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How to Fix Won’t Wake Up from Sleep Error in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Solutions

Many Windows 11 users face the frustrating issue where their computer won’t wake up from sleep mode. This problem interrupts your workflow and can be confusing to fix. Fortunately, there are several straightforward solutions to get your PC waking up properly again.

Sleep mode is designed to save energy while keeping your session ready to resume quickly. When your PC doesn’t wake up, it usually means something is stopping the hardware or software from responding correctly.

In this guide, we will walk through simple, easy-to-follow steps to troubleshoot and fix the “Won’t Wake Up from Sleep” error on Windows 11. No advanced knowledge is needed.

By the end, you should have a clear path to resolving this common sleep mode issue and restoring your PC’s normal behavior.

Quick Note Before You Begin

Before diving into fixes, make sure to check a few basic things:

  • Ensure your keyboard and mouse are connected properly. Sometimes the PC won’t wake because it doesn’t detect input devices.
  • Try pressing different keys or clicking the mouse. Occasionally, some keys don’t trigger wake-up.
  • Check if your PC is actually in sleep mode. Sometimes it might be shut down or hibernating instead.
  • Make sure your PC’s battery is charged or it’s plugged in. Low power can prevent waking from sleep.

Step 1: Wake Your PC Using Keyboard or Mouse Settings

Windows can be set to allow or prevent certain devices from waking the system. Ensuring your keyboard or mouse can wake the PC is the simplest first step.

  1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Keyboards section.
  3. Right-click your keyboard device and select Properties.
  4. Go to the Power Management tab.
  5. Make sure the box Allow this device to wake the computer is checked.
  6. Repeat these steps for your mouse under the Mice and other pointing devices section.

Why? If these settings are disabled, your PC won’t respond to keyboard or mouse activity when sleeping.

Step 2: Adjust Power Settings to Enable Wake Timers

Sometimes power plans in Windows disable wake timers, which can prevent the PC from waking properly.

  1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
  2. Go to System > Power & battery.
  3. Click Additional power settings under Related settings.
  4. Next to your selected power plan, click Change plan settings.
  5. Click Change advanced power settings.
  6. In the new window, expand Sleep > Allow wake timers.
  7. Set it to Enable for both On battery and Plugged in.
  8. Click Apply and then OK.

Why? Wake timers allow certain events or apps to wake your PC. Disabling them can block wake-up signals.

Step 3: Update or Roll Back Display and Network Drivers

Outdated or faulty drivers, especially for display adapters and network cards, can cause sleep and wake issues.

  1. Open Device Manager again (Windows + X > Device Manager).
  2. Under Display adapters, right-click your graphics driver and select Update driver.
  3. Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the prompts.
  4. Do the same under Network adapters for your network devices.
  5. If the problem started after a recent driver update, you can try Roll back driver instead of updating.

Why? Updated drivers fix bugs and improve hardware compatibility, which helps resolve sleep issues.

Step 4: Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup can interfere with the wake process by not fully shutting down your PC, causing sleep mode glitches.

  1. Open Control Panel (search in Start menu).
  2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
  3. Click Choose what the power buttons do.
  4. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  5. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
  6. Click Save changes and restart your PC.

Why? Disabling fast startup forces a full shutdown, which can clear problems affecting sleep and wake.

Step 5: Run Power Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and fix power-related issues automatically.

  1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
  2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
  3. Find Power and click Run.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows identify and attempt fixes.

Why? The troubleshooter can find common misconfigurations without needing manual intervention.

Step 6: Check and Change BIOS/UEFI Settings

If the above steps don’t help, the problem might be at the firmware level.

  1. Restart your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the required key (often Delete, F2, or F10) during boot.
  2. Look for settings related to Sleep Mode, Wake on LAN, or Power Management.
  3. Ensure sleep states like S3 are enabled.
  4. Save and exit BIOS.

Why? BIOS/UEFI controls hardware power features. Incorrect settings here can stop wake events.

Alternative Method: Use Command Prompt to Check Wake Sources

You can find out what devices are allowed to wake your PC and which device last woke it.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator (search “cmd,” then right-click and choose Run as administrator).
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    3. powercfg -devicequery wake_armed
  3. This shows devices currently allowed to wake your PC.
  4. To see what last woke your PC, type:
    5. powercfg -lastwake

You can disable wake permission for devices causing issues by using:

powercfg -devicedisablewake "Device Name"

Replace Device Name with the exact name from the list.

FAQs

Why won’t my Windows 11 PC wake up from sleep?

Common causes include disabled wake permissions on input devices, outdated drivers, power settings blocking wake timers, or BIOS settings preventing wake signals.

Can a faulty driver cause sleep mode problems?

Yes. Graphics and network drivers are often responsible because they manage hardware states related to power and wake functions.

Is it safe to disable Fast Startup?

Yes, disabling Fast Startup can solve sleep-related issues without major drawbacks. It may slightly increase boot time but improves stability.

What if my PC wakes up immediately after going to sleep?

This could be caused by scheduled tasks or connected devices. Running the power troubleshooter and checking wake timers can help identify the cause.

How do I know if my device can wake the PC?

Use the powercfg -devicequery wake_armed command in Command Prompt to list devices allowed to wake the computer.

When Nothing Works

If none of the above solutions fix the problem, consider these final options:

  • Perform a System Restore: Roll back your PC to a previous state before the issue began.
  • Update Windows: Check for the latest updates as Microsoft often releases fixes for power management bugs.
  • Contact Microsoft Support: Visit the official Microsoft Support site for expert help.
  • Reset or Reinstall Windows: As a last resort, resetting Windows can resolve deep system issues but should be done carefully with backups.

Conclusion

Waking a Windows 11 PC from sleep is usually a matter of adjusting simple settings or updating drivers. Start with checking device permissions and power options, then move on to driver updates and BIOS settings if needed.

Using the built-in troubleshooter and command-line tools can provide useful insights into wake problems. Disabling Fast Startup often solves many sleep issues as well.

Remember to proceed step-by-step, testing after each change to see if the problem is fixed. With patience and these easy fixes, your PC should wake from sleep smoothly again.

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