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On a Windows laptop, set the lid-close action to Do nothing while the computer is plugged in. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does, change When I close the lid in the Plugged in column, then save. Keep the laptop powered and verify the OBS stream from another device before closing the lid.
Why closing the lid can stop an OBS stream
Many laptops are configured to sleep when the lid closes. Microsoft says, “For a lot of PCs (especially laptops and tablets), your PC goes to sleep when you close your lid or press the power button.” Microsoft’s Windows sleep and power guidance covers Windows 10 and Windows 11.
When a computer sleeps, OBS cannot continue its normal encoding and network work. Changing the lid action prevents that particular sleep trigger; it does not prevent a power failure, network loss, other shutdowns, or guarantee what YouTube will show after a disconnect.
Keep a Windows laptop awake when its lid is closed
- Connect the laptop to its power adapter and confirm it is using the power plan you intend to use.
- Open Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options.
- Select Choose what closing the lid does.
- Under When I close the lid, set the Plugged in option to Do nothing.
- Select Save changes.
- Start the stream or confirm OBS is already live and stable. Close the lid, then check the broadcast from another device if possible.
The On battery setting is separate. Change it only if you deliberately need the laptop to keep running while unplugged; a long stream is better suited to a connected power source.
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What to do on a Mac
Macs do not use the Windows When I close the lid menu. Closed-lid use with an external display has setup requirements: Apple instructs users to connect the Mac to power and use an external keyboard and mouse. Requirements and supported behavior depend on the Mac model and configuration. Apple’s instructions for M3 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models also specify supported macOS versions and display arrangements; see Apple’s external-display guidance and its M3 dual-monitor instructions.
macOS includes a setting to prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off while the Mac is connected to a power adapter, but Apple notes that some sleep settings may not be available on every Mac. Treat it as a control for automatic sleep in applicable configurations, not a universal override for every closed-lid setup. See Apple’s sleep and wake settings guide.
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Check the stream before relying on the closed-lid setup
- Make sure OBS is actually live before closing the lid.
- Keep the computer connected to power for the duration of the stream.
- Use another device to check whether the broadcast remains available after you close the lid.
- If the stream stops, reopen the laptop and check whether it slept, shut down, lost power, or lost its network connection. A lid setting only addresses lid-triggered sleep.
Troubleshooting: the stream still stops
Windows still sleeps after lid closure
Reopen the laptop and revisit Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does. Confirm Plugged in is set to Do nothing, save the change, and check that the laptop is connected to power.
The laptop stays awake, but the broadcast disappears
Check the computer’s power and network connection, then inspect OBS to see whether it is still streaming. A lid setting cannot guarantee internet continuity or determine YouTube’s behavior after a connection interruption.
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You are using a Mac with an external display
Check Apple’s model-specific requirements for power, external keyboard and mouse, macOS version, and display arrangement. The automatic-sleep setting may not be available on every Mac, so do not assume it overrides all closed-lid behavior.
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