How to: Leave windows unchanged on laptop lid close?

[Yoshi]

Hi all, another question! I've been googling for a bit and I can't seem to find a way to do this (if at all possible).

Is it possible to leave my windows unchanged when I close the lid of my laptop? I'm currently running a dual-monitor setup (laptop screen + external monitor). Due to limited space on my desk, I'll often close my laptop lid to do something else, but doing so causes all my open windows (terminals, GUI windows, browsers, etc.) to all default to my external display - i.e. the system thinks it's only running the one monitor now.

Is there a setting/combination of settings that would allow my laptop screen to turn off/go black, but not actually "disconnect" from the system? I'd like to have all my windows stay where they are when I close my laptop lid.

Thanks all,

- Yoshi

[all41]

Have you checked the Power Manager settings for what happens when you close the lid?
My laptop is still running 17.3--there is an option to blank the screen when the lid is closed.

[lsemmens]

If just set up XCFE on this laptop and turned off all power management settings. Tried closing the lid and re-opening it, I'm still here, So have a look in Power management. You did not say which desktop you were using, so the actual setting method may be different to XFCE

[TopDownTom]

Have you tried editing the logind.conf file? If not, this may be of some help.
Head over to:

Code: Select all

sudo nano /etc/systemd/logind.conf

and enter your password. Of course, nano can be replaced with your editor of choice.

At this point, you must un-comment the lines:

HandleLidSwitch=suspend
HandleLidSwitchDocked=suspend
LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=yes

The third line is a few down from the first two, but the first two are adjacent. These lines above will, when the switch is activated (lid closed), suspend the computer (sleep). They must be edited to say:

HandleLidSwitch=ignore
HandleLidSwitchDocked=ignore
LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=no

While I made this change to specifically prevent sleeping it may also work for your case because we're simply telling the computer to ignore the lid switch.

[powerchord84]

[SOLVED] My question was solved with the following link: viewtopic.php?t=214890

Have you tried editing the logind.conf file? If not, this may be of some help.
Head over to:

Code: Select all

sudo nano /etc/systemd/logind.conf

and enter your password. Of course, nano can be replaced with your editor of choice.

At this point, you must un-comment the lines:

HandleLidSwitch=suspend
HandleLidSwitchDocked=suspend
LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=yes

The third line is a few down from the first two, but the first two are adjacent. These lines above will, when the switch is activated (lid closed), suspend the computer (sleep). They must be edited to say:

HandleLidSwitch=ignore
HandleLidSwitchDocked=ignore
LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=no

While I made this change to specifically prevent sleeping it may also work for your case because we're simply telling the computer to ignore the lid switch.

Hi, I am having a problem where when I close the lid to my laptop, the system is going to sleep even though I have checked the option to "do nothing". I changed this in the gui power management settings. I have an external monitor connected and so I checked the "Perform lid-closed action even with external monitors attached" option.

I also just tried editing the file you mentioned above but I am still having the same problem.

I am running Cinnamon.

[TopDownTom]

Powerchord84, I'm glad you were able to find a solution.