Follow
Windows

How to Change Lid Close Action in Windows 11

Richard
Written by
Richard
Apr 13, 2026 9 min read
How to Change Lid Close Action in Windows 11
Verified for Geek Rewind — This guide was last tested and updated in April 2026.

This tutorial shows you how to change what happens when you close your laptop lid in Windows 11.

The lid switch close action lets you pick what your computer does when you shut the lid.

You can choose one of these actions:

  • Do Nothing = Your computer does nothing when you close the lid.
  • Sleep = Your computer goes to sleep when you close the lid.
  • Hibernate = Your computer enters hibernate mode when you close the lid.
  • Shut Down = Your computer shuts down when you close the lid.

Starting with Windows 11 build 29550.1000 (Canary), changes to power settings like Display, Sleep, Hibernate timeouts, Power/Sleep button, and lid close actions from Settings now apply to all power plans. This helps your settings stay the way you want them.

Option One

Change Lid Close Action for Current Power Plan in Settings

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 version 24H2.

  1. Open Settings (Win+I).
  2. Click System on the left side, then click Power & battery on the right side.
Windows 11 Settings Power and battery tile location
  1. Click Lid & power button controls to expand it open.
  2. Select Do Nothing, Sleep (default), Hibernate, Shutdown, or Display Off for what you want in the “Plugged in” and “On battery” Closing the lid will make my PC drop menus.
Windows 11 lid close action dropdown options menu
  1. You can now close Settings if you like.

Option Two

Change Lid Close Action for Current Power Plan in Power Options

  1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click the Power Options icon.
  2. Click Choose what the power button does in the left pane.
windows choose what the power button does link control panel
windows choose what the power button does link control panel
  1. In both the “On battery” and “Plugged in” drop menus for the “When I close the lid” setting, select Do nothing, Sleep (default), Hibernate, or Shut down for what you want, and click Save changes.

Note: Desktop computers will not have separate “On battery” and “Plugged in” options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.

Control Panel when closing lid power settings

Option Three

Change Lid Close Action for Specific Power Plan in Advanced Power Options

  1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click the Power Options icon.
  2. Click Change plan settings for the power plan (example: “Balanced”) you want to apply this to.
windows 11 change power plan settings link
windows 11 change power plan settings link
  1. Click Change advanced power settings.
windows 11 change advanced power settings control panel
windows 11 change advanced power settings control panel
  1. Expand open the Power buttons and lid and Lid close action settings.
  2. In both the “On battery” and “Plugged in” drop menus for the Lid close action setting, select Do nothing, Sleep (default), Hibernate, or Shut down for what you want, and click OK.

Note: Desktop computers will not have separate “On battery” and “Plugged in” options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.

Available lid close action options in Control Panel

Option Four

Change Lid Close Action for Current Power Plan in Windows Terminal

  1. Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
  2. Copy and paste the command below you want to use for when on battery and/or plugged in into Windows Terminal, and press Enter.

On battery

{Do nothing}

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 0

OR

{Sleep – default}

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 1

OR

{Hibernate}

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 2

OR

{Shut down}

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 3

AND/OR

Plugged in

You would use this option for a desktop computer, since desktop computers will not have separate “On battery” and “Plugged in” options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.

{Do nothing}

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 0

OR

{Sleep – default}

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 1

OR

{Hibernate}

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 2

OR

{Shut down}

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 3
  1. You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.

Option Five

Change Lid Close Action for Specific Power Plan in Windows Terminal

  1. Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
  2. Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. Write down the GUID number (example: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e) of the power plan (example: “Balanced”) you want to apply this to.

Note: The power plan (example: Ultimate Performance) with an asterisk (*) next to it is your current active power plan.

💻Code
powercfg /L
  1. Type the command below you want to use for when on battery and/or plugged in into Windows Terminal, and press Enter.

On battery

(Do nothing)

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 0

OR

(Sleep – default)

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 1

OR

(Hibernate)

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 2

OR

(Shut down)

💻Code
powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 3

AND/OR

Plugged in

You would use this option for a desktop computer, since desktop computers will not have separate “On battery” and “Plugged in” options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.

