Waking A Computer From Sleep Remotely: A Simple Guide

how to remotely wake a computer from sleep

There are several ways to remotely wake a computer from sleep. One common method is to use Wake-on-LAN (WoL), which allows you to turn on your computer using its network connection. This can be done by sending a magic packet from another device, such as a phone or laptop, to the sleeping computer. Additionally, there are specific apps and software, such as WOL Magic Packets Widget, TeamViewer, NirSoft's WakeMeOnLan, and Splashtop, that enable remote wake-up and remote access to your computer. However, it's important to note that wireless adapters rarely support WoL, and you may need to connect your devices through Ethernet for it to function properly.

How to Remotely Wake a Computer from Sleep

Characteristics Values
Required Tools Wake-on-LAN, R-HUB remote support servers, TeamViewer, NirSoft's WakeMeOnLan, Depicus, Magic Packet Sender solutions, Moonlight Streaming, Off/Shutdown and Wake-on-Lan app, Chrome Remote Desktop, Splashtop remote access software
Required Information MAC Address, IP Address, Subnet Mask, Port Number
Requirements Computer must be configured for remote wake-up, the network card of the computer being woken up needs to support the feature, enable Wake-on-LAN at the hardware level in the computer's BIOS
Limitations Wireless adapters rarely support Wake-on-LAN, does not work if connected to another network

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Using Wake-on-LAN

Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a networking standard that allows a computer to be turned on or woken up from a sleep or powered-off state by a network message. This message, often called a "magic packet", is sent from a WoL-enabled device over the network to the target computer. The magic packet contains the target computer's MAC address, enabling it to identify and wake the correct machine uniquely.

To use Wake-on-LAN, both the BIOS and the operating system must be configured to support it. In the BIOS, WoL is usually enabled in the power management settings. In the operating system, the network adapter properties should have the WoL feature enabled, allowing the adapter to respond to the magic packet.

To wake up a device, a magic packet is sent from another device on the same network. This can be done using software tools designed for WoL or command-line utilities. The packet travels across the network to the target device's network adapter. Upon receiving the magic packet, the network adapter of the target computer verifies the packet's integrity and checks for the correct MAC address. If the packet is valid, the network adapter signals the computer to power up or wake from sleep mode.

Some tools that support Wake-on-LAN include TeamViewer, NirSoft's WakeMeOnLan, and Depicus. For mobile devices, use Mocha WOL (iOS) or Wake On Lan (Android). Additionally, some programs already have Wake-on-LAN built-in, and others may require a separate program to wake up your PC.

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Using a remote access tool

There are several remote access tools that support Wake-on-LAN (WoL) functionality, allowing you to remotely wake a computer from sleep mode. WoL is an industry-standard protocol that enables the remote reactivation of a computer from a low-power or powered-down state. Here are the steps to use a remote access tool to wake a computer:

Step 1: Enable WoL on the target computer

Before you can use WoL, you must first enable it on the target computer. This is typically done through the computer's BIOS settings. To access the BIOS, reboot your PC and press a specific key during the boot-up process, usually Delete, F2, or another function key. Once in the BIOS menu, look for the Wake-on-LAN option, which may be found in the sleep and wake settings or Resume by PCI-E Device setting. Toggle the setting to Enabled.

Step 2: Obtain the necessary information

To use WoL, you will need specific information about the target computer, including its MAC address, IP address, and subnet mask. The MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to the computer's network interface card (NIC), while the IP address and subnet mask are used to locate the computer on the network. You can usually find this information in the router's settings or status page.

Step 3: Choose and set up a remote access tool

Several remote access tools are available, such as TeamViewer, NirSoft's WakeMeOnLan, Depicus, or Chrome Remote Desktop. These tools may have specific instructions for setup and use, so be sure to refer to their documentation. For example, with TeamViewer, you simply open the program and click the "Wake Up" button to wake up any sleeping PC connected to your account.

Step 4: Send a "magic packet"

Once your remote access tool is set up, you can use it to send a "magic packet" to the target computer. This packet is a small data signal that the computer's NIC can quickly and easily process with minimal power consumption. The magic packet contains the MAC address of the target computer and is used to initiate the wake-up process.

