
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows a computer to quickly resume full-power operation, typically within a few seconds, when you want to start working again. While sleep mode is designed to save power when you're not using your computer, sometimes a computer wakes up from sleep mode unexpectedly. This can be caused by a number of factors, including outdated device drivers, USB selective suspend settings, or certain power settings. To prevent this from happening, users can try disabling wake timers, updating their device drivers, or adjusting their power settings.
Characteristics and Values of what wakes a computer from sleep
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | Press any key on the keyboard |
| Mouse | Move the mouse |
| Power button | Press the power button |
| Network Adapter | Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter |
| USB Devices | Mouse or keyboard |
| Operating System | Windows or macOS |
| Power Settings | Adjust power settings |
| Drivers | Update drivers |
| Wake Timers | Disable wake timers |
| Background Tasks | Close any open apps |
| Hibernation | Disable and enable the feature |
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What You'll Learn

Keyboard and mouse issues
If your keyboard or mouse won't wake your Windows computer, the reason could be USB selective suspend, which prevents USB-connected devices from working when the PC goes to sleep. To change this, search Control Panel for Power Options, and then change the advanced settings for your selected power plan so that USB settings > USB selective suspend settings are set to Disabled.
If you don't see the Power Management tab on any of your keyboards or mice, your hardware might not support waking the computer from sleep, or you may not have the proper drivers installed. Check a guide on updating Windows drivers to get the latest ones. Also, make sure that your keyboard and mouse are working properly overall. If they suddenly don't do anything, they won't wake your PC from sleep.
If you're using a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, your computer might not receive Bluetooth signals while it's asleep. The Microsoft Bluetooth stack or your laptop's proprietary Bluetooth stack may allow customization to allow wake by using Bluetooth devices.
If you're using a wireless mouse, be careful when using these options. If you forget to turn it off, you could accidentally wake your laptop from sleep when it's in a bag. You can destroy your laptop by leaving it in a bag while running, as this generates a lot of heat. For safety, you should put your laptop to sleep before putting it in a bag only if it will be there for a short time. For longer durations, shut down or hibernate for safety.
If you're still having issues, it may be a BIOS setting. Check the documentation that came with your computer or contact your computer manufacturer for information about how to configure the BIOS.
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Outdated device drivers
To update device drivers, you can use Windows Update or device-specific update tools provided by the manufacturer. You can also use third-party software to scan your computer for outdated drivers and update them automatically. This is a convenient option if you don't have the time or technical expertise to update drivers manually.
It's important to note that updating device drivers is not just about fixing sleep mode issues. It's also crucial for improving system stability, enhancing performance, and ensuring that all hardware components function correctly. Outdated drivers can lead to various problems, including reduced performance, system crashes, and hardware malfunctions.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning that sleep-related issues on a computer can be caused by various factors, not just outdated drivers. For example, certain applications or scheduled tasks running in the background can prevent the computer from staying asleep. Network adapters, USB devices, and power settings can also play a role in waking up a computer from sleep mode.
To troubleshoot sleep mode issues, you can refer to the power settings, device manager, and command prompt tools on your computer. These tools can help identify the root cause and implement the necessary changes to prevent the computer from waking up unexpectedly.
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USB selective suspend
There are two different mechanisms for selectively suspending a USB device: idle request IRPs (IOCTL_INTERNAL_USB_SUBMIT_IDLE_NOTIFICATION) and set power IRPs (IRP_MN_SET_POWER). The bus driver determines when it is safe to suspend its device's children. If it is, it calls the idle notification callback routine supplied by each child's client driver.
To disable USB selective suspend, follow these steps:
- Input Control Panel in Cortana's search bar and then hit Enter.
- On Control Panel, switch to the Category option next to View by and then click on Hardware and Sound.
- Select Power Options from the right side.
- Click Change plan settings in the Preferred plans section.
- On the new window, click the Change advanced power settings option.
- Find USB settings from the list, expand it, and then expand the USB selective suspend settings.
- Switch Enable to Disable.
- Click Apply > OK to execute the change.
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Wake timers
To disable wake timers on Windows 10, go to the Control Panel and click on "System Security". Then, change when the computer sleeps by clicking on "Change advanced power settings". Expand the sleep option and disable "Allow wake timers".
On Windows 11, the process is similar. Go to the Control Panel and type "Power Options" in the search bar. Click on Change plan settings and then "Change advanced power settings". Expand the "Sleep" option and disable "Allow wake timers".
It is worth noting that wake timers are not the only reason why a computer may wake from sleep. Other possible causes include background tasks, scheduled tasks, and internet communications. To prevent this, close any open apps and try turning off Wi-Fi. Additionally, USB selective suspend settings can prevent USB-connected devices from working when the PC goes to sleep. To change this, go to Control Panel and search for Power Options. Change the advanced settings for your selected power plan so that USB settings > USB selective suspend settings are set to Disabled.
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Network devices
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows a computer to quickly resume full-power operation, typically within a few seconds, when you want to start working again. However, sometimes a computer may wake up from sleep mode unexpectedly.
Additionally, a computer may wake up from sleep mode due to a scheduled backup for a cloud backup program or other scheduled events. To fix this, open the Start menu, search for "Edit Power Plan", click "Change Advanced Settings" in the "Edit Plan Settings" window, go to Sleep, and change "Allow Wake Timers" to "Disabled".
It is also possible that a USB device is causing the computer to wake up. To identify the offending device, remove all USB devices the next time the computer is put to sleep and observe if it wakes up on its own. If the issue is caused by a USB device, you can try to enable/disable the USB Selective Suspend setting in Power Options.
Other potential causes include a mouse or keyboard, a game controller, or a phone connecting to the internet.
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Frequently asked questions
If your computer won't wake up from sleep mode, try a simple restart. Check for any power buttons along the bottom or top of the screen and choose the restart option. If you can't access the menus, press and hold the physical power button for around five seconds until it shuts off.
This could be due to USB selective suspend, which prevents USB-connected devices from working when the PC goes to sleep. To change this, search Control Panel for Power Options, and then change the advanced settings for your selected power plan so that USB settings > USB selective suspend settings is set to Disabled.
You can try disabling the 'Allow this device to wake the computer' option in the Power Management tab of the Device Manager. You can also try disabling wake timers in your power settings.
Pressing any key on the keyboard, clicking the mouse, or pressing the power button should suffice.
Windows will know what woke your computer up. To find out, open the Start menu and search "cmd", then right-click the Command Prompt entry and choose "Run As Administrator". Type the following command and press Enter: powercfg /lastwake.











































