How to enable ‘Wake on LAN’ on Windows 11
It’s possible to turn on your computer remotely using the Wake on LAN feature, and here’s how on Windows 11.
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OnWindows 11, Wake on LAN (WoL) is a networking feature available on specific hardware that enables you to turn on a computer from a low-power state using a particular packet referred to as a “magic packet” sent over the network.
Wake on LAN has been around for a long time, and even though it’s not for everyone, it can come in handy in many situations. For example, to turn on a computer you want to access remotely to retrieve a file orcreate a backup, but you don’t want to keep powered on all the time to prevent wasting energy.
Whatever the reason it might be, depending on the hardware, on Windows 11, you can enable Wake on LAN through the motherboard or add-in card firmware. Once the feature is enabled, you can use a third-party app or script to turn on a computer remotely.
Thisguidewill walk you through the steps to enable WoL on your computer.
How to enable WoL on Windows 11
On Windows 11, to use Wake on LAN, you have to turn on the feature (if not already enabled) on the motherboard’s firmware (UEFI). You can turn it on directly from the Windows settings if you have an add-in card or USB adapter.
Firmware configuration
To enable Wake on LAN on the UEFI firmware, use these steps:
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Once you complete the steps, you can continue with the instructions to wake up the computer remotely.
Although it may not be necessary, you may also want to use the steps below to double-check that the feature is ready on Windows 11 to receive magic packets over the network.
Network settings configuration
To enable Wake on LAN from the Settings app for add-in cards and USB network adapters, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, you can proceed with the instructions to use a third-party tool or script to send a wake-up packet over the network to the device you want to start.
You can always disable the WoL feature using the same instructions mentioned above but onstep 9, make sure to disable the option and other settings you may have selected. Also, you may want to disable the feature inside the firmware.
How to send WoL packet on Windows 11
You can use virtually any third-party application for Windows, Linux, Mac, mobile apps for Android and iPhone, or custom scripts to send a magic wake-up packet. You may also be able to wake a device through the WoL feature built into the router.
Warning:The app we are using works as advertised, but it’s a third-party tool, and you should use it only at your own risk. You have been warned.
For this guide, we picked the “WakeMeOnLan” tool from NirSoft to wake a device remotely:
Once you complete the steps, the magic packet will be sent over the network to wake the computer.
Determine network configuration
If you use a tool that offers an interface to input the device information, you will have to manually obtain the IP and MAC address to use Wake on LAN.
To find the network configuration of your computer, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, use the network addresses to send a magic packet to wake up a device remotely with your particular application.
How to troubleshoot WoL problems on Windows 11
If you sent the wake command, but the computer is not turning on, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can follow.
In case you have a USB network adapter, Wake on LAN may only work when the device is in the sleeping state mode because turning off the computer will stop providing power to the USB port.
If the option is not present in the motherboard’s firmware or the network adapter’s properties, the feature may not be available for your computer.
After enabling Wake on LAN, you may also need to disable fast startup to make the feature work.
On Windows 11, the ability to power on a computer remotely will only be available when the network adapter is active and reachable within the network. If the computer is off, you can look at the Ethernet adapter, and if you see blinking lights, it indicates that the adapter is active.
If you have a laptop, make sure it’s connected to a power source to allow the feature to work as expected.
Finally, if you suspect a networking problem that may prevent the magic package from waking up the remote computer, you can use the"ping"command to check the connectivity. In addition, you should also use the"ipconfig"command in the destination computer to make sure you have the correct IP and MAC address.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
