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On a Windows laptop, open Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does. Set When I close the lid to Do nothing in the Plugged in column, then save. Keep the laptop connected to power and verify that OBS is live before you close the lid. This prevents the usual lid-triggered sleep action; it cannot guarantee that your internet connection or YouTube stream will stay uninterrupted.
Why closing the lid can stop an OBS stream
Many laptops are configured to sleep when their lid closes. Microsoft notes that this is the case for many PCs, especially laptops and tablets (Microsoft Support: Shut down, sleep, or hibernate your PC). Apple likewise lists closing the display as a way to put a Mac laptop to sleep (Apple Support: Put your Mac to sleep or wake it).
When the computer sleeps, OBS cannot continue its normal encoding and network work. Changing the lid action addresses that computer sleep behavior, not every possible cause of a stream ending. A power loss, shutdown, Wi-Fi interruption, or platform-side interruption can still stop a broadcast. The available official guidance does not establish exactly what YouTube will display or how it will reconnect after a sleep-related disconnect.
Keep a Windows laptop awake when its lid closes
- Confirm the laptop runs Windows and connect it to power.
- 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 choice to Do nothing.
- Select Save changes.
The On battery choice is separate. Change it only if you deliberately want the stream to continue while the laptop is running on battery; a long stream can drain it. Microsoft documents this lid-action control for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The exact wording or availability can vary by device and configuration.
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Before closing the lid
- Check that the intended power plan is active and the laptop is connected to a reliable power source.
- Start the stream or confirm OBS shows it as live and stable before closing the lid.
- If possible, monitor the broadcast from another device after closing the lid.
These are prudent checks, not a guarantee that a stream will remain live. Microsoft also describes using Do nothing as the lid action with an external monitor, and notes that users can restore Sleep later (Microsoft: Using a Monitor with a Closed Laptop).
What Mac users need to know
Do not look for the Windows When I close the lid control on a Mac. Closed-lid use with an external display has different requirements, and the supported setup depends on the Mac model.
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Using a Mac with an external display
Apple says a Mac laptop connected to an external display with its lid closed should be connected to power and used with an external keyboard and mouse (Apple Support: If your external display is dark or low resolution). Its instructions for dual displays on M3 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are specific to supported hardware arrangements and macOS Sonoma versions; they should not be treated as universal instructions for every Mac (Apple Support: Use dual monitors with your MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M3 chip).
Automatic sleep settings
macOS includes a setting to prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off while the Mac is connected to a power adapter. Apple cautions that some sleep and wake settings may not be available on every Mac, so this is not a universal override for closed-lid behavior (Apple Support: Set sleep and wake settings for your Mac).
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If the stream still stops
Reopen the laptop and check what actually happened before changing OBS settings. A stopped broadcast does not by itself show that the lid setting failed.
- The computer slept: On Windows, recheck the Plugged in lid action and confirm you saved it. On a Mac, check the applicable sleep settings and supported closed-lid setup.
- The computer shut down or lost power: Confirm the power adapter and outlet are secure, and check whether the laptop overheated or shut down for another reason.
- The network disconnected: Check Wi-Fi or Ethernet and whether the connection remained available after the lid closed. A lid setting cannot keep a network connection working.
- OBS or the broadcast ended for another reason: Reopen OBS and inspect its status and any visible error information. Do not assume YouTube will resume the same broadcast automatically after an interruption.
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