Wake-on-LAN is an Ethernet or token ring computer networking standard that allows you to remotely turn on other computers, waking them by a network message. The messages used to wake the remote computer is usually sent from a device that is connected to the same local area network, such as a smartphone. Some people also use this technology to wake televisions that are connected to home entertainment systems.

The advantage of using wake-on-LAN is you can have access to files over a network without having to keep a computer powered on. This means you can expect your computer hardware to have a longer lifespan, as well as your electricity bills being cheaper. You might also benefit from not having to listen to the computer’s fan sound, which can be extremely annoying to anyone who is situated around a computer but isn’t benefiting from its use.

Out of all the electrical appliances around the home, the computer is one that is the least efficient to run, so you can expect to save substantial amounts of money. Additionally, if your computer is expensive, it’s best only to have it running when you’re using it, to help it last as long as possible.

The following tutorial demonstrates how to enable Wake-on-LAN when you’re using a version of the Windows 10 operating system.

Important: The guide below sets up your computer to use Wake-on-LAN but you’ll still need to install a program that can send the magic packet required to initiate the startup. TeamViewer is one of the best apps for connecting remotely that also includes support for Wake-on-LAN. This would be our application of choice for such cases, but there are others out there made by different brands that should work just the same. There is also a Wake-on-LAN app available directly from the Microsoft Store, free of charge, that can do it all for you as well.

How to Enable Wake-on-LAN in Windows 10

1. Open the Power User menu by pressing the Windows logo + X keys on your keyboard, and click on Device Manager.

2. Click on Network adapters to expand it, right-click on the Ethernet adapter for your computer, and then click on Properties from the menu.

Note: You can also double-click on the Ethernet network adapter and it opens the same dialog.

3. From the Power Management tab, check the following options from the window:

  • Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
  • Allow this device to wake the computer
  • Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer

If you notice your computer turning itself off unexpectedly in future, open up this same dialog and uncheck the option for allow the computer to turn off this device. This setting for Bluetooth is one of the most frustrating features to deal with in Windows 10. Many people come back to the computer only to find that Bluetooth is completely turned off and there is no way they can get it back. The problem for those cases is this same box is checked but for the Bluetooth adapter rather than wireless.

Note: If you don’t see the Power Management tab in the dialog, try looking for a Power tab instead.

That’s all.

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