Evie Summers
If your PC won't wake up from sleep mode, don't panic. This is a common issue with several possible causes and solutions. The problem could be due to outdated or incorrect device drivers, power settings configuration issues, hardware or software incompatibilities, malware or virus infections, or faulty hardware components. To fix the issue, you can try updating your drivers, using the Windows Power Troubleshooter, disabling hybrid sleep and wake timers, turning off Fast Startup, resetting your BIOS settings, or performing a force restart.
When my PC sleeps, it won't wake up
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 11/10, 8.1/7 |
| Power Management Settings | Sleep mode, hibernation mode, standby mode |
| Input Devices | Keyboard, mouse, Bluetooth device |
| USB Devices | May malfunction and wake the computer |
| BIOS | May need to be updated or reset to default settings |
| Power Button | Press and hold to force shutdown, then restart |
| System Diagnosis | May not be supported on all devices |
| Drivers | May be wrong or outdated |
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What You'll Learn
The PC may have transitioned into hibernation mode
If your PC won't wake up from sleep mode, it may have transitioned into hibernation mode. This can happen if your device has been in sleep mode for an extended period. In hibernation mode, the device cannot be awakened via the keyboard or mouse; you must press the power button to rouse it. If your PC is battery-powered, ensure it is connected to a power source and that the battery charging indicator is illuminated. Then, attempt to press the power button to wake the device.
If your PC still does not wake, press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to force a shutdown. Afterward, restart the device and follow the troubleshooting steps below to prevent the issue from recurring. If you are unable to wake your PC from hibernation mode, try resetting the BIOS to default settings. To do this, access the BIOS setup screen on the device. When the device is not powered on, press and hold the [F2] key on the keyboard, then press the power button to turn on the device. Keep holding the [F2] key until the BIOS setup screen appears, then release the key.
If you are using a Bluetooth device to wake your PC, this may also be causing the issue. Many laptop manufacturers will not allow a Bluetooth device to wake the computer from sleep mode because of the power consumption required to keep the Bluetooth radio activated. If you can open the lid of your laptop, use the embedded keyboard or pointing device or an external non-Bluetooth device to wake the computer. If you cannot open the lid, you can change the Power settings in Windows to not go into Sleep mode when plugged in.
If none of these solutions work, you may have to dig into the wake timers set on your computer—that is, scheduled events that are allowed to wake your machine. Open the Start menu, search for "Edit Power Plan," and click Change Advanced Settings in the Edit Plan Settings window. Head to Sleep > Allow Wake Timers and change Battery and Plugged In to Disabled. Repeat this process for all your power plans in the drop-down menu at the top.
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Outdated or wrong device drivers
One of the reasons why your PC won't wake up from sleep could be outdated or wrong device drivers. Device drivers are essential for the proper functioning of your computer as they enable Windows to interact with PC hardware such as network adapters and USB devices. Outdated or incorrect device drivers can cause issues with your computer's sleep mode, preventing it from waking up properly.
To address this issue, you should ensure that your device drivers are up to date. Here are some steps you can take:
- Check for Windows Updates: Windows will automatically search for updates, including updates for your device drivers. Simply install any available updates, restart your computer, and see if the issue is resolved.
- Use DriverFinder: You can download and run DriverFinder, a tool that scans your system and checks for the latest drivers for your Windows PC. This can help you identify if there are any outdated or incorrect device drivers.
- Update Specific Device Drivers: If you suspect that a particular device driver is causing the issue, you can update it manually. Go to the Start menu, search for "Device Manager," and find the device in question. Right-click on it, select "Properties," then the "Power Management" tab, and ensure the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option is enabled or disabled, depending on your preference.
By keeping your device drivers up to date, you can help ensure that your Windows PC accurately controls the devices and their power behavior, reducing the chances of sleep mode-related issues.
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USB or Bluetooth devices may be the issue
If your PC won't wake up from sleep mode, it could be due to USB or Bluetooth devices. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to address this issue:
USB Devices
If a USB device is causing the issue, you can try the following:
- Remove all USB devices except for the keyboard and mouse, which are often necessary for waking up the computer. If your PC wakes up with the other USB devices unplugged, one of those devices is likely the culprit.
- To identify the problematic USB device, connect one device back at a time and put your PC to sleep after each connection. If your PC wakes up after reconnecting a specific device, you've likely found the offending device.
- Once identified, you can try updating the drivers for that device or disabling its ability to wake up the computer.
- To disable a USB device from waking up your PC, open the Start menu, search for "Device Manager," locate the device, open its properties, go to the Power Management tab, and uncheck the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option.
- If you can't find the option in Device Manager, you can try disabling USB wake-up from the BIOS. To access the BIOS, press a specific key (often Delete or F2) when your PC first boots up.
