Waking Your Mac Remotely From Sleep Mode

how to wake a mac from sleep remotely

There are several ways to wake a Mac from sleep remotely. One way is to use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature, which can be enabled in the System Preferences > Energy Settings menu. Another way is to use a program such as Plex or TeamViewer, which allows users to wake their Macs from sleep remotely. Additionally, users can try using a nodeMCU WiFi board and an Arduino Pro Micro 1 setup to wake their Macs from sleep.

Characteristics and Values Table for Waking a Mac from Sleep Remotely

Characteristics Values
Name of Feature Wake on LAN (WoL)
Devices Supported iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
Requirements Networking hardware must support waking by using a network packet (Wake on LAN); "Wake for network access" option must be selected in Energy Saver preferences; Mac must support Wake on Wireless; Router must support Wireless Multimedia Extensions (WME) or Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM)
Additional Notes The display typically stays black when using WoL, but the hardware is awake and active; An Airport Base Station on the network is needed for WoL to work; Not all routers support WME

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Using Wake on LAN (WoL)

To wake a Mac from sleep remotely, you can use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature. This is a network feature built into OS X and supported by most modern Macs. It allows you to wake a Mac from sleep using a smartphone device, such as an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Android phone.

To enable Wake on LAN, follow these steps:

  • Go to the System Preferences on your Mac.
  • Navigate to the Energy Settings menu.
  • Enable the "Wake for Network Access" or "Wake for Wi-Fi Network Access" option. This may be labelled differently depending on your device's networking options, but it will be under the "Power Adapter" tab.
  • Ensure that your Mac's networking hardware supports waking by using a network packet (wakeonlan).
  • Check that your router supports WoL and Wireless Multimedia Extensions (WME), also known as Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM).

Once WoL is enabled, you can use a smartphone app, such as Fing, to wake your Mac from sleep remotely. Open the app, locate the "Wake On LAN" option, and choose to wake up your Mac. Your device will need to be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac for this to work.

Additionally, you can use a Python script to send a "magic packet" to your Mac's MAC address, which will wake it from sleep. This can be done from another computer on the same subnet or a router that supports WoL.

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Using an iPhone

To wake a Mac from sleep remotely using an iPhone, you can use a feature called Wake on LAN (WoL). This feature is built into Mac OS X and supported by most modern Macs. It can be configured in your Mac's system preferences.

To enable Wake on LAN, go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and check the box for "Wake for Network (or Ethernet/Wi-Fi) Access". This setting may also be called "Wake for Wi-Fi Network Access" or "Wake for Network Access" depending on your device's networking options.

Once Wake on LAN is enabled, you can use an app on your iPhone to wake your Mac. There are several apps available, including free options such as Fing, Mocha WOL, and iNet WOL. Paid options include Knock ($3.99 on the iOS App Store), and LogMeIn (around $40).

To use these apps, you will need to know your Mac's physical MAC address and optionally its IP address. Enter this information into the app's configuration, and then you can tap "Wake Up" or "Wake On LAN" to wake your Mac. Note that your iPhone and Mac will need to be on the same local network for this to work.

Some troubleshooting tips include double-checking that you have the correct MAC address for your Mac's active network port, resetting your router, and checking its settings to ensure Wake on LAN features are allowed. Additionally, it is recommended to use UDP port 9 and configure your router to forward it to your Mac.

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Using an Android phone

To wake up a Mac from sleep remotely using an Android phone, you can make use of the Wake On LAN (WOL) feature. This is a network feature built into OS X and supported by most modern Mac computers.

Firstly, check that your Mac supports Wake On LAN and that it is enabled. Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and check the box for "Wake for Network Access". If you cannot find this option, it may be under the “Power Adapter” tab.

Next, download a WOL-supported app on your Android phone. Examples of such apps include Fing, Mocha WOL, and NetStatus. Some apps are free, while others require payment.

Once you have downloaded the app, connect your Android phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. Then, launch the app and scan the network to locate your Mac. Select your Mac based on its IP address, and give it a name.

Now, you can test if the setup is working. Put your Mac to sleep and try to wake it up remotely using the app on your Android phone. Select the Mac you want to wake up, and your Mac should be ready for general network access or quicker use.

Note that when using WOL, the Mac's display may not wake up to the standard locked login screen. Instead, the display may stay black, but the hardware will be awake and active, able to receive network connections and pings.

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Using a second computer

To wake a Mac from sleep remotely using a second computer, you can use the Wake-on-LAN (WoL) feature. This feature allows you to wake up a computer that is on the same network as your Mac by sending a "magic packet".

  • Enable Wake-on-LAN on your Mac: Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and select the "Wake for Network Access" option. The label for this option may vary depending on your Mac model.
  • Check your Mac's MAC address: You will need to know the MAC address of your Mac's wireless card to wake it up from sleep. Make a note of this address.
  • Put your Mac to sleep: Once you have enabled Wake-on-LAN and noted your MAC address, you can put your Mac to sleep.
  • Log in to your router from a second computer: Using a different computer on the same network, log in to your router.
  • Wake up your Mac: With the Wake-on-LAN option, enter the MAC address of your Mac to wake it up wirelessly.

Note that not all routers support Wake-on-LAN. Additionally, your Mac must support "Wake on Wireless", and your router must support Wireless Multimedia Extensions (WME) or Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM).

You can also use third-party applications like TeamViewer, NetAwake, or the Fing app to wake your Mac from sleep remotely. These applications may offer additional features and may have different requirements or limitations compared to Wake-on-LAN.

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Using a keyboard

To wake a Mac from sleep remotely using a keyboard, you can try the following methods:

Using the Keyboard

The simplest method is to press any key on your keyboard. This will wake your Mac from sleep. You can also try pressing the space bar specifically. If your Mac doesn't wake up, you can try a hard reboot.

Using Wake on LAN (WoL)

Most modern computers, including Macs, offer a feature called "Wake on LAN" (WoL). This allows you to wake your Mac from sleep remotely by sending a "magic packet". To use WoL, you need to first enable "Wake for network access" in your Mac's System Preferences -> Energy Saver settings. Then, follow these steps:

  • Download a free or paid iOS app with WoL support, such as LogMeIn or NetAwake.
  • Connect your device to the same wireless network as your Mac.
  • Launch the app and click Refresh to scan the network and find your Mac.
  • Choose your Mac using its IP address and name.
  • Scroll down and click on 'Wake On LAN' to save your Mac in the list.
  • Now, you can use the app to wake your Mac from sleep remotely.

Alternatively, you can use a Python script or a Wake550 to send the "magic packet". However, keep in mind that WoL requires another computer on the subnet to be awake or a router that supports WoL.

Frequently asked questions

You can use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature, which is designed to allow a network administrator to turn on a computer remotely by sending a "magic packet". You can also use apps such as logmein, NetAwake, or Fing.

The computer's networking hardware must support waking by using a network packet (Wake on LAN). The "Wake for network access" option must be selected in the Energy Saver preferences.

Go to the "Power Adapter" tab and check the box for "Wake for Wi-Fi network access" (may be "Wake for network access" if the device has multiple networking options). This enables Wake on LAN.

You can use the Fing app on an iPhone to wake up a sleeping Mac, as long as you are on the same Wi-Fi network. You can also use logmein, which is free from a browser, or NetAwake, which is a low-cost app with ads.

Yes, you can use an iPhone or Android phone to wake a Mac from sleep remotely. However, your phone needs to be on the same subnet as your Mac, and your router should not be filtering out the broadcast.

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