Ashwin Lewis
Many Windows users have reported issues with their computers waking up immediately after being put into sleep mode. This issue can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially if you are trying to save power or need your computer to remain dormant while you are away. There are several potential causes and solutions for this problem, including disabling the ability for certain devices, such as the keyboard or mouse, to wake up the computer, updating BIOS and driver settings, and running specific commands in PowerShell or Command Prompt to identify and disable the device causing the wake-up event.
Characteristics and Values of a PC Waking from Sleep
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Network card, keyboard, mouse, or other USB devices |
| Solution | Disable the ability for these devices to wake the PC |
| Alternative Solution | Run the command "powercfg -lastwake" to identify the device causing the wake-up event |
| Further Solution | Open PowerShell as Administrator and run specific commands |
| BIOS Settings | Ensure BIOS and drivers are up to date, disable USB wake settings |
| Power Plan Settings | Navigate to "Allow Wake Timers" and disable settings for battery and plugged-in |
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What You'll Learn
Keyboard, mouse, or network card may be waking the PC
If your PC wakes up from sleep mode, it could be due to several reasons. One common cause is the keyboard, mouse, or network card waking the PC unintentionally. This can happen if the settings allow these devices to wake up the computer when they are connected or activated. To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following steps:
Identifying the Problem Device
Firstly, identify the device that is causing the PC to wake up. You can do this by following the steps below:
- Open the Start menu and search for "cmd".
- Right-click on Command Prompt and choose "Run as Administrator".
- Type the following command and press Enter: powercfg -lastwake.
- This command will tell you the last device that woke up your computer from sleep mode.
- If this command does not provide a clear answer, try checking the Windows Event Viewer. Click on the Start menu, search for "Event Viewer", and launch the tool.
- In the sidebar, go to "Windows Logs" > "System" and click the "Filter Current Log" button.
- Choose "Power-Troubleshooter" from the Event Sources drop-down menu.
Disabling the Device from Waking the PC
Once you have identified the problematic device, you can disable its ability to wake up the PC:
- Open the Start menu and search for "Device Manager".
- Find the device in the list (e.g., keyboard, mouse, or network adapter).
- Right-click on the device and select "Properties".
- Click on the "Power Management" tab and uncheck the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option.
- Click "OK" to save the changes.
Additional Tips
- If you are still having issues, try updating your BIOS (UEFI) and drivers to the latest versions.
- Check the BIOS settings for any Wake On options and disable them if possible.
- If you use Wake-On-LAN (WoL) to remotely access your computer, you can check the "Only allow a magic packet to wake your computer" option to prevent network traffic from waking the PC.
- Keep your computer and programs up to date, as new updates can sometimes cause sleep mode issues.
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Update BIOS (UEFI) and drivers
Updating your BIOS (UEFI) and drivers can be a solution to issues with your PC waking up from sleep mode. BIOS stands for "basic input/output system" and is a firmware program embedded in older Windows computers. UEFI, or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, is a similar firmware program found in newer PCs and Mac computers. These firmware programs manage a computer's hardware components and boot processes.
Before updating your BIOS, it is important to know which version you currently have. This can be done by entering the BIOS setup (UEFI) program before your computer boots up and checking the version number, usually found on the main tab. You can then check this against the list of available updates to see if there is a newer version. It is highly recommended to update your BIOS only when your PC or motherboard manufacturer suggests it or if you need to fix a Windows update error. BIOS update methods vary, so it is important to follow the specific guidance provided by your motherboard manufacturer.
If you own a Dell computer, you can download and install the latest BIOS or UEFI updates by following the manufacturer's guide. The process may involve disabling BitLocker, logging in as an administrator, and creating a bootable USB drive to complete the update. Some Dell computers may also include an option for downloading and installing BIOS updates directly from the internet within the BIOS environment.
Additionally, consider using a tool like AVG Driver Updater to scan for outdated drivers and update them with just a click. This can help keep your machine running smoothly and ensure that new driver versions are free from malware.
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Change power plan settings
A power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings that manages how your computer uses power. Power plans can help you save energy, maximize system performance, or achieve a balance between the two.
Default Power Plans
Windows 10 and 11 offer the following default power plans:
- Balanced — Offers full performance when you need it and saves power when you don't. This is the best power plan for most people.
- Power saver — Saves power by reducing PC performance and screen brightness. If you're using a laptop, this plan can help you get the most out of a single battery charge.
- High performance — Maximizes screen brightness and might increase PC performance. This plan uses more energy, so your laptop battery won't last as long between charges.
Custom Power Plans
Custom power plans are also available if your PC manufacturer provided additional power plans or if you create a custom power plan. You can create custom plans according to specific performance needs.