Bluetooth Devices
If you suspect a Bluetooth device is causing the issue, try the following:
- Check if your PC manufacturer allows waking up from sleep mode using Bluetooth devices. Some laptop manufacturers disable this feature due to the power consumption required to keep the Bluetooth radio active.
- If your PC supports it, you may need to customize the Microsoft Bluetooth stack or your laptop's proprietary Bluetooth stack to enable waking up via Bluetooth. Refer to your PC's documentation or contact the manufacturer for specific instructions.
- Ensure your Bluetooth device remains connected during sleep mode. Some PCs have default configuration settings that disconnect Bluetooth devices or prevent them from automatically reconnecting when the PC enters sleep mode.
- Update your Bluetooth device drivers to the latest version to ensure compatibility and proper functionality with your PC.
- If you're using a keyboard or mouse with Bluetooth, try using a wired or non-Bluetooth alternative to see if that resolves the issue.
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Windows Vista may not be updated
If your PC won't wake up from sleep mode, there are a few things you can try. If you're using a laptop, you can open the lid and use the embedded keyboard or an external non-Bluetooth device to wake the computer. If you can't open the lid, or if your PC is plugged into an external power source, you can change the Power settings in Windows to not go into Sleep mode when plugged in.
If you're using Windows Vista, make sure you've updated to Service Pack 1 or a later version. The original version of Vista may have problems waking up from sleep mode.
Windows Vista is a retired operating system that has not received regular updates since April 2017. As a result, there are known issues with Vista SP2 computers where Windows Update can hang on "Checking for updates..." for several hours or even days without throwing an error message. This problem was first reported in August 2015 and has progressively worsened over time.
If you're using Vista SP2, you may encounter these "Checking for updates..." hangs as soon as Service Pack 2 (SP2) is applied. This issue can cause the Windows Update Agent (wuaueng.dll) to saturate an entire CPU core, resulting in high CPU activity.
To address this issue, you may need to perform a clean reinstall of your Vista SP2 OS. You can request help to obtain a "fully updated" ISO that includes SP1, SP2, and all Vista security updates released between May 2009 (the release date of SP2) and April 2017.
Additionally, critical updates for Vista SP2 machines must be installed manually. You can refer to the Vista Forums or similar online resources for instructions on manually installing specific updates, such as the Security and Quality Rollup for NET. Framework 2.0, 3.0, 4.5.2, and 4.6.
It's important to note that extended support for Vista SP2 and IE9 ended on April 11, 2017. As such, you may consider upgrading to a newer version of Windows or switching to a different operating system to ensure you receive regular security updates and patches.
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BIOS settings may need to be reset
If your PC won't wake up from sleep mode, it might have automatically transitioned into hibernation mode after being in sleep mode for an extended period. In hibernation mode, the device cannot be awakened via the keyboard; you must press the power button to rouse it. If your device is battery-powered, ensure it is connected to a power source and that the battery charging indicator is illuminated. Then, attempt to press the power button to wake the device. If the device still does not wake, press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to force a shutdown. Afterward, restart the device.
If this does not work, the issue may be due to outdated BIOS settings. BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is a system that is installed on the computer that manages the flow of data between the computer's operating system and attached devices, such as the keyboard, mouse, and hard drive. To resolve issues related to BIOS, you may need to reset the BIOS settings to their default configuration.
- Disconnect all external devices, including the keyboard, mouse, external hard drive, and printer.
- Power off your computer.
- Press and hold the F2 key on your keyboard.
- Press the power button to turn on the computer while continuing to hold the F2 key.
- Release the F2 key once the BIOS setup screen appears.
- Follow the instructions on the BIOS setup screen to restore the default settings.
- Exit the BIOS setup screen and restart your computer.
Note: For older desktop computers, you may need to press and hold the Del key instead of the F2 key to access the BIOS setup screen. For gaming handhelds, press and hold the Volume Down button, then press the power button.
After resetting the BIOS settings, test your computer to see if it wakes up from sleep mode as expected. If the issue persists, you may need to update the BIOS to the latest version or explore other troubleshooting steps.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several reasons why your PC won't wake up from sleep mode. It could be due to incorrect Power State settings, outdated drivers, or external devices.
You can fix incorrect Power State settings by updating the BIOS and chipset driver.
You can update your drivers manually or use a tool like Driver Easy to automatically recognise and update your system's drivers.
Disconnect all external devices, including the keyboard, mouse, and printer. Then, put your computer to sleep and see if it wakes up on its own. If it does, one of the external devices was likely the issue.
Try pressing and holding the power button for 15 seconds to force a shutdown. Then, restart your device and follow troubleshooting steps specific to your operating system.
