What Is Wake on LAN and How to Enable Wake on LAN in Windows 10

Say you want your computer to be up and running by the time you get to your home office after brewing coffee in the kitchen. With an app on your mobile device, you can fire up your computer with a tap of a button, so it is ready when you arrive.

Your computer isn't the only thing that can wake it up. If you don't mind setting things up in a slightly more complicated fashion, you can also use this method from another computer, a Mac, or even a smart speaker. Network administrators have been using Wake-on-LAN (WoL) technology for years to turn on computers remotely over a network without ever touching them. It's useful in an office setting, but it's also great for, say, turning on your living room PC from your bedroom. Let's take a look at how to do it.

"Wake on LAN" (WoL) is a network technology that enables a computer to be remotely powered on from a low-power or off state. Its full name is either "Wake-on-LAN" or simply "WOL." This technology works by sending a specific data packet, commonly referred to as a "magic packet," to the target computer's network interface over the network. The magic packet contains the MAC address of the target computer for identification purposes. When the computer receives this magic packet, it wakes up from its power-saving mode and boots up. This feature is particularly useful when remote management and maintenance of a computer are required.

Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a protocol that allows a computer to be remotely awakened from a low-power state. "Low-power mode" means the computer is "off," but still connected to power. The protocol also supports Wake-on-Wireless-LAN.

With Wake-on-LAN (WOL), a network administrator can power on or wake up a computer from a low-power state from another location. Instead of visiting each machine on a network, a tech can remotely wake a computer and perform necessary repairs, saving time. Wake-on-LAN enables a server with network management software to send a wake-up frame or packet to client systems.

"Wake-on-LAN" (WoL) is a network technology that allows you to power on a computer remotely. To enable WoL, the following requirements must be met: 1. **Hardware Support**: Your computer's motherboard, network card, and power supply must support Wake-on-LAN functionality. Most modern motherboards and network cards have this feature built-in. Ensure that WoL is enabled in your device's BIOS settings. 2. **Network Configuration**: - The computer must be connected to a network, either through a wired Ethernet connection or a wireless network that supports WoL. - The network must remain powered on. If using a switch or router, ensure they support and have WoL enabled, and can provide power even when the computer is off. 3. **Special Settings**: - In your computer's BIOS or UEFI settings, locate and enable "Wake on Magic Packet" or a similar option. This allows the computer to wake up when it receives a specific data packet called a "magic packet." - If using a wireless network, you may also need to enable "Wake on Wireless LAN" or a similar option. 4. **Magic Packet Generator**: You will need a tool that generates and sends magic packets. This is typically a software application available online, which creates a special data packet containing the target computer's MAC address. 5. **Target Computer's MAC Address**: You need to know the physical (MAC) address of the target computer's network adapter. This information can be found in the computer's network settings or obtained through network management software. 6. **Sending Device**: Any device capable of running the magic packet generator can be used to remotely wake your computer, such as another computer, smartphone, or tablet. Once these conditions are met, you can send the magic packet from a remote location to wake your computer. Note that WoL functionality may vary depending on hardware and network configurations, so specific settings might require adjustments based on your setup.

To use Wake-on-LAN, make sure that:

• The machine's network adapter and BIOS must respond to wake packets. You should configure both the network adapter and BIOS for Wake-on-LAN.

• The adapter must support Magic Packet. Configure the network adapter on the remote computer to get the information.

• Older motherboards require a three-wire cable connection from the WAKEUP-LINK connector to the network adapter. Systems that support PCI 2.2 generally do not need a Wake-on-LAN cable if they use a PCI 2.2-compliant network adapter, because the required standby power is carried over the PCI bus. In addition, PCI 2.2 supports PME (Power Management Events). Without a Wake-on-LAN connection, a PCI adapter sends and receives PME signals through its PCI slot.

· The system must use an ATX power supply that meets the ATX 2.01 specification.

• To wake the computer remotely, it must be turned off. After turning off the computer, do not disconnect the AC adapter. If a power failure turns off the computer, you cannot wake it remotely. You must change the network adapter settings to wake the computer from Sleep or Hybrid Sleep. For more information, see Configure the network adapter on the remote computer.

How to Enable Wake-on-LAN in Windows 10

Please follow these steps to enable Wake on LAN on Windows 10:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Click on “Network & Internet.”

Step 3: Select Status from the menu.

Step 4: Under "Advanced network settings," click the "Change adapter options" link.

Step 5: Right-click the current network adapter, and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

Step 6: To access the networking features, select the appropriate tab.

Step 7: Click on the “Settings” tab.

Step 8: Choose the Advanced item.

Step 9: You need to select Wake on Magic Packet.

Step 10: In the Value dropdown, select Enabled.

Step 11: You can choose to enable Wake on Pattern Match.

Step 12: From the Value menu, choose Enable.

Step 13: Optional Wake-on-LAN and shutdown speed settings.

Step 14: From the Value drop-down, choose 10 Mbps.

Note: If you have a Realtek network card, you might need to tweak the secondary settings.

Step 15: The Power Management item must be selected.

Step 16: Check the box for Allow this device to wake the computer

Step 17: Check the box that reads, “Allow this device to wake the computer,” only if you want it to respond to Magic Packets.

Step 18: Click OK to proceed.

When complete, your device will be ready to receive remote magic packets from external programs.

If you don't want to use Wake-on-LAN, you can disable it by following the same steps and choosing "Disabled" in step 9. You can also disable the WoL feature in the firmware of your device according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Conclusions

When a network adapter detects a Wake-on-LAN (WOL) event, the computer is roused from a low-power state. This typically happens when an Ethernet packet, formatted in a specific way, triggers such an event. Windows 7 and 10 have different default responses to WOL events. You can learn more about this and how to make it work in this article.