How to Wake Computer from Sleep with Keyboard Windows 11

How to Wake Computer from Sleep with Keyboard Windows 11 – Honestly, nothing feels worse than pressing a key on your keyboard, expecting your Windows 11 PC to wake up, yet nothing happens. So, at that moment, you sit there confused, wondering why your PC decided to ignore you. But, don’t worry, because I’ve been there too! So, let’s fix it together, and you’ll never have to deal with this again!

Understanding Sleep Mode in Windows 11

First, before fixing the issue, let’s understand why sleep mode exists in Windows 11. So, here’s what you need to know:

• Sleep mode, which is a power-saving state, allows your PC to start up quickly while using minimal power.
• Unlike hibernate, which fully saves your session to disk, sleep mode keeps everything active in RAM, making it much faster.
• Pressing a key should immediately wake your PC, but sometimes, things don’t go as expected. So, let’s fix that!

Step 1: Check If Your Keyboard Supports Wake Feature

At this point, before changing settings, let’s make sure your keyboard even supports wake-up functions. So, here’s what to check:

• Ensure the keyboard is properly plugged in, because a loose connection could cause issues.
• If using a wireless keyboard, check whether the batteries still have power, or replace them just to be sure.
• Try connecting your keyboard to a different USB port, since some ports don’t support wake functions.
• Test another keyboard, because sometimes, the issue isn’t Windows but the keyboard itself.

If none of these work, then it’s time to dig deeper.

Step 2: Enable Keyboard Wake-Up in Device Manager

Now, assuming the keyboard works fine, but your PC still refuses to wake up, let’s check the settings in Device Manager. So, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + X, then click Device Manager.
2. Expand Keyboards to see the connected devices.
3. Right-click your keyboard, and choose Properties.
4. Navigate to the Power Management tab.
5. Select “Allow this device to wake the computer”, then click OK.
6. Restart your PC and try waking it up with your keyboard again.

If the issue persists, let’s tweak power settings.

Step 3: Adjust Power Settings in Control Panel

So, at this point, Windows 11 might be putting your USB devices into low-power mode, which could be preventing wake-up. To fix this, let’s modify some settings:

1. Open Control Panel by pressing Win + R, typing control, then hitting Enter.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. Click Change Plan Settings for your active power plan.
4. Select Change Advanced Power Settings.
5. Expand USB Settings, then disable USB selective suspend.
6. Click Apply, then restart your PC.

Now, let’s check the BIOS settings if your keyboard still doesn’t work.

Step 4: Enable Wake-Up Feature in BIOS/UEFI

If none of the previous steps worked, then your BIOS/UEFI settings might be preventing your keyboard from waking up the PC. So, let’s change that:

1. Restart your computer, then enter BIOS/UEFI by pressing F2, F12, Del, or Esc (depending on your device manufacturer).
2. Find the Power Management Settings section.
3. Look for an option like Wake on Keyboard/USB, then enable it.
4. Save changes, exit BIOS, then restart your computer.

If this still doesn’t work, don’t worry, because we have more troubleshooting steps.

Step 5: Troubleshooting Keyboard Wake-Up Issues

So, if your keyboard still refuses to wake your PC, then try these additional steps:

• Test another USB port, because some ports don’t allow wake-up features.
• Update keyboard drivers by going to Device Manager > Keyboards, right-clicking your keyboard, then selecting Update driver.
• Disable Fast Startup, since this setting sometimes prevents wake-up functions:
  • Open Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power button does.
  • Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  • Uncheck Turn on fast startup, then save changes.
• Run Power Troubleshooter, which can be accessed by going to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Power.
• Try a different keyboard, because the issue might be with your current device.

If none of these steps work, alternative wake-up methods might be the solution.

Alternative Ways to Wake Up Windows 11

So, if waking your PC with the keyboard still doesn’t work, then consider these alternatives:

• Press the power button briefly, because that will instantly wake your system.
• Move the mouse, since some PCs allow wake-up through mouse movement.
• Enable Wake-on-LAN (WOL) if you need to wake up your PC remotely.

Best Practices for Power Management

To avoid future issues with sleep mode, here are some best practices:

• Create a custom power plan, so your PC behaves exactly as you need.
• Adjust sleep timer settings, so the system doesn’t enter sleep mode too quickly.
• Use hybrid sleep mode, which combines the benefits of sleep and hibernate.

Also Read: Use iPad as Second Monitor Windows 11 – Step-by-Step!

FAQs: How to Wake Computer from Sleep with Keyboard Windows 11

1. Why won’t my keyboard wake up my Windows 11 PC?

Since power settings can prevent wake-up functions, you should check Device Manager, BIOS, and Control Panel settings to ensure everything is enabled.

2. How do I enable my keyboard to wake my computer from sleep?

By going to Device Manager > Keyboards > Properties > Power Management, you can enable “Allow this device to wake the computer”.

3. Can wireless keyboards wake up Windows 11?

Yes, but some Bluetooth keyboards won’t work if Bluetooth gets disabled during sleep. So, using a USB wireless keyboard is a more reliable option.

4. Does Fast Startup affect wake-up from sleep?

Yes, Fast Startup can cause issues with sleep mode, so disabling it might help resolve the problem.

5. Should I update my BIOS to fix sleep mode issues?

If your motherboard manufacturer provides a BIOS update that improves power management, then updating might be a good idea.