To wake up Windows 10 from sleep, press any key on the keyboard, move or click the mouse, or press the power button briefly. On a laptop, opening the lid usually wakes it too. Your apps and files are right where you left them.
If the keyboard or mouse doesn’t work, allow it to wake the PC in Device Manager.
Applies to: Windows 10 desktops and laptops. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates still get security fixes, through October 12, 2027.
Ways to wake your PC
- Keyboard: press any key, such as the Spacebar.
- Mouse: move it or click a button.
- Power button: press it briefly. Don’t hold it down, or the PC turns off and you lose unsaved work.
- Laptop lid: open it.
If the screen stays black but the lights are on, wait a few seconds, then press a key again.
Let the keyboard or mouse wake the PC
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand Keyboards, right-click your keyboard, and select Properties.
- On the Power Management tab, check Allow this device to wake the computer, then select OK.
- Do the same under Mice and other pointing devices for your mouse.
If you don’t see a Power Management tab, the device can’t wake the PC. Plug a USB keyboard straight into the PC, not a hub, and try again.
Check which devices can wake your PC
Open Command Prompt and type powercfg /devicequery wake_armed. It lists every device allowed to wake your PC.
To see what woke it last time, type powercfg /lastwake.
If your PC won’t wake from sleep
- Press the power button once. If that doesn’t work, hold it for 10 seconds to turn the PC off, then turn it on. Unsaved work will be lost.
- Update your display and chipset drivers. A black screen after sleep is often a graphics driver problem.
- Stop USB ports from turning off. In Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers, open each USB Root Hub and clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Turn off fast startup if the problem started after a shutdown. The switch is covered in turning fast startup on or off.
- Use hibernate instead if sleep keeps failing. You may need to turn on hibernate in Windows 10 first.
Keep your PC from sleeping
If you’d rather it didn’t sleep at all, turn off sleep mode by changing Sleep to Never.
Frequently asked questions
Why won’t my PC wake with the mouse?
Mice are often not allowed to wake the PC by default. Turn on Allow this device to wake the computer for the mouse, or use the keyboard.
What’s the difference between sleep and hibernate?
Sleep keeps your work in memory for a quick return. Hibernate saves it to the drive and uses no power, so it’s slower to resume.
Can I wake my PC over the network?
Yes, once you set up Wake on LAN.
Why does my PC wake up on its own?
A device, a scheduled task, or Windows Update may wake it. Run powercfg /lastwake in Command Prompt to see what woke it last. To stop scheduled wake-ups, open Control Panel > Power Options, select Change plan settings, then Change advanced power settings, expand Sleep, and set Allow wake timers to Disable.
Can a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse wake the PC?
Sometimes. Many Bluetooth devices can’t wake a PC from sleep, because the Bluetooth radio powers down too. Use the power button, or a wired or USB-receiver keyboard if you need to wake it from the keyboard.
How long can a PC stay asleep?
As long as it has power. A laptop in sleep slowly drains its battery, and Windows can switch it to hibernate before the battery runs out, which keeps your work safe. Check the hibernate setting if you leave your laptop asleep for days.
Every powercfg switch is listed in Powercfg command-line options.
Related: adding a missing Sleep option and scheduling a shutdown in Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.