Knowledge - Details


Windows PC Goes to Sleep 1-2 minutes after Wake On Lan signal sent
Date Added: 9/12/2022

Problem:
When you wake up a Windows PC using a WoL magic packet, the computer goes back to sleep automatically after 1 or 2 minutes.  There is a setting in Power Options that controls this ("System unattended sleep timeout"), but Microsoft completely hides it by default.

Reason:
Microsoft thinks the only reason people use WoL is for automated scripts that just install a quick update and then expect their computers to quickly go back to sleep.

Fix:
We can change the "System unattended sleep timeout" setting to disable that automatic sleep after WoL, so the computer will then remain on until you tell it to sleep or until the normal sleep settings take effect.  To make that setting visible:

Change the value of the "Attributes" key from 1 to 2 in the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20\7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0\Attributes

Changing that value back to 1 re-hides the power option.

After making the above registry tweak, open the Power Options control panel applet and find the "System unattended sleep timeout" setting in the "Sleep" section.



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Disclaimer: Everything on this website is written for my own use. I disclaim any guarantees that the procedures and advice listed here are accurate, safe, or beneficial for anyone else. If you attempt to follow any procedures or advice shared here, you do it at your own risk. Part of IT work is knowing how to recover from problems.