How can I tell Ubuntu to do nothing when I close my laptop lid?

Question

I would like closing the laptop lid to be a no-op. How can I do that?

Answer 1

For 11.10 and newer:

You can select "Do Nothing" in the power settings. Open the dash (super key), search for "power" and then select the correct option in the dropdown. Note that closing the lid will actually turn off the screen though plus any external monitors:

If you move the mouse then any connected monitors will power back up with the laptop closed. This will then become the primary monitor.

Answer 2

For 11.04 and earlier:

Do nothing when laptop lid is closed (helpful when an external monitor is connected):

• Alt + F2 and enter this: gconf-editor
  
• apps > gnome-power-manager > buttons
• Set lid_ac and lid_battery to nothing

OR

1.When on AC Power, do nothing when laptop lid is closed:
gconftool-2 -t string -s /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_ac nothing

2.When on Battery Power, do nothing when laptop lid is closed:
gconftool-2 -t string -s /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_battery nothing

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Blank screen when laptop lid is closed (preferable when no external monitor is connected):

• System > Preferences > Power Management
• On AC Power (On Battery Power) > Actions
• When laptop lid is closed: Blank screen

OR

1.When on AC Power, blank screen when laptop lid is closed:
gconftool-2 -t string -s /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_ac blank

2.When on Battery Power, blank screen when laptop lid is closed:
gconftool-2 -t string -s /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_battery blank

Answer 3

11.04 and previous versions

Copying 1st given answer from: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1319921&highlight=close+laptop+lid

In a terminal (Applications-->Accessories-->Terminal), type: gconf-editor

Navigate to apps-->gnome-power-manager-->buttons and set lid_ac and/or lid_battery to "nothing" (without the quotes).

Answer 4

11.04 and previous versions

you can also go to system->preferences->power management

near bottom of the window you will find a dropdown where you can select what your system does when lid is closed

Answer 5

12.04

In System Settings, open Brightness & Lock. On that page, uncheck the checkbox at the bottom that says, "Require my password when waking from suspend."

Answer 6

There is a bug with some laptops and monitors that makes Ubuntu not honor the "do nothing" setting when the laptop's lid is closed. I have not been able to find a complete solution, but maybe there is something to do with this link where they hint at this file : /etc/default/acpi-support and using:

gconftool-2 -t string /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_ac -s "blank"
gconftool-2 -t string /apps/gnome-power-manager/buttons/lid_battery -s "blank"

Answer 7

For 12.10:

Edit /etc/UPower/UPower.conf and add IgnoreLid=true to the bottom.

This method no longer works in Saucy. I am unsure about 13.04.

Answer 8

For Saucy:

Edit /etc/systemd/logind.conf and set HandleLidSwitch=lock to lock the screen on lid close (but not suspend), or HandleLidSwitch=ignore to not even lock the screen.

This is due to an upstream GNOME change. See GNOME bug 687277 for the rationale for this change.