How to Prevent Battery Drain When Windows Laptop Lid Is Closed

Quick Fixes

• Disable Fast Startup on Windows 11 from Control Panel > Power Options > choose what closing the lid does.
• Fix existing power issues by running the Power Troubleshooter from the Command Prompt.

Common Fixes

• Unplug external devices: Disconnect all plugged-in devices (e.g., USB devices, external hard drives, etc.) to prevent them from waking up the laptop when the lid is closed.
• Inspect your laptop battery health: Launch the device OEM software, such as HP Support Assistant or Lenovo Vantage, to check your laptop’s battery health status.

Fix 1: Disable Fast Startup

Windows Fast Startup boots your system quickly after a shutdown. However, issues with it can cause your laptop to automatically turn on after you’ve shut down and closed the lid. Disable Fast Startup to resolve the issue.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R shortcut, type control, and press Enter.

Step 2: Switch View by to Small icons and click on Power Options in the list.

Step 3: Select Choose what closing the lid does from the left sidebar.

Step 4: Click Change settings that are currently unavailable at the top, approve the UAC prompt, and disable Turn on fast startup (recommended) under Shutdown settings. Click on Save Changes to apply it.

Fix 2: Put the Laptop on Hibernate When You Close the Lid

When you close your Windows laptop lid, the Sleep mode kicks in, consuming minimal power to keep the laptop awake. This will drain your laptop’s battery if unattended for a long period. Switch it to Hibernate to shut down and resume work where you’ve left it off.

Step 1: Open Choose what closing the lid does settings using the above method.

Step 2: Select the On battery drop-down list next to When I close the lid and set it to Hibernate. Repeat the same for the Plugged in drop-down menu and click on Save Changes at the bottom.

Fix 3: Run the Power Troubleshooter

Power issues are a common cause of battery draining automatically when your laptop’s lid is closed. Run the built-in Windows Power troubleshooter to fix it.

Step 1: Press the Windows key, search Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Copy-paste the following command and hit Enter.

msdt.exe /id PowerDiagnostic

Step 3: Click Next and follow the on-screen wizard to troubleshoot all power-related issues draining your laptop’s battery.

Fix 4: Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps

Do you notice a high battery drain with fans spinning at a louder noise when booting the system? This might be due to too many startup applications. Disable the unnecessary startup apps to prevent battery drain.

Step 1: Press the Windows key, search Startup Apps, and click to open it.

Step 2: Review the installed apps list and toggle off unnecessary ones (especially apps with High Impact).