Operating System

How to Enable and Use Wake on LAN (WoL) on Windows 10?

Wake on LAN (WOL) is a standard network protocol that can wake a device from a low-power state using a unique signal over the LAN (also referred to as a magic packet).

You can think of it as a remote power button on your computer.

Typically, this feature helps keep your computer connected to access files, and apps while minimizing power consumption as you can put the device to sleep when not in use.

After enabling Wake On LAN in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Operating System Supported by Hardware Interface (UEFI) and the Windows 10 network adapter, you can use third-party tools to send a magic packet over the network containing the MAC address.

Use a remote computer to wake it up and put it on standby. This guide walks you through the implementation steps to enable and use Wake on LAN to turn on computers on the network.

If you want to use the WOL feature, you must first enable it in the motherboard’s operating system (in the network adapter if using an external device) and then go to the system settings. Also, this feature only works when the computer is asleep, but some devices support hibernation or powered-off mode, even though Windows 10 does not participate in this process.

In this article, we want to explain how to enable and use Wake on LAN (WoL) on Windows 10.

How to enable Wake on LAN on Windows 10

BIOS/UEFI configuration

To enable Wake on LAN on the device firmware, you can do the following steps:

1. Go to the Settings.

2. Select the Update & Security button.

3. Select the Recovery.

4. Press the Restart now button, under the Advanced startup section.

5. Select the Troubleshoot button.

6. Select the Advanced options.

7. Select the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

8. Hit the Restart button.

You have to go to firmware settings and open the power options then enable the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature.

The name of this feature may not be Wake on LAN (WoL) in all devices because most manufacturers make their operating systems differently.

After you have done the above steps, you can now run the feature configuration commands in Windows 10.

Note: If your device does not support Wake on LAN, you can get an adapter like the USB-A 3.0 to RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Adapter.

Windows configuration

To activate Wol in Windows 10, you can do the following steps:

1. Go to the Settings.

2. Select the Network & Internet button.

3. Click the Status button.

4. Select the Change adapter options button, under the Advanced network settings section.

5. Right-click the active network adapter and click the Properties option.

6. Select the Networking tab.

7. Click on the Configure button.

8. Select the Advanced tab.

9. Click on the Wake on Magic Packet button.

10. Use the Value drop-down menu then click the Enabledbutton.

11. Click the WoL & Shutdown Link Speed button.

12. Use the Value drop-down menu and choose the 10Mbps button.

13. Select the Power Management tab.

14. Select the Allow this device to wake the computer button.

15. Check the Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer button.

16. Select the OK option.

After you complete the steps, the device will be ready for remote magic package through the third-party personalization tool.

If you don’t want to use these steps anymore, you can use the same steps as mentioned above to disable Wake on LAN.

How to wake up a computer remotely on Windows 10

After configuring this feature, you can turn on the computer in several ways. For example, you can use the router’s built-in WOL utility. You may be able to find scripts that you can use with PowerShell.

Or you can use third-party tools to send the magic packet to wake up the device.

We will use the Wakemeonlan tool from Nirsoft to wake up a device remotely:

1. Go to the NirSoft download page.

2. Select the download link to save the app on your device.

3. Use the File Explorer to extract the contents from the zip folder.

4. Go to the folder with the extracted files.

5. To be able to launch the standalone tool, you need to double- click the WakeMeOnLan.exe file.

6. In order to find all the devices on the network, you need to click on the Play option.

7. Right-click the remote computer and click the Wake Up Selected Computers option.

8. Select the Yes button.

After completing the process, the tool will send a magic packet that should turn on the device immediately if the network adapter is still operational, even if the computer is turned off.

Confirm IP and MAC address

If you use another tool, you need to specify the IP and MAC address of the computer to wake up, which you can easily configure from the program.

1. Go to the Settings.

2. Select the Network & Internet option.

3. Select the Status option.

4. Select the Properties button for the active connection, under the Network status section.

5. Under the Properties section, confirm Physical address (MAC) and the IPv4 address.

If you are using the Command Prompt, you can search for adapter addresses using the IPConfig /All command.

After completing the steps, you can use the addresses with your tool to wake up a computer remotely.

If the device won’t wake up with these instructions, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the problem.

The system must support Wake On LAN at the operating system level. If this option is not available in the motherboard’s BIOS or UEFI or network adapter (for example, USB to Ethernet adapter), you will not be able to use this feature.

If you are using a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, WOL may only work when the computer is sleeping because powering down may also stop the power supply to the USB port.

You may need to disable fast startup for this feature to work. The ability to turn on the device remotely only works if the network adapter is enabled and accessible.

If you are using an Ethernet connection, verify that the lights on the network card are still blinking after the device is turned off. On a laptop, you need to make sure the device is plugged into a power outlet. Otherwise, it will not work.

When using this feature, you may encounter network issues that may prevent the device from waking up. If you suspect a networking issue, use the ping command to contact the source of the target device.

 Also, it is a good idea that you use the correct MAC and IP address of the target computer. You can get this network information using the config command.

Last Words

Using the steps mentioned above, you can easily activate the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in your Windows 10 and use it easily.

Have you used this method to activate and use the Wake on LAN (WoL)  feature in Windows 10?

What other methods do you know to activate and use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in Windows 10?

Share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Sarah Kmz

Sara is a talented author and technology enthusiast with a passion for writing about Windows tips and tricks. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and has always had a love for all things related to technology. After completing her degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington, Sara began working as a software developer. She quickly discovered that she had a talent for writing and decided to combine her two passions by starting a blog about Windows tips and tricks. Sara's blog quickly gained popularity and she became known for her clear and concise writing style, as well as her ability to explain complex technical concepts in a way that was easy for anyone to understand. Her blog has become a go-to resource for Windows users looking to optimize their experience and make the most out of their technology. In addition to her work on her blog, Sara is also a prolific writer of technical articles for a number of different publications. Her writing has been featured in numerous technology blogs and websites, and she is widely respected in the industry for her expertise in the field. When she's not writing or working on her blog, Sara enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is also an avid traveler and is always looking for new places to explore and new experiences to have. Overall, Sara is a talented writer and technology expert who is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with others. Her passion for both technology and writing has made her a respected figure in the industry, and she continues to inspire and educate others through her work on her blog and beyond.

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