Miya Pearson
If you're having trouble waking your laptop from sleep mode with an external keyboard, there are a few things you can try. First, check that your keyboard is working properly. If it is, try pressing any key on the keyboard or moving the mouse to wake the laptop. If that doesn't work, you may need to adjust your power settings. Make sure that your laptop is set to wake from sleep mode with a keyboard input. You can also try plugging your external keyboard directly into a USB port on your laptop, rather than through a USB hub. If you're using a Bluetooth keyboard, update your Bluetooth driver or get a newer Bluetooth adapter with better power management.
How to wake a laptop from sleep with an external keyboard
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Laptop models | ASUS Zenbook UX305FA, Dell XPS13, HP EliteBook, HP ENVY 17-1150eg, MS Surface Pro 3 |
| Operating systems | Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, Windows 11 |
| Connection type | Bluetooth, USB, wireless |
| Solutions | Plug devices directly into individual USB ports, update Bluetooth driver, get a new Bluetooth adapter, disable "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" |
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What You'll Learn
Check your laptop's power settings
To wake your laptop from sleep mode with an external keyboard, you need to check and adjust your laptop's power settings. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Check Power Settings
- Start Menu > Settings > Power: Go to the Start menu, click on Settings, and then select Power or Power & Sleep. Here, you can adjust when your laptop turns off its screen and goes to sleep when it's not in use.
- Choose what the power button does: In the Power settings, you can also select "Choose what the power button does." From there, you can change settings that are usually unavailable.
- Shutdown Settings: Under Shutdown settings, you may find an option to hibernate your laptop. This can be useful if you want to save power but still want to be able to quickly resume your work.
- Optimize for Performance or Power Efficiency: Depending on your preferences, you can select a power mode that optimizes your laptop for performance or power efficiency.
Enable Wake on Keyboard Input
- Device Manager: In the Device Manager, you can set the "Power Management" settings for your external keyboard to "Allow this device to wake the computer" under "Keyboards" and "Mice and other pointing devices."
- BIOS Settings: Access your BIOS settings by rebooting your laptop and pressing F2 or a similar function key. In the BIOS, you can enable "Wake on USB" or "Wake on Keyboard" settings.
- Command Prompt: Open an elevated command prompt in admin mode. Type `powercfg /devicequery wake_armed` to see a list of devices that can wake your laptop. Then, type `powercfg /deviceenablewake "ExactKeyboardName" to enable your external keyboard to wake the laptop, replacing "ExactKeyboardName" with the full and exact name of your keyboard.
Additional Tips:
- If you're using a Bluetooth keyboard, ensure that your laptop's Bluetooth stack allows customization to wake the device using Bluetooth.
- If you're using a USB hub with multiple devices, try plugging the hub into an external power source or enabling "Wake from USB" in your BIOS settings.
- If you're unable to wake your laptop with an external keyboard, try moving the mouse, pressing the power button, or opening the lid and using the built-in keyboard.
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Ensure your keyboard is working
To ensure your keyboard is working, you can try the following:
First, check if your keyboard has a Sleep key. If it does, pressing it should put your laptop to sleep. If not, your Sleep key may be configured incorrectly. Try pressing the Sleep key again to resolve this. If that doesn't work, update your operating system to the latest version.
Next, check your laptop's power settings. Go to Start > Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings. Here, you can configure what happens when you press the power button. Make sure that the "Hibernate" checkbox is selected, and then save your changes.
If your keyboard still isn't working, the issue may be related to your laptop's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). The BIOS may be reducing power to the port that your keyboard is connected to. To resolve this, check the documentation that came with your laptop or contact the manufacturer for information on how to configure the BIOS.
If you're using a Bluetooth keyboard, your laptop may not be able to wake from sleep mode due to power consumption requirements. In this case, you can try using a wired keyboard or changing your power settings so that your laptop doesn't go into sleep mode when plugged into external power.
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Try plugging your keyboard into a different USB port
If you're having trouble waking your laptop from sleep mode with an external keyboard, one solution is to try plugging your keyboard into a different USB port. This is because some USB ports may not provide enough power to the keyboard, preventing it from functioning properly.
By moving the keyboard to a different port, you can ensure it's getting sufficient power. Additionally, try using a USB port that is directly connected to the motherboard, as this can improve the keyboard's performance and reduce any latency issues. If your laptop has USB 3.0 ports, consider using one of those, as they provide more power than USB 2.0 ports.