Step 5: Establish a remote connection

After sending the magic packet, the target computer should wake up from sleep mode. You can then use your chosen remote access tool to establish a remote connection to the computer and control it as needed. With tools like TeamViewer, you gain full control over the target device, including the ability to switch it back to sleep mode or shut it down when your tasks are complete.

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Sending a 'magic packet'

Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a networking standard that uses magic packets to wake up or turn on locally networked computers. A magic packet is a small amount of data specific to the MAC address of the network card. It is called a "magic packet" because it wakes up the computer with seemingly no effort, but in reality, it is just a standard form of networking wizardry.

To send a magic packet, you will need the following information:

  • MAC Address – This is the Physical Address of the computer you want to wake up.
  • IP Address – This is either your external IP if you have a static one or the Dynamic Domain address.

You can use a dedicated WoL application or a management suite that includes WoL functionality. There are also Android apps such as WOL Magic Packets Widget and iOS apps such as WOL that allow you to wake up your PC from anywhere.

If you want more functionality, you can make your own magic packet using PowerShell. Here is an example of a Wake-on-LAN PowerShell script:

$Mac = "1A:2B:3C:4D:5E:6F"

$MacByteArray = $Mac -split "[:-]" | ForEach-Object { [Byte] "0x$_"}

[Byte[]] $MagicPacket = (,0xFF * 6) + ($MacByteArray * 16)

$UdpClient = New-Object System.Net.Sockets.UdpClient

$UdpClient.Connect(([System.Net.IPAddress]::Broadcast),7)

$UdpClient.Send($MagicPacket,$MagicPacket.Length)

$UdpClient.Close()

When you are ready to run the command, simply replace the MAC address in the script with the MAC address of the target computer. Keep in mind that this WoL command is a broadcast and does not traverse subnets.

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Using a VPN

Firstly, ensure that your computer is configured to receive a Magic Packet on Port 9. This means that your router must always forward Magic Packets to your computer on Port 9. To do this, your computer must always have the same IP address.

Next, you will need to install a Wake-on-LAN (WoL) application on your phone. Examples of such applications include WakeOnLan and TeamViewer Remote, which both have built-in WoL capabilities. You can then use your phone to send a Magic Packet to your computer, which will wake it from sleep mode.

To send the Magic Packet, you will need the following information:

  • MAC Address: This is the physical address or media-access-control address, which is a unique identifier for the network interface card (NIC) of your computer.
  • IP Address: This can be your external IP address if you have a static one, or you can use a Dynamic Domain address.

With the VPN method, you can wake your computer from sleep mode even when you are outside of your local network, for example, when using cellular data or a different Wi-Fi network.

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Disabling 'Only allow management stations'

Disabling the "Only allow management stations to bring the computer out of standby" option can be done through the Power Management tab in the device's properties. This option is usually found under the "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby" setting.

To disable this option, follow these steps:

  • Open the Start menu and search for "Device Manager."
  • Find the device in the list, right-click on it, and select "Properties."
  • Navigate to the Power Management tab.
  • Uncheck the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option.
  • Click OK or Apply to save the changes.

Disabling this option will prevent the specific device from waking your computer from sleep mode. This can be useful if you want to control which devices can wake your computer remotely or prevent unintended wake-ups.

Additionally, you can explore other power management settings within the BIOS or UEFI to fine-tune how your computer behaves when sleeping or hibernating. For example, you can disable "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" to ensure the device remains active even when the computer is in sleep mode.

By customizing these power management settings, you can achieve the desired balance between power-saving and remote accessibility for your computer.

Frequently asked questions

You can use a Wake-on-LAN app on another device, such as a phone or laptop. You will need to enable Wake-on-LAN at the hardware level in the computer's BIOS.

Some examples include NirSoft's WakeMeOnLan, Depicus, and Magic Packet Sender solutions.

You will need the MAC address, IP address, subnet mask, and port number for the remote PC.

You can use remote access software such as TeamViewer or R-HUB remote support servers.

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