck for some reason, a long press on the power button will shut down or turn off your laptop.
