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You can use a script to wake a computer by sending a Wake-on-LAN (WoL) magic packet to its wired network adapter. The script is the simple part: the computer must support WoL, its firmware and adapter must be configured to listen while asleep, and the packet must reach the correct network. Start with a test on the same local network; waking a machine over the internet also requires a router or always-on gateway configured for that network.
What Wake-on-LAN can—and cannot—do
WoL lets a compatible network adapter detect a specially constructed packet and signal the computer to wake. It does not let a sleeping computer run a script to wake itself, and the packet does not provide remote login or control. A sender on the local network, a router with a WoL feature, or an always-on gateway can send the packet on the target machine’s behalf.
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For the basic setup, the target needs WoL-capable firmware and a wired Ethernet adapter that remains able to detect the packet in the intended power state. The exact supported states and settings depend on the computer, adapter, driver, and operating system. Intel’s Remote Wake up Basics for Intel Ethernet Products and TP-Link’s WoL setup guide describe vendor-specific prerequisites.
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Check that the target can be woken
1. Find the firmware setting
In the computer’s BIOS or UEFI, look for a setting named “Wake on LAN,” “Wake on PME,” “Resume by PCI/PCIe,” or a similar power-management option. Names and behavior differ by manufacturer. Confirm in the computer or motherboard documentation that the setting applies to the network adapter and power state you intend to use.
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Adapter capability can also vary by model and port. For example, Intel documents that WoL is available only on port A on most of its multiport adapters and that its Ethernet 10-gigabit adapters do not support WoL. Those are Intel product-specific limits, not general rules for all network adapters.
2. Enable the adapter’s wake options
On Windows, open Device Manager, find the Ethernet adapter, and inspect its Properties. When the driver exposes them, check the Advanced and Power Management tabs for settings such as “Wake on Magic Packet,” “Shutdown Wake Up,” and “Allow this device to wake the computer.” Labels and available controls vary by driver and computer manufacturer. Intel notes that some controls may be unavailable on Modern Standby systems.
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Use Ethernet as the baseline. TP-Link’s stated prerequisites call for a wired adapter and a supported mainboard; wireless wake behavior is not established by these instructions, so check the specific computer and adapter documentation before relying on it.
3. Choose a supported power state
Test from sleep first. Do not assume that a machine which wakes from sleep will also wake from hibernate or a full shutdown. Microsoft’s Windows Ethernet documentation describes WoL from Sleep (S3) or Hibernate (S4), and says wake from Hybrid Shutdown (S4) or Classic Shutdown (S5) is unsupported in the Windows behavior it documents. Because the page uses S4 in describing both hibernate and Hybrid Shutdown, check the current documentation for the exact Windows version and device rather than applying those labels universally.
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Send a magic packet on the local network
Record the correct MAC address
A magic packet identifies the target network adapter by its MAC address. Record the address for the Ethernet adapter connected to the network, not an unrelated Wi-Fi adapter or a different Ethernet port. If the machine has multiple adapters, label the address with the computer and port so the sender targets the intended interface.
Choose where the sender runs
The sender can be another computer on the same LAN, a router with a WoL tool, or an always-on gateway inside the target network. The packet must reach the target LAN and be addressed to the right adapter. A script cannot make an unreachable sleeping machine’s own network stack forward a request.
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For example, MikroTik RouterOS provides /tool wol, which sends a UDP magic packet to a broadcast address using the target MAC and an interface. This is RouterOS-specific syntax, not a portable command for Windows, macOS, Linux, or other routers. Use the sender’s own documentation for its command or interface; the packet-sending method depends on that environment and the LAN layout.
Test before adding remote access
- Put the target in a known supported low-power state, starting with sleep.
- From a sender on the same local network, send a WoL packet for the target’s wired-adapter MAC address.
- Confirm that the target wakes. If it does not, work through the checks below before changing router settings.
- Once local waking works, decide whether you actually need access from outside the LAN.
Wake a computer from outside your network
A packet sent from the public internet does not automatically reach a sleeping machine behind a router. The router or an always-on device inside the target LAN must provide a documented path to originate or relay the wake packet. Options include the router’s own WoL feature, an always-on gateway, or a router-specific forwarding configuration.
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Router setup is model-specific. TP-Link’s guide describes one vendor example involving firmware and adapter configuration, binding the target’s IP and MAC address, reserving its address, and configuring port forwarding. It also suggests DDNS for a changing WAN address. Do not copy those steps to a different router unless its own documentation supports the same method.
WoL is a wake mechanism, not an authenticated remote-control service. MikroTik says its documented RouterOS WoL tool does not support secure WoL. Do not treat exposed packet forwarding as secure by default; follow current guidance from your router or network vendor, and consider using a trusted VPN or an on-network gateway for remote administration.
Quick Recap
Troubleshoot in this order
- Verify the power state. Test sleep before hibernate or shutdown. Operating-system and device support differ; Microsoft’s Windows Ethernet guidance documents specific state limitations for Windows.
- Check firmware configuration. Confirm that WoL, PME, or the relevant PCI/PCIe wake option is enabled, and check whether a power-saving setting removes standby power from the adapter.
- Check adapter permissions and driver options. Verify magic-packet and wake permissions where the driver provides them. Modern Standby can change which controls are available.
- Confirm the adapter and physical port. Use the MAC address for the connected Ethernet adapter and check the specific model’s WoL capability; multiport behavior can differ.
- Check the packet’s network path. Ensure the sender can deliver to the target LAN and is using the correct MAC. Intel’s Killer guidance warns that subnet separation or more than one router between devices can prevent WoL in the situations it describes.
- Investigate the router only after local testing. If local WoL succeeds but remote WoL fails, focus on the router or gateway’s supported relay or wake method. Vendor instructions are not interchangeable.
What determines the right implementation
| Choice | What it means | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Sender location | Same-LAN computer, router WoL feature, or always-on gateway | The sender must be able to deliver the packet to the target LAN. |
| Network boundary | Local subnet or a remote network that must reach the home LAN | Remote waking needs a documented router or gateway path. |
| Target power state | Sleep, hibernate, or shutdown | Support depends on the exact operating system, hardware, and adapter configuration. |
| Security setup | Local packet sending, router forwarding, or VPN/gateway access | WoL itself is not authenticated remote control; assess the network exposure separately. |
| Hardware compatibility | Firmware, wired NIC, physical port, driver, and standby power | Confirm the particular machine and adapter support the intended wake state. |
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