Wake-on-LAN is a networking standard that allows network devices to be woken up by a signal from another computer on a Local Area Network (LAN). This is particularly useful for computers that have no power switch. For example, a computer that stays on all the time can be powered down by sending it a Wake on Lan signal.
How does Wake-on-LAN work?
Your network adapter has two modes: Active and Sleep. Active mode is when your network adapter is actively communicating with the rest of your network.
Sleep mode is when your network adapter has been instructed by its operating system (whether it’s Windows Linux or some other OS) to stop its communication with the rest of your network. It will continue to respond to pings, but otherwise will “go to sleep” until someone tells it to wake up again.
The WoL service is disabled by default in most versions of Windows, but the steps for enabling it depend on the version you are using. In this article, we will show you how to enable and configure WoL in Windows 11.
How to enable Wake-on-Lan in Windows 11
If your PC has a wired Ethernet connection, you can use Wake-on-LAN (WOL) to turn it on from another computer. This is useful if you have a PC or network-attached storage device that doesn’t have a power switch, or if it’s in a location that’s inconvenient for you to access.
Here’s how to set up Wake-On-Lan in Windows 11:
- To enable Wake-on-LAN, you must first access your computer’s BIOS. To enter the BIOS, you need to press a key (generally the F10, F2, Del, or Esc keys) as soon as your computer boots up.
- Then, navigate to the BIOS’s Advanced or Power Management tab. After enabling Wake on LAN, save the BIOS configuration and restart your computer.
- Once your device is on, press the Windows key + X key simultaneously and select the Device Manager.
- After following the steps above, find your Ethernet controller from the list of Network Adapters and select the Properties option to the right.
- Next, navigate to the Power Management tab and enable all options. Be sure to select Allow this device to wake the computer and Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer.
- Next, move to the Advanced tab and scroll down to the Property window. Here, look for the Wake-on-Magic Packet option and enable it from the Value drop-down menu. Finally, click OK to save your changes.
- Finally, restart your PC and you’re done. You have enabled Wake on LAN on your Windows 11 computer. You can now install the WolOn Android app on your smartphone to remotely power up your PC. The app also has Unattended Access support for Wake on Lan on your Windows 11 computer.
Remote Access
Wake-on-Lan may be useful in situations where you want your computer to automatically start-up without any user interaction. For example, it can be used for overnight backup: automatically wake your PC and run backup software.
So, this is how a PC can be woken from sleep mode remotely and those are some good tips to keep in mind. Wake-on-Lan should now be activated on your Windows 11 machine but if for some reason the problem remains then restart your router and your PC, disable and enable the device.
If you faced any problems with Wake-on-Lan or have any queries or suggestions related to this topic then leave a comment below. Also, for more such informative posts stay tuned to our site.
