How to enable and use Wake on LAN (WoL) on Windows 10

On Windows 10, you can use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature to turn on a computer remotely, and in this guide, I'll outline the steps to complete this configuration.

Wake on LAN is a networking standard protocol that can turn on a computer from a low-power state using a unique signal over the local network (also called a magic packet). You can think of it as a remote power button on your device.

Usually, this feature comes in handy to maintain a connection to your computer to access files and apps while minimizing power usage since 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 Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on supported hardware and in the Windows 10 network adapter, you can use third-party tools to send a magic packet over the network containing the MAC address of the remote computer to wake it up.

In this how-to guide, I'll walk you through the steps to enable and use Wake on LAN to turn on computers in the network.

How to enable Wake on LAN on Windows 10

If you want to use the WoL feature, you must enable it first on the motherboard firmware (or on the network adapter if you are using an external device) and then on the system settings. Also, the feature only works when the computer is asleep, but some computers support waking from hibernation or powered off state, even though Windows 10 does not participate in the process.

Firmware configuration

To enable Wake on LAN on the device firmware, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Under the "Advanced startup" section, click the Restart now button.

5. Click on Troubleshoot.
6. Click on Advanced options.
7. Click the "UEFI Firmware Settings" option.

8. Click the Restart button.

Inside the firmware settings, navigate to the power options and enable the "Wake on LAN" (WoL) feature. The feature may have a slightly different name since most manufacturers build their firmware differently. If so, check the device support page for more specific details.

Once you complete the steps, you can proceed with the instructions to configure the feature.

Windows configuration

To enable WoL on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Status.
4. Under the "Advanced network settings" section, click the "Change adapter options" button.

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

6. Click the Networking tab.
7. Click the Configure button.

8. Click the Advanced tab.
9. Select the "Wake on Magic Packet" option.
10. Use the "Value" drop-down menu and select the Enabled option.

11. (Optional) Select the "Wake on pattern match" option.
12. Use the "Value" drop-down menu and select the Enabled option.
13. (Optional) Select the "WoL & Shutdown Link Speed" option.
14. Use the "Value" drop-down menu and select the 10Mbps option.

• Quick note: The optional settings may be required if you use a network adapter from Realtek.

15. Click the Power Management tab.
16. Check the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option.
17. Check the "Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer" option.

18. Click the OK button.

After completing the steps, you can send magic packets to wake the device.

If you don't want to use the feature, you can use the instructions outlined above to disable Wake on LAN, but on step 9, select the "Disabled" option. In addition to turning off the feature, you may also want to turn off the WoL feature inside the device firmware using your manufacturer's instructions.

How to wake up a computer remotely on Windows 10

Once the feature has been configured, you can turn on the computer in multiple ways. For example, you can use the WoL tool available on the router. You may be able to find scripts you can use with PowerShell. Or you can use third-party tools to send the magic packet to wake the device.

For this guide, I'll use the "WakeMeOnLan" tool from NirSoft to wake a device remotely. Although the app works as advertised, it's a third-party tool, and you should use it only at your own risk. You have been warned. Here's how:

1. Open the NirSoft download page.
2. Click the download link to save the app on your device.

3. Extract the contents from the .zip folder with File Explorer.
4. Open the folder with the extracted files.
5. Double-click the WakeMeOnLan.exe file to launch the standalone tool.
6. Click the Play (Start Scanning) button to discover all the devices in the network.

• Quick note: The remote device to wake up has to be turned on for the tool to find it. Once it is on the list, the device can use the WoL feature offline. You can also use the "Ctrl + N" keyboard shortcut to manually add the remote computer information (IP address, computer name, and MAC address).

5. Right-click the remote computer and select the "Wake Up Selected Computers" option.

8. Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, the tool will send the magic packet, which should turn on the device immediately if the network adapter is still operational, even when the computer is turned off.

Confirm IP and MAC address

If you use another tool, you may have to determine the IP and MAC address of the computer, which you can easily do from the Settings app. Here's how:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Status.
4. Under the "Network status" section, click the Properties button for the active connection.

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

Using Command Prompt, you can query the adapter addresses using the "ipconfig /all" command.

Once you complete the steps, you can use the addresses with the utility of your choice to wake up a remote computer.

How to troubleshoot Wake on LAN feature on Windows 10

If the device does not wake up with these instructions, you can perform a few things to troubleshoot the problem.

The system must support Wake on LAN at the firmware level. If the option is unavailable in the motherboard's BIOS, UEFI, or the network adapter (for example, USB to Ethernet adapter), you won't be able to use the feature.

If you use a USB to Ethernet adapter, WoL may only work when the computer is sleeping since powering off the device may also stop providing power to the USB port.

You may need to disable fast startup to allow the feature to work.

Turning on a device remotely only works if the network adapter is active and reachable. If you use an Ethernet connection, confirm the lights on the card are still blinking after the device is powered down.

On a laptop, you must ensure the device is connected to a power outlet. Otherwise, it won't work.

When using this feature, you may also encounter networking problems that prevent the device from waking up. If you suspect a networking issue, use the ping command to confirm the source can contact the target device. Also, it is a good idea to double-check that you are using the target computer's correct MAC and IP address. You can get this networking information using the "ipconfig" command (see the above link to learn more).

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know