connect a laptop with lid closed

chandan348

how to connect a laptop when the lid is closed? the laptop remains switched on when the lid is closed

JoshP

Hello @chandan348

Thank you for your post, and welcome to the TeamViewer community!

One quick question for you; is there another display connected to the laptop when it is operating in closed-lid mode?

Thanks in advance!

chandan348

Hi,

thanks for getting back. There is no other displays connected to the laptop when it’s lid is closed.

thx

chandan

JoshP

Thank you for the clarification, chandan348 😊

I do have one more question; sorry, I should have asked it with the other one! 🤦‍♂️

When you attempt to connect, do you encounter an error, or simply a blank black screen?

chandan348

Hi

actually there is no error. The laptop screen is also visible but it becomes inactive. I mean I can’t click the icons to open any folder or document. When I open the lid the teamviewer starts working again.

thanks,

chandan

JoshP

Thank you for the clarification.

Allow me to link an article describing a similar situation - TeamViewer on a "headless" system

How does this relate? Well, TeamViewer is only able to show an exact copy of the graphics card's output: On a headless system (as described in the above article), this would be an issue as there is no display connected, so the graphics drivers are unable to provide any information/show the "screen" of the device.

For us, and your laptop, the laptop itself being shut disables the laptop's screen/graphics, even if the computer stays on; thus rendering the graphics card unable to provide the same information or show the screen.

This would explain the freezing screen, and the resolving of the issue when you open your screen.

Regarding solutions, I like to start simplest; would it be possible for you to close the laptop almost completely, and reduce the brightness to "0"? As the laptop lid is open, the graphics card is still able to relay information to the display; brightness does not have an effect on this.

If the above is not feasible, one recommended solution for headless systems is to use a "dummy plug", a graphics connector device that tricks your computer into thinking a display is still connected, which allows your graphics card to relay information to TeamViewer and should resolve the freezing. The most common I am personally aware of is an HDMI Dummy plug (shown below):

If you do not have an HDMI connection on the laptop I would recommend searching for the connector you do have + "Dummy Plug".

One way or the other - as long as the graphics card is actively sending information to somewhere, TeamViewer should have no issue operating in this method.

I hope this helps clarify and/or send you in the right direction - if you have any other information regarding your own issue, please feel free to reply back!

chandan348

Thanks it will help. Is there any ways of changing the driver settings in windows so that it works without following the steps mentioned by you ?

thx,

chandan