# How can I manually turn off my laptop monitor?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-manually-turn-off-my-laptop-monitor/428513
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 2, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-manually-turn-off-my-laptop-monitor/428513 "2007-12-02T02:20:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-manually-turn-off-my-laptop-monitor/428513/1 "2007-12-02T02:20:11Z")
I managed to get a dual display set up between my laptop and the TV.
When I play a movie on the TV I would like to turn off the display on the monitor. Is there an easy way to do this without changing the power settings to turn off the monitor after a certain amount of time?
I’m using a Dell Iinspiron 9300.
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### Author:  [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2007, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-manually-turn-off-my-laptop-monitor/428513/2 "2007-12-02T02:47:21Z")
Not sure about your laptop model in particular, but many have a function that will let you turn off your laptop’s monitor when you are wiring the computer itself to another screen, like a TV. Since this is a pretty common need for folks presenting meetings and whatnot from their laptops.
My laptop (Averatec 2300) has an icon on the F5 key that looks like two squares, one inside the other. I’m 80% certain that’s the one I use to make the laptop talk to an outside alternate screen. Have to hit the function key to activate.
Sorry, but I’m sure someone more computer savvy will be along. Didn’t want your thread to sink.
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### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-manually-turn-off-my-laptop-monitor/428513/3 "2007-12-02T03:14:04Z")
Play with hitting function plus F8 this should cycle between having external screen laptop screen and both.
[http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=lapkey](http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=lapkey)
Gives some other commands to try.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-manually-turn-off-my-laptop-monitor/428513/4 "2007-12-02T03:16:21Z")
As I remember, on a Dell notebook system, the FN-F4 key combination toggles among notebook LCD only, external display only or both.
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### Author:  [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-manually-turn-off-my-laptop-monitor/428513/5 "2007-12-02T21:35:16Z")
I just shut the lid