Changing Power Plan Settings
To change the power plan settings on your Windows PC, follow these steps:
- Type and search " [Choose a power plan]" in the Windows search bar, and then click ["Open"].
- Select a suitable power plan for your needs.
- If you would like to customize the selected plan, click ["Change plan settings"] on the selected plan, then click ["Change advanced power settings"].
- Customize the following components or functions separately.
- After changing the settings, select ["Apply"], then ["OK"].
Troubleshooting
If your PC is consistently refusing to enter sleep mode or is waking up immediately after being put to sleep, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:
- Disable the ability for your mouse, keyboard, or network card to wake up your computer.
- Run the following command in Command Prompt (CMD): `powercfg -lastwake`. This will tell you which device is causing the wake-up event.
- If the above steps don't work, open PowerShell as an Administrator and run the following command: `powershell -command "Start-Process powercfg -ArgumentList '-devicedisablewake', '""PCI Express Root Port""' -Verb RunAs"`.
- Ensure your BIOS (UEFI) and drivers are all up to date. Look in your BIOS settings for any "Wake On" settings.
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Identify and disable the device causing the wake-up event
If your computer keeps waking up from sleep mode, you can use the following methods to identify the device causing the wake-up event.
Using the POWERCFG command:
- Right-click on the Start Menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
- In the Terminal, type or copy and paste the following command and press Enter: `powercfg -lastwake`
- This will display the reason for your PC waking up, such as the power button, mouse, or keyboard.
Using the Event Viewer:
- Click the Start menu, search for "Event Viewer," and launch the tool.
- In the sidebar, go to Windows Logs > System, then click "Filter Current Log" on the right side of the window.
- Choose "Power-Troubleshooter" from the Event Sources drop-down menu and click OK.
- This will show you all the times your computer woke up and what caused it.
Once you have identified the device causing the wake-up event, you can disable its ability to wake up your computer:
- Open the Start menu and search for "Device Manager."
- Find the device in the list, right-click on it, and select "Properties."
- Open the Power Management tab and uncheck the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option.
- Click OK to save the changes.
Alternatively, you can try disabling USB wake in the BIOS:
- Enter the BIOS setup by pressing a specific key (usually Delete or F2) when your computer first boots.
- Look for USB settings and disable any options related to USB wake or power.
Disabling the offending device from waking up your computer should prevent it from doing so in the future.
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Prevent scheduled maintenance from waking the computer
If your Windows PC is waking up randomly from sleep mode, there are several steps you can take to prevent this from happening. Firstly, identify the device causing the wake-up event. To do this, run the following command in Command Prompt:
> powercfg -lastwake
This will tell you which device is causing the wake-up event. Once you have identified the device, you can try disabling its ability to wake up the computer. For example, if the device is a network card, keyboard, or mouse, you can disable their ability to interfere with sleep mode.
If the above step does not work, you can try the following:
- Open the "Task Scheduler" and go to the following tree: Microsoft\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\Reboot. Right-click on "Reboot", select "Properties", then "Conditions", and uncheck "Wake the computer to run this task".
- Change the registry entry to hkey_local_machine\software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\PowerdownAfterShutdown to 1.
- Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Security and Maintenance > expand Maintenance section > click on Change maintenance settings. Uncheck the option that allows the PC to wake up. You may need to change the time first for this step to work.
- Open Regedit and navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\Maintenance. If this key does not exist, create it. Create a 32-bit DWORD value named MaintenanceDisabled and set it to 1. Then, reboot your computer.
- Ensure that your BIOS (UEFI) and drivers are up to date, and check the BIOS settings for any "Wake On" settings that may need to be disabled.
- For Windows 8 and 11, go to Action Center > Automatic Maintenance and disable the "Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time" checkbox.
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Frequently asked questions
This could be due to a number of reasons. It could be that your mouse, keyboard, or another device is waking up your PC. Try disconnecting all devices and seeing if the problem persists. If it does, you may need to update your BIOS (UEFI) and drivers.
You can try disabling the ability for your devices to interfere with sleep mode. Open the Start menu, search for "Device Manager", find the device in question, right-click on it, select "Properties", then open the Power Management tab and uncheck "Allow this device to wake the computer".
The command is: powercfg -lastwake.
Open PowerShell as an administrator and enter the following command: powershell -command "Start-Process powercfg -ArgumentList '-devicedisablewake', '"" [device name] ""' -Verb RunAs".
It could be due to a scheduled task or wake timer. Open PowerShell and run the following command: powershell -command "Start-Process powercfg -ArgumentList '-devicedisablewake', '""PCI Express Root Port""' -Verb RunAs".
