Have you ever needed an urgent file from your home or office computer only to find it completely shut down ? It's incredibly frustrating, especially if there's no one around to physically turn it on. Luckily, there's a technology called Wake on LAN (WoL) that lets us solve this problem without even leaving the couch.
Basically, this system allows a computer to wake up from sleep , hibernation, or even complete shutdown by sending a signal over the network. While it might sound like magic, it's a very useful technical standard for both home users and system administrators who manage dozens of machines and don't want to leave them running 24/7 to save energy and operating costs.
What exactly is Wake on LAN and how does it work?
Wake-on-LAN is a network protocol that allows you to power on a remote computer by sending a special message known as a Magic Packet . This packet consists of a data frame containing a string of bytes followed by the MAC address of the destination computer repeated 16 times. When the network card of the powered-off computer detects this packet, it sends an electrical signal to the motherboard to initiate the boot process.
For this to work, the computer cannot be completely disconnected from the power supply; the network card must continue to receive a minimal amount of power to "listen" to network traffic. This usually works without problems on local area networks (LANs), but if we want to turn on the PC from the internet, things get a bit more complicated because routers often block these transmissions for security reasons.
Fundamental technical requirements
- Supported hardware: Both the motherboard and the network interface card (NIC) must support Wake-on-LAN (WoL). Almost all modern hardware does, but it needs to be enabled.
- Constant feeding: The PC must be plugged into a power outlet. For laptops, it is highly recommended that they be connected to the charger.
- stable connection: The ideal is to use Ethernet wired connectionsAlthough some Wi-Fi cards support it, it is much less reliable and often only works in sleep mode.
Step-by-step configuration in the BIOS or UEFI
The first step is to access the computer's "brain." To access the BIOS/UEFI in Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings, Update & Security, Recovery, and select Restart now under Advanced startup . From there, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI firmware settings.
Once inside, look for the Power Management or Advanced Settings section. The names vary depending on the manufacturer; look for terms like "Wake on LAN," "Power On by LAN," "Allow PCI Wake Up Event," or "Wake by PCIe Device." Change the status from Disabled to Enabled , save the changes, and restart your computer.
Enabling in the Windows operating system
Now that the motherboard is ready, we need to tell Windows to allow remote power-on. First, open Device Manager and expand the Network adapters section. Right-click on your Ethernet card and select Properties.
On the Power Management tab , check the box next to "Allow this device to wake the computer ." To prevent your PC from turning on automatically due to any network noise, it's highly recommended to also check the "Allow only one Magic Packet" option . Then, go to the Advanced Options tab and make sure the "Wake on Magic Packet" property is set to Enabled.
An important detail for Windows users: in some cases, "Fast Startup" can interfere with Wake-on-LAN (WoL). If you find that your PC won't boot from a complete shutdown, try disabling this feature in the Power Options of the Control Panel to improve Windows performance.
Configure Wake on LAN in Linux
If you're an Ubuntu user or use another distribution, the process is different. First, you need to install the tool. ethtool using the command sudo apt-get install ethtoolTo check if your card supports the feature, run sudo ethtool eth0 (replacing eth0 with the name of your interface). If in the section "Supports Wake-on" the letter appears gThis means it is compatible with the Magic Pack.
To activate the functionality in the controller, simply run the command sudo ethtool -s eth0 wol gThis will leave the network card ready to receive the power signal.
How to turn on your PC from the Internet (Outside of the local network)
If you want to wake up your machine from another city, you have three main options. The most manual is to configure your router to forward ports , usually by opening UDP port 9 and pointing it to the computer's local IP address. However, this can be a security risk if not done carefully.
A more secure alternative is to first connect to the remote network via a VPN and, once inside, send the Magic Packet as if you were physically there. However, the simplest option nowadays is to use remote control software that already handles Wake-on-LAN (WoL) natively.
Recommended software for managing remote power-on
There are very powerful tools that simplify the entire process. Iperius Remote , for example, allows you to send the magic packet automatically. If you have another computer powered on the same network, it can act as a "bridge" to wake the others up. Similarly, TeamViewer and AnyDesk offer Wake-on-LAN (WoL) options; TeamViewer can use a public IP address or a device on the LAN, while AnyDesk requires another active client on the remote network to act as an intermediary.
On the other hand, Splashtop is a very robust business solution that allows you to wake Windows PCs and Macs (the latter generally only from sleep mode). From its web console or app, you simply select the computer that appears as offline and press the "Wake" button to start the machine, thus facilitating remote desktop connections.
For those who prefer simple mobile apps, there are free options on the Play Store or Microsoft Store such as Easy WOL or Wake on LAN (Magic Packet) . You'll only need to enter the MAC address and static IP address of the computer you want to turn on.
Having complete control of your hardware regardless of distance is possible thanks to a combination of proper BIOS configuration, adjustments to network properties in the operating system, and the use of remote management tools. Whether by using a bridge device in the office or opening specific ports on the router, the Wake-on-LAN protocol transforms the availability of your digital resources, allowing for a perfect balance between energy savings and immediate accessibility.
