The fastest ways to wake your computer
To wake a sleeping computer, move your mouse, press any key on the keyboard, or press the power button. Most computers respond to mouse movement first—just wiggle it side to side or click once. If that does not work, tap the spacebar or any other key. The power button (a single press, not a hold) wakes the machine without shutting it down.
Which method works depends on your settings and what put the computer to sleep in the first place. A computer that went to sleep after idle time usually wakes from mouse or keyboard input. A computer you manually put to sleep with a keyboard shortcut or menu command also wakes the same way. If none of these work, your computer may be in a deeper sleep state called hibernation, which requires the power button.
Key Takeaways
- Moving the mouse or pressing any key wakes most sleeping computers within one to three seconds.
- The power button wakes a computer without turning it off, but holding it down will shut the machine down instead.
- If mouse and keyboard do not work, check your power settings to see which devices are allowed to wake the computer.
- Hibernation is a deeper sleep than regular sleep mode and may require the power button or a longer wait before the computer responds.
- Wireless mice and keyboards sometimes fail to wake a computer because they are not actively connected; a wired keyboard or the power button is more reliable.
Why your mouse or keyboard might not work
A wireless mouse or keyboard may not wake your computer because the connection goes dormant during sleep. The receiver stays powered, but the mouse or keyboard itself may not send a signal strong enough to trigger a wake command. Wired keyboards and mice have a direct connection and almost always work.
Your computer's power settings may also block certain devices from waking it. On Windows, you can check which devices have permission to wake the machine. On Mac, fewer devices can wake the computer, but you can still adjust which ones do. If you have disabled wake-on-keyboard or wake-on-mouse in your settings, you will need to use the power button instead.
Checking and changing wake settings on Windows
Open the Start menu and type "Device Manager" into the search box, then click the result. Look for "Keyboards" and expand that category by clicking the arrow next to it. Right-click your keyboard, select "Properties," and click the "Power Management" tab.
Check the box next to "Allow this device to wake the computer." Click "OK" and close Device Manager. Repeat the same steps for your mouse if you want it to wake the computer as well—look under "Mice and other pointing devices" instead.
If you do not see a "Power Management" tab, your keyboard or mouse does not support wake commands. In that case, the power button is your most reliable option. You can also check your computer's sleep settings by opening Settings, clicking "System," then "Power & sleep" on the left side. Look for "Sleep" and make sure it is set to a time that works for you, or set it to "Never" if you prefer to manually put the computer to sleep.
Checking and changing wake settings on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions). Click "General" on the left, then scroll down and click "Login Items & Extensions."
Look for a section called "Allow your Mac to be awakened by" or similar wording—the exact name varies by macOS version. You will see checkboxes for options like "Power Button," "Keyboard," or "Network Access." Check the boxes for the devices you want to use to wake your Mac. Close the window when you are done.
On Mac, the power button is almost always enabled as a wake method. If you want to wake your Mac from sleep using only the keyboard or mouse, you may need to check your specific macOS version's settings, as older Macs have fewer wake options than newer ones.
Understanding sleep versus hibernation
Sleep mode keeps your computer powered on but uses very little electricity. Your work stays in memory, and the computer wakes almost when ready when you move the mouse or press a key. Sleep is the default rest state for most computers.
Hibernation saves everything to your hard drive and powers off almost completely, using almost no electricity. It takes longer to wake from hibernation—usually 10 to 30 seconds—because the computer has to reload everything from storage. Windows offers hibernation as an option; Mac does not have a true hibernation mode, though it can enter a hybrid state on some models.
If your computer takes a long time to wake, it may be in hibernation rather than sleep. Check your power settings to see which mode is active. On Windows, you can disable hibernation if you prefer faster wake times, though it will use more power when the computer is at rest.
What to do if your computer will not wake at all
Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to force the computer to shut down completely. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button once to turn it back on. This is a hard shutdown and should be your last resort, as it can cause data loss if you have unsaved work.
If the computer still does not respond, check that the power cable is plugged in and the outlet is working. Try plugging a lamp or phone charger into the same outlet to confirm it has power. If the outlet works but the computer does not, the power supply may have failed and you may need professional service.
Before you force a shutdown, try waiting a full minute with the computer untouched. Some computers take longer to wake from deep sleep states, especially if they are older or have a lot of programs running. If it still does not respond after a minute, then force the shutdown.
Preventing unwanted sleep and waking
If your computer falls asleep too quickly, you can change the sleep timer. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & sleep and adjust the "Sleep" dropdown to a longer time or "Never." On Mac, click System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, scroll down to "Sleep," and choose your preferred timing.
If your computer wakes on its own at night, a device or network activity may be triggering it. On Windows, open Device Manager and check the "Power Management" tab for each keyboard and mouse to see if they are set to wake the computer. You can uncheck these boxes if the unwanted waking bothers you. On Mac, check the wake settings mentioned earlier and uncheck devices you do not want to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wake my computer remotely over the internet?
Yes, if you have set up Wake-on-LAN (WoL), a feature that lets you send a signal over your network to wake a sleeping computer. This requires your computer to support WoL, your router to be configured for it, and a third-party app or service to send the wake command. It is not a built-in feature on most home computers, so you will need to research your specific model and network setup.
Why does my keyboard wake the computer but my mouse does not?
Your mouse may not have wake permission enabled in Device Manager, or it may be a wireless mouse that loses connection during sleep. Check Device Manager on Windows and enable "Allow this device to wake the computer" for your mouse. If it is wireless, try using a wired mouse or keyboard instead, as they are more reliable for waking.
Is it bad to let my computer sleep instead of shutting it down?
No. Sleep mode uses very little power and lets you resume work when ready. Shutting down completely uses no power but takes longer to start back up. Most people use sleep for breaks during the day and shut down at the end of the day or when away for extended periods.
How long can a computer stay in sleep mode?
A computer can stay in sleep mode indefinitely without harm. It will wake normally whenever you move the mouse or press a key. The only downside is that it uses a small amount of electricity continuously, so if you will not use the computer for days or weeks, shutting it down completely saves more power.
What if my monitor does not turn on when I wake the computer?
The computer may be awake but the monitor is still in sleep mode. Move the mouse or press a key on the keyboard to wake the monitor. If the monitor still does not respond, press its power button to turn it on manually. Some monitors have a separate sleep timer from the computer, so they may need to be woken separately.