The fastest way to wake your computer

A sleeping computer wakes with a single keystroke, mouse movement, or trackpad tap. If your computer is in sleep mode—the screen is dark but the power light is on—try pressing any key on the keyboard first. If that does not work, move your mouse or click the trackpad. On most computers, one of these three actions will bring the screen back in seconds.

If the screen stays dark after you try these, your computer may be fully powered off rather than asleep. Look at the power button: if the light is off or not visible, press the power button once to turn it on. Wait 10 to 15 seconds for the startup sequence to complete.

Key Takeaways

  • Sleep mode keeps your computer ready to wake when ready, using far less power than normal operation.
  • A keystroke, mouse movement, or trackpad tap will wake most computers from sleep in one or two seconds.
  • If nothing wakes the computer, check whether the power light is on; if it is off, the computer is shut down, not asleep.
  • You can change which devices wake your computer—keyboard and mouse by default, but also network activity or a scheduled time if you configure it.
  • A computer that will not wake even after pressing the power button may have a hardware problem and may need professional service.

Understanding sleep mode versus shutdown

Sleep mode and shutdown are different states, and they wake differently. In sleep mode, your computer uses a small amount of power to keep your work in memory and stay ready to wake. The screen turns off, the hard drive stops spinning, and the fans quiet down—but the computer is still powered on. When you wake it, you return to exactly where you left off in seconds.

Shutdown closes all programs, saves nothing to memory, and cuts power almost entirely. When you press the power button after a shutdown, the computer goes through a full startup sequence: loading the operating system, checking hardware, and opening drivers. This takes 30 seconds to several minutes depending on your computer and how many programs you have set to open at startup.

If your screen is dark and you are not sure which state your computer is in, look at the power button light. A light that is on, blinking, or glowing means the computer is asleep. No light at all means it is shut down.

What to do if your keyboard and mouse do not wake the computer

If a keystroke and mouse movement do not wake your computer, the first step is to check your hardware connections. Make sure your keyboard and mouse are plugged in (if they are wired) or have charged batteries (if they are wireless). A wireless keyboard or mouse with a dead battery will not send the signal needed to wake the computer.

If your devices are connected and powered, try pressing the power button on the computer itself. Press it once and wait 10 to 15 seconds. Do not hold it down—a single press should be enough. If the computer wakes, your keyboard or mouse may have a setting that prevents them from waking the system, and you can adjust that in your system settings.

If the power button does not work either, and the power light is on, your computer may be in a state called hibernation, which is deeper than sleep. Hibernation saves everything to the hard drive and uses almost no power. On Windows, you can wake from hibernation by pressing the power button. On Mac, try pressing any key or moving the mouse, then wait a full 30 seconds before trying the power button.

Changing which devices can wake your computer

By default, your keyboard and mouse are set to wake your computer from sleep. You can change this if you want other devices to wake it instead—for example, network activity, a scheduled time, or a USB device. The steps differ between Windows and Mac.

On Windows: Open Settings, go to System, then Power & sleep. Scroll down and click "Additional power settings." Find your current power plan and click "Change plan settings," then "Change advanced power settings." Look for "Wake timers" or "Allow wake timers" and set it to "Enable." You can also go to Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it), find your keyboard and mouse under "Keyboards" and "Mice and other pointing devices," right-click each one, select Properties, go to the Power Management tab, and check or uncheck "Allow this device to wake the computer."

On Mac: Open System Settings, go to General, then Shut Down. Under "Allow your Mac to be awakened by," you will see checkboxes for Power Button, Keyboard, and Mouse. Check the ones you want to use. You can also set a scheduled wake time here if you want your Mac to turn on at a specific time each day.

When your computer will not wake at all

If you have tried pressing keys, moving the mouse, and pressing the power button, and the screen remains dark with no response, your computer may have a hardware problem. Before you assume the worst, try these steps in order.

First, unplug the power cable from the back of the computer (or the power adapter if you have a laptop). Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears the power state and sometimes fixes a computer that is stuck. Press the power button and wait 15 seconds.

Second, if you have a laptop, try holding the power button down for 10 seconds, then release it. Wait another 10 seconds and press it once normally. Some laptops need a hard reset to wake from a stuck state.

If the computer still does not respond after these steps, and the power light does not turn on when you plug it in or press the power button, the power supply or motherboard may be damaged. At this point, contact the computer manufacturer's support line or take the computer to a repair shop. Do not try to open it yourself unless you have experience with computer hardware.

Why your computer goes to sleep and how to change it

Your computer enters sleep mode automatically after a set period of inactivity—usually 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your settings. Sleep mode saves electricity while keeping your work ready to resume. If you find your computer sleeping too often or not often enough, you can adjust the timeout.

On Windows: Open Settings, go to System, then Power & sleep. Under "Screen," set "Turn off after" to your preferred time. Under "Sleep," set "Put device to sleep after" to how long you want before sleep kicks in. You can also set different times for when your computer is plugged in versus running on battery.

On Mac: Open System Settings, go to General, then Shut Down. Under "Turn display off after," set your preferred time. Mac does not have a separate sleep timer the way Windows does; it sleeps when the display turns off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it bad to wake my computer from sleep all the time?

No. Waking from sleep is normal and does not harm your computer. Sleep mode is designed to be entered and exited many times per day. It is actually better for your hardware than leaving the computer running constantly, because it reduces heat and wear on the components.

Why does my computer sometimes not wake from sleep on the first try?

Some computers take a moment to respond after waking, especially if they are older or have many programs running. Try waiting two or three seconds after you press a key or move the mouse before trying again. If it consistently takes multiple attempts, a keyboard or mouse driver may need updating, or the device may be failing.

Can I wake my computer from another room?

Yes, if you enable "Wake on LAN" in your BIOS or UEFI settings and have the right software. This is an advanced feature and requires your computer to be plugged in and your network to support it. Most home users do not need this, but it is useful if you want to start a read or backup remotely. Check your computer manufacturer's support page for instructions specific to your model.

What is the difference between sleep and hibernation?

Sleep keeps your work in the computer's memory and uses a small amount of power. Hibernation saves everything to the hard drive and uses almost no power—useful if you will not use the computer for hours or days. Both wake the same way: press a key, move the mouse, or press the power button. Hibernation takes slightly longer to wake because it has to load from the hard drive.

My computer wakes up by itself at night. How do I stop it?

Check your power settings for scheduled wake times or wake timers. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings > Change advanced power settings and disable "Wake timers." On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Shut Down and uncheck "Allow your Mac to be awakened by." You can also disable wake-on-LAN in your BIOS if you do not use it. If it still wakes, a USB device or network activity may be triggering it; try unplugging USB devices one at a time to find the culprit.