I Built a Free Windows App So My Coding Agents Keep Running With My Laptop Lid Closed

Description and use

Always Up is a small Windows app that keeps the system awake when a laptop lid is closed, enabling long-running jobs like AI coding agents to finish without interruption.

Problem

Closing a laptop lid suspends Windows, stopping long-running coding agents and other background jobs without any error signal.

Outcome

Always Up enables developers to run long jobs on laptops with the lid closed without interruption, eliminating silent suspensions and providing diagnostics to verify settings.

Workflow

• 1. Install the 62 KB Always Up executable.
• 2. Launch it (UAC prompt required).
• 3. Toggle "Keep this PC awake with the lid closed" on.
• 4. The app sets lid action, keeps system and display awake, disables idle and unattended sleep, and creates a scheduled task for startup.
• 5. Run long jobs; close the lid and continue.
• 6. When finished, toggle off or exit to restore original settings.
• 7. Use Diagnostics button to verify power settings and current requests.

Evidence

I lost a six-hour agent run to a closed laptop lid, and that is the whole reason this app exists.

Source

Always Up runs as administrator, so launching it shows a UAC prompt.

Source

The app sets lid close behaviour, keeps the system awake, keeps displays on, never sleeps, and restores settings on exit.

Source