Wake Your Computer Remotely: How to Enable and Use Wake on LAN (WoL) on Windows 7

The Wake-on-LAN (WoL) feature, also known as Wake-on-LAN, is a networking standard that allows a computer to be turned on remotely regardless of its state (complete shutdown, hibernation, or sleep).

In this case, it can be used to turn on the computer through an application or system located on the same local network.

This feature has changed a little over time, and today it allows users to turn on their computer through the Wi-Fi network.

In this case, the user uses WMM packages named Wireless Multimedia Extensions to send messages.

It doesn’t matter what operating system you use. You can turn on your computer remotely using hardware that supports the Wake-on-LAN feature, as well as BIOS and working system settings.

In this article, we want to explain how to enable and use Wake on LAN (WoL) on Windows 7.

Step 1 -Enable Simple TCPIP services

1. Open the Start menu.

2.  Into the search bar, type Windows features and click on the item.

3. Make sure to select the checkbox Simple TCPIP services.

4. Click on the Ok button.

Step 2 -Enable Wake On Lan Via Advanced Network Adapter Properties

1. First, you need to enable your adapter to support the Cool feature.

Even if it sends the Wake On Lan signal successfully, your computer will not react to it.

2. Go to the Start menu.

3. Into the search bar, type Device Manage and click it.

4. Collect all the network adapters in the system and right click on your main network adapter and then click on Properties.

Note: that adapters labeled as virtual are not real adapters.

If you have such an adapter in your computer, you can easily enable the Wake On Lan feature in all of them.

5. Open the tab Advanced and scrol down the list until you find the options:

• Wake on Magic Packet (this is important)
• Wake on pattern match
• WOL & Shutdown Link Speed
• Shutdown Wake-On-Lan

6. You can easily select the Enabled option from the drop-down menu for all available options.

7. If you want to turn off your PC through Wake-On-LAN, you can activate the shot option.

Step 3 -Enable Wake On LAN via BIOS

Another way you can enable Wake On Lan is through the motherboard BIOS.

Keep in mind that not all motherboards support Wake On Lan.

1. First, read your motherboard manual to enter the BIOS.

2. By reading the manual of the motherboard, you will find out what settings you need to enable to send the Wake On Lan signal.

Note: that some motherboard manufacturers such as ASUS have made it very difficult for users and use hard names for Wake On Lan features.

3. In BIOS, you can go to the Power tab using the arrow keys.

There are various options to Power On your PC:

• Power On By PCI/PCIE Device
• Power On By PS/2 Devices
• Power On By Ring
• Power On By RTC Alarm

4. Turn on the option Power On By PCI/PCIE Device if you want to wake up your PC using wakeonlan signals.

Conclusion

In this article, we explained how you can use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in your Windows 7. By doing the above steps completed, you can activate the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in your Windows 7.

Have you used this method to activate and use the Wake on LAN (WoL)  feature in Windows 7?

What other methods do you know to activate and use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in Windows 7?

Share your thoughts and experiences with us.