How to Turn Off Your Laptop Screen While Keeping Everything Else Running

The ability to quickly turn off your laptop screen without shutting down the system can significantly extend battery life, reduce screen glare, and enhance overall productivity. Whether you are using Windows, macOS, or Linux, there are several methods to achieve this. Below, we outline the best practices for each operating system to help you maximize your laptop's efficiency.

Windows Operating System

Managing the screen display in a Windows-based laptop is crucial for maintaining optimal battery life and logistical convenience. Here are the steps to turn off your laptop screen while keeping your system running:

Using Power Options

Right-click on the battery icon in the taskbar and select Power Options. Click on Choose what closing the lid does from the left sidebar. Under the When I close the lid section, select Do nothing for both On battery and Plugged in. Close the lid to turn off the screen while keeping your laptop running.

Using Keyboard Shortcut

Many laptops have a keyboard shortcut that can quickly turn off the display. Here are some combinations to check:

Fn F5 / F6 Fn F11 / F12 Other function keys, check your laptop's manual for the specific combination

If you don't find a specific combination in your manual, you can use third-party software to create custom shortcuts that disable the display without affecting running applications.

Using Third-Party Software

Software like DisplayFusion or NirCmd can assist in managing your display settings and creating custom shortcuts.

macOS Operating System

macOS provides a straightforward way to manage your display settings, which can be accessed with various keyboard shortcuts:

Using Keyboard Shortcut

To turn off the display, press:

Control Shift Eject (for older models) Control Shift Power (for newer models)

Using Hot Corners

Hot corners can be utilized to turn off the display:

Go to System Preferences Desktop Screen Saver Screen Saver tab. Click on Hot Corners and select Put Display to Sleep. Use the corner you have chosen to turn off the screen.

Using Terminal Command

Open your Terminal and type:

pmset displaysleepnow

Press Enter to execute the command and turn off the display.

Linux Operating System

In Linux, you can manage the display settings using terminal commands:

Using Terminal

Open a terminal and use the following command:

xset dpms force off

This command will turn off the display while keeping the system running.

Using a Script

You can create a script to manage display settings and bind it to a keyboard shortcut.

Additional Tips

Not all laptops have the necessary function keys to turn off the display, but you can override the default behavior of the power button to control the screen:

Go to Control Panel Hardware and Sound Power Options Change what the power button does. Select Turn screen off when the power button is pressed.

To further enhance your experience, use third-party software as mentioned above to create simple scripts or hotkeys for your convenience.

Note: Some of the third-party programs found online may require installation at your own risk. Always ensure you have a reliable backup before making changes to your system.