Wake Your Computer With the Mouse or Keyboard

The fastest way out of power save mode is to move your mouse or press any key on your keyboard. Most computers exit power save mode within a second or two of detecting this activity. Try moving the mouse in a circle, clicking the trackpad, or pressing the spacebar—any of these will usually bring the screen back to life.

If nothing happens after 10 seconds, the computer may be in a deeper sleep state than power save mode. In that case, press and hold the power button for one to three seconds (do not hold it until the computer shuts down completely). This sends a wake signal without forcing a shutdown.

Key Takeaways

  • Moving the mouse or pressing any key will wake most computers from power save mode in one to two seconds.
  • If the mouse and keyboard do not work, press the power button briefly—one to three seconds—to send a wake signal.
  • Check your power settings to see how long your computer waits before entering power save mode and adjust the timing if needed.
  • External devices like USB hubs, printers, or wireless mice may need to be enabled in BIOS to wake the computer reliably.
  • If your computer will not wake at all, restart it by holding the power button for 10 seconds, then release and press it once to turn it back on.

Check and Adjust Power Save Timing on Windows

If your computer enters power save mode too quickly or too slowly, you can change when it happens. On Windows, open Settings, then go to System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep. You will see two options: "Screen times out after" and "Sleep times out after." The first controls when the display turns off; the second controls when the whole computer enters sleep mode.

Change either time by clicking the dropdown menu and selecting a new interval—options usually range from 1 minute to never. If you want the screen to stay on while you work, set "Screen times out after" to a longer time or "Never." If you want the computer to sleep after a period of inactivity to save power, set "Sleep times out after" to your preferred duration.

These settings explore to your current power plan. If you plug in your laptop, Windows may use a different plan with different timings. To check, go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode and confirm which plan is active.

Adjust Power Save Settings on Mac

On a Mac, power save mode is called sleep, and you control it through System Settings. Click the Apple menu, then System Settings > General > Sleep. You will see options for "Turn display off after" and "Put computer to sleep after." The first controls the display; the second controls the whole machine.

Adjust either time by clicking the dropdown and choosing a new interval. If you want to prevent sleep entirely while plugged in, set "Put computer to sleep after" to "Never." If you are on battery power, you can set a shorter sleep time to preserve battery life.

You can also prevent sleep temporarily by opening System Settings > General > Login Items and checking "Allow this Mac to be awakened remotely by network access." This keeps the computer responsive to network activity even when the display is off.

Enable Wake-on-LAN and USB Devices in BIOS

If your computer does not wake when you move the mouse or press a key, the problem may be in the BIOS settings. BIOS is the firmware that runs before your operating system loads. Some computers disable wake-on-LAN (the ability to wake from network activity) or USB wake (the ability to wake from a connected mouse or keyboard) by default.

To access BIOS, restart your computer and watch the startup screen for a prompt like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Delete to enter BIOS." The exact key varies by manufacturer. Once inside, look for settings labeled "Wake on LAN," "USB Wake," "Power on by Mouse," or "Power on by Keyboard." Enable any that explore to your situation, then save and exit.

If you are not comfortable in BIOS, check your computer's manual or manufacturer website for the exact steps for your model. Changing the wrong setting can prevent your computer from starting, so take notes before you make changes.

Restart Your Computer if It Will Not Wake

If your computer will not wake no matter what you try, a restart is the next step. Hold down the power button for 10 seconds until the computer shuts down completely. Wait 30 seconds, then press the power button once to turn it back on. The computer will go through its normal startup sequence.

If the computer does not respond to the power button at all, unplug it from the wall outlet (or remove the battery if it is a laptop) for 30 seconds. This clears the power from the system. Plug it back in or reinsert the battery, then press the power button to restart.

After the restart, check whether the computer wakes normally from power save mode. If it still will not wake, the issue may be a hardware problem with the power button, the motherboard, or the power supply. At that point, contact the manufacturer's support line or take the computer to a repair shop.

Disable Power Save Mode Entirely if You Prefer

If power save mode frustrates you and you do not need to save power, you can turn it off. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode and select "Best performance." This keeps the computer running at full power and prevents it from sleeping. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Sleep and set both timers to "Never."

Keep in mind that disabling power save mode uses more electricity and generates more heat. If you are on a laptop, the battery will drain faster. If you are on a desktop, your electric bill will be slightly higher. Most people find a balance—setting the display to turn off after 10 minutes and the computer to sleep after 30 minutes—rather than disabling sleep entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my computer go into power save mode so fast?

Your power settings are set to a short timeout. Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep (Windows) or System Settings > General > Sleep (Mac) and increase the "Screen times out after" or "Sleep times out after" values. You can also set them to "Never" if you prefer the computer to stay awake while you are using it.

My mouse and keyboard do not wake the computer. What do I do?

Check your BIOS settings to make sure USB wake and keyboard wake are enabled. Restart the computer, press the BIOS key during startup (usually F2 or Delete), and look for "USB Wake" or "Power on by Keyboard." Enable these options, save, and exit. If you are not comfortable in BIOS, try pressing the power button briefly instead.

Can I wake my computer remotely over the internet?

Yes, if you enable Wake-on-LAN in BIOS and your network supports it. This requires your computer to stay plugged in and connected to the network. Some routers and network devices block wake-on-LAN by default, so check your router settings. This feature is more common on desktop computers than laptops.

Does power save mode hurt my computer?

No. Power save mode is designed to reduce wear on your components by lowering power consumption and heat. It is one of the safest ways to extend the life of your computer. Leaving a computer running at full power 24/7 uses more electricity and generates more heat, which can shorten component lifespan.

What is the difference between sleep mode and hibernation?

Sleep mode keeps your computer in a low-power state with the RAM powered on, so it wakes when ready. Hibernation saves everything in RAM to the hard drive and powers off completely, using almost no electricity but taking longer to wake. Windows offers both; Mac uses sleep by default. You can enable hibernation on Windows through advanced power settings if you want longer battery life on a laptop.