Enabling Wake-on-LAN requires turning it on in the BIOS/UEFI, the network adapter settings, and then sending a magic packet to the target machine’s MAC address.
A computer sitting right next to you might as well be in another room if you have to walk over and hit the power button to access its files. Wake-on-LAN (WoL) fixes this by letting a network signal—called a magic packet—turn on a sleeping or powered-off PC, as long as it’s plugged into Ethernet and configured correctly. How to enable Wake-on-LAN isn’t complicated once you know the three layers you have to set up: the firmware, the operating system, and the sending device.
What You Need Before Enabling Wake-on-LAN
WoL relies on specific hardware and conditions. Without these prerequisites, no software setting will work:
- A wired Ethernet connection. Most Wi-Fi adapters don’t reliably support WoL.
- A motherboard and network interface card (NIC) that support Wake-on-LAN. Nearly all modern desktop boards include it.
- The target computer must stay connected to AC power. WoL will not wake a system running on battery.
- The sending device must be on the same local subnet, or correctly configured to route the magic packet across VLANs.
Step 1 — Enable Wake-on-LAN in the BIOS or UEFI
The firmware is the first gate. If WoL is disabled at the hardware level, no operating system setting can override it. Reboot the target machine and enter the firmware setup. The key is usually Del, F2, F12, or Esc.
Navigate to one of these sections (exact labels vary by manufacturer):
- Power Management
- Advanced
- System Management
- Boot
Find one of these settings and set it to Enabled:
- Wake on LAN
- Resume on LAN
- Power on by PCI device
- Power on by PME
Save your changes and exit. The machine will reboot.
Step 2 — Configure the Network Adapter in Your Operating System
Windows 10 / 11:
Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters. Right-click the target Ethernet controller (not the Wi-Fi adapter) and select Properties. Go to the Power Management tab and check Allow this device to wake the computer. Also check Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer—this prevents random network chatter from waking the machine. Then open the Advanced tab, select Wake on Magic Packet, and set its value to Enabled. Click OK and reboot.
macOS:
Open System Settings. Click Energy Saver (desktop) or Battery (laptop). Enable Wake for network access.
Linux (using ethtool):
Check current support with sudo ethtool eth0. Look for the Supports Wake-on line—if the list includes g (magic packet), enable it with sudo ethtool -s eth0 wol g. This change is temporary. To make it permanent, add the command to a systemd service or your network manager’s startup script. For systemd-networkd, add WakeOnLan=magic to the .link file for the interface.
Where To Configure Wake-on-LAN
| Configuration Layer | Typical Location | Key Setting |
|---|---|---|
| BIOS / UEFI | Power Management or Advanced menus | Wake on LAN / Power on by PCI / PME |
| Windows 10 / 11 | Device Manager → NIC Properties → Power Management | Allow wake + Only magic packet |
| Windows 10 / 11 | Device Manager → NIC Properties → Advanced | Wake on Magic Packet (Enabled) |
| macOS | System Settings → Energy Saver / Battery | Wake for network access |
| Linux | Terminal (ethtool) | wol g |
| Sending Device | Router GUI / WoL app / Script | Target MAC address |
| Hardware Requirement | Motherboard + NIC + Power Cord | Wired Ethernet, AC Power |
Step 3 — Send the Magic Packet
The magic packet requires the target machine’s MAC address. On Windows, open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /all, then look for the Physical Address of the Ethernet adapter.
From another device on the same local network, send the magic packet:
- From a router: Many router admin interfaces include a WoL tool. Enter the MAC address and a description, then click Wake.
- From a smartphone: Install a free WoL app on Android or iOS. Enter the MAC and broadcast IP (usually
255.255.255.255). - From another PC: Use a tool like
wakeonlanin PowerShell or a lightweight third-party utility.
The target machine should power on within seconds if the packet reaches it.
Wake-on-LAN Isn’t Working? Common Fixes
WoL is notorious for failing because of one overlooked setting. Run through these checks if the machine doesn’t respond. For a deep dive into specific hardware conflicts, Dell’s Wake-on-LAN troubleshooting guide covers BIOS and driver edge cases.
Wake-on-LAN Troubleshooting
| Problem | Most Likely Fix |
|---|---|
| PC won’t wake from shutdown | Disable Fast Startup in Windows Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do. |
| Adapter settings disappear after reboot | Disable Energy-Efficient Ethernet in the NIC’s Advanced properties. |
| PC wakes randomly throughout the day | Make sure Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer is checked. |
| WoL options missing from Device Manager | You are likely looking at the Wi-Fi adapter. Select the Ethernet controller instead. |
| WoL works after sleep but not full shutdown | Check the BIOS for an ErP Ready or EuP Ready setting and disable it. These cut standby power to the NIC. |
| Packet is sent but nothing happens | Verify the MAC address is entered correctly (colons vs dashes, no spaces). Use the MAC from ipconfig /all. |
Your Wake-on-LAN Setup Checklist
Confirm the hardware supports WoL (wired Ethernet, AC power). Enable WoL in the BIOS/UEFI firmware. Enable the correct settings on the network adapter in the operating system. Find the target machine’s MAC address. Send a magic packet from a device on the same local network. Once these five steps are complete, accessing a powered-down PC remotely requires only a single command or tap.
References & Sources
- Dell. “Wake-on-LAN (WOL) Troubleshooting and Best Practices.” Covers hardware and OS settings.
- SuperOps. “What is Wake-on-LAN.” Overview and step-by-step.
- Arch Linux Wiki. “Wake-on-LAN.” Details on firmware ErP issues and Linux setup.
- Microsoft. “Wake-on-LAN (WoL).” Windows-specific configuration advice.