It's also worth checking the keyboard's cable and the USB port for any damage, such as bent or broken pins. If the cable is damaged, try using a different one if you have a replacement available. In some cases, a faulty or damaged cable can prevent the keyboard from working properly, including waking up the laptop from sleep mode.
Another factor to consider is the power management settings of your laptop. Ensure that your power settings are configured to allow the laptop to be woken up by an external keyboard. You can usually find these settings in the Control Panel or Power Options menu. Check if there is an option to enable waking up the computer with a keyboard or USB device, and make sure it is selected.
Additionally, some laptops may have specific requirements or limitations regarding external keyboards and sleep mode. It's always a good idea to refer to your laptop's manual or the manufacturer's website for model-specific information and troubleshooting steps. They may provide additional recommendations or solutions tailored to your laptop model.
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Update your Bluetooth driver
If you're having trouble with your Bluetooth connection, it could be that your driver is out of date. An outdated or incompatible driver is one of the most common causes of Bluetooth connection problems.
Windows
- To automatically check for driver updates, select the Start menu, then select Device Manager.
- In Device Manager, select Bluetooth, and then select the Bluetooth adapter name, which may include the word “radio”.
- If Windows can’t find a new Bluetooth driver, visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest Bluetooth driver from there.
- If you downloaded an executable (.exe) file, just double-click the file to run it and install the drivers.
- If you downloaded individual files, and at least one file has an .inf file name extension and another has a .sys extension, go to the search bar, type Device Manager, and then select it from the list of results.
- Select "Search automatically for updated driver software" and follow any further instructions that appear on your screen.
- Restart your computer and the updated driver should now be installed.
MacOS
You can't update only Bluetooth driver, it comes with macOS. However, updating to Catalina or a newer version could solve any issues you're having. You can check if macOS is up to date by going to the Apple menu > About This Mac > Software Update or System Preferences > General > Software Update.
Ubuntu
Check the hardware by terminal then find the kernel with the following commands:
Lshw
Sudo lshw -businfo
Sudo lshw
Lsusb
Lspci
Lsscsi
Add the following repository to get the last version of bluez:
Linux sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bluetooth/bluez
Sudo apt-get update
After running the command, you should be able to update to the latest version of bluez via:
Sudo apt upgrade
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Check your laptop manufacturer's documentation
When trying to wake your laptop from sleep mode with an external keyboard, it is important to refer to your laptop manufacturer's documentation. This documentation typically accompanies your laptop and provides detailed instructions on how to operate and troubleshoot issues with your device.
By consulting the manufacturer's documentation, you can gain specific insights into the sleep mode settings and power management features unique to your laptop model. This includes understanding the behaviour of your laptop when it enters sleep mode, such as power consumption, device connectivity, and methods for waking it up.
Additionally, the documentation will outline the steps to configure your laptop's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) settings, which can impact how the laptop responds to external input during sleep mode. Different laptop models may have varying BIOS configurations, and the documentation will guide you through the specific options available for your device.
Furthermore, the manufacturer's documentation will provide clarity on the compatibility of external devices, including keyboards, with your laptop's sleep mode. This is particularly relevant if you are using a Bluetooth keyboard, as some laptop models may not support Bluetooth connectivity for waking the device from sleep.
Lastly, the documentation will offer troubleshooting steps to address any issues you may encounter when attempting to wake your laptop from sleep mode with an external keyboard. This includes instructions on updating device drivers, changing power settings, and optimising your laptop's performance to ensure a seamless wake-up process.
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Frequently asked questions
If your laptop is plugged into an external power source, you can change the Power settings in Windows to prevent it from going into Sleep mode. If you are using a Bluetooth keyboard, you may need to update your Bluetooth driver or get a newer Bluetooth adapter with better power management. If your external keyboard is plugged in via a USB hub, you may need to deselect the option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" on the hub.
Your laptop may not be waking from sleep with an external keyboard because it is not plugged directly into a USB port. Try plugging your keyboard directly into a USB port on your laptop.
You can wake your laptop from sleep by pressing any key on the internal keyboard.
If you have a Windows PC, try pressing the Windows key and the letter "x" at the same time. If you have a Mac, try pressing Command + Control + Power.