(Do nothing)

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 0

OR

(Sleep – default)

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 1

OR

(Hibernate)

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 2

OR

(Shut down)

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 3

Note: Replace GUID in the command above with the actual GUID from step 2 for the power plan you want to apply this to.

Example: Set to “Shut down” while “Plugged in” for the Balanced power plan GUID (381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e)

💻Code
powercfg -setacvalueindex 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 5ca83367-6e45-459f-a27b-476b1d01c936 3
  1. You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.

Option Six

Specify Lid Close Action for All Power Plans in Local Group Policy Editor

⚠️ ADMIN REQUIRED: You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

Note: The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. All editions can use Option Seven below to configure the same policy.

  1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
  2. Navigate to the location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor.

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Button Settings

Group Policy Editor select lid switch action setting

  1. In the right pane of Button Settings, double-click the Select the lid switch action (plugged in) and/or Select the lid switch action (on battery) policy you want to edit.

Default User Choice for Lid Close Action

  • Select (dot) Not Configured, click OK

To Specify “Hibernate” for Lid Close Action

  • Select (dot) Enabled, select Hibernate in the Lid Switch Action drop menu under Options, click OK

To Specify “Shut down” for Lid Close Action

  • Select (dot) Enabled, select Shut down in the Lid Switch Action drop menu under Options, click OK

To Specify “Sleep” for Lid Close Action

  • Select (dot) Enabled, select Sleep in the Lid Switch Action drop menu under Options, click OK

To Specify “Take no action” for Lid Close Action

  • Select (dot) Enabled, select Take no action in the Lid Switch Action drop menu under Options, click OK
Group Policy lid switch action dropdown menu options

Conclusion

In conclusion, adjusting the lid close action in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is a straightforward process that can enhance your user experience. By customizing what happens when you close your laptop lid, you can:

  • Choose Your Preferred Action: Select an action that suits your needs—whether it be Do Nothing, Sleep, Hibernate, or Shut Down.
  • Apply Settings to Specific Power Plans: Make adjustments for different power plans to optimize performance and energy consumption.
  • Utilize Various Methods: Choose from multiple methods such as Settings, Control Panel, Windows Terminal, or Group Policy Editor to implement your desired changes.
  • Experience Consistency Across Power Plans: Starting with Windows 11 build 29550.1000, your settings will remain consistent across all power plans.
  • Enhance Productivity: Tailor your laptop’s behavior to fit your workflow and enhance overall productivity.

By following these steps, you can easily manage your laptop’s behavior when closing the lid, ensuring it aligns with your personal preferences.

How to choose what happens when you close the lid?

To choose your lid close action, open Windows 11 Settings, navigate to System, and select Power & battery. Expand the Lid & power button controls section. Here, you can select your preferred action—such as Sleep, Hibernate, or Do Nothing—for both 'Plugged in' and 'On battery' power states to customize your experience.

How to change laptop behavior when closing the lid?

You can change your laptop's lid behavior by accessing the Power & battery settings in Windows 11. Under the Lid & power button controls menu, you can modify the settings for when the lid is closed. Select from options like Shut Down, Hibernate, Sleep, or Do Nothing to suit your specific workflow.

How do I make the computer keep working when I close the lid?

To keep your computer running while the lid is closed, go to Settings, select System, and click Power & battery. Expand the Lid & power button controls section. Change the 'When I close the lid' setting to 'Do Nothing' for both 'Plugged in' and 'On battery' modes to prevent the system from sleeping.

How to make a laptop work with a lid closed in Windows 11?

To keep your Windows 11 laptop active with the lid closed, navigate to Settings > System > Power & battery. Expand the Lid & power button controls menu. Set the action for closing the lid to 'Do Nothing.' This ensures your computer continues running tasks or playing audio even when the lid is shut.

Was this guide helpful?

Tags: #Windows 11
Richard

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

2471 articles → Twitter

📚 Related Tutorials

How to Disable Command Prompt in Windows 11
Windows How to Disable Command Prompt in Windows 11
How to Change Sleep Button Function in Windows 11
Windows How to Change Sleep Button Function in Windows 11
How to Change Windows Terminal Themes
Windows How to Change Windows Terminal Themes
Windows 11 Control Panel Shortcuts Guide
Windows Windows 11 Control Panel Shortcuts Guide

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *