How Do I Let a Device Wake My Computer in Windows 11?

Why This Matters

Some devices can automatically wake your computer when it’s in sleep mode, but only if they’re set up to do so.

You can use the powercfg.exe tool to manage power plans. This tool manages how your computer uses power and decides which devices can wake it up.

Important: You must be signed in as an administrator to change these settings.

Option 1Using Device Manager

You can let a device wake your computer in Windows 11 using Device Manager by changing its power settings.

1. Open Device Manager by typing devmgmt.msc in your 🔍 search bar and pressing Enter.
2. Find and expand the device category your device is listed under. For example, expand “Network adapters” if you’re looking for a network device.
3. Double-click the device you want to enable or disable for waking your computer.
4. Click the Power Management tab.
5. Check the box next to “Allow this device to wake the computer” to enable it . Uncheck the box to disable it .
6. Click OK to save your changes.
7. Close Device Manager when finished.

Option 2Enable a Device Using Command Line

You can turn on a device’s ability to wake your computer in Windows 11 using command-line instructions with administrator privileges.

What this does: This method lets you turn on a device’s ability to wake your computer using command-line instructions.

1. Open Windows Terminal as Administrator. Search for “Terminal” and right-click it, then select “Run as administrator.”
2. Select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt from the dropdown menu.
3. Copy and paste this command, then press Enter to see all devices that can be set to wake your computer:
   
   powercfg -devicequery wake_programmable
4. Find and write down the exact name of the device you want to enable.
5. Type this command and press Enter. Replace “Device name” with the actual device name from step 4:
   
   powercfg -deviceenablewake "Device name"
   

   Example: powercfg -deviceenablewake "Intel(R) Ethernet Connection (7) I219-V"
6. Close Windows Terminal when finished.

Option 3Disable a Device Using Command Line

This command-line method lets you turn off a specific device’s ability to wake your computer in Windows 11, requiring administrator access.

What this does: This method turns off a device’s ability to wake your computer, based on the device you choose.

1. Open Windows Terminal as Administrator.
2. Select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
3. Copy and paste this command, then press Enter to see all devices currently set to wake your computer:
   
   powercfg -devicequery wake_armed
4. Write down the exact name of the device you want to disable.
5. Type this command and press Enter. Replace “Device name” with the actual device name from step 4:
   
   powercfg -devicedisablewake "Device name"
   

   Example: powercfg -devicedisablewake "Intel(R) Ethernet Connection (7) I219-V"

6. Close Windows Terminal when finished.

Summary

You can control which devices wake your computer from sleep in Windows 11 using Device Manager or command-line tools.