What to Do if Your PC Won’t Go to Sleep or Wake Up

Switching your PC to sleep mode can be incredibly beneficial when you’re stepping away for a little while. When you return, everything is just like you left it, and you can continue to use it without going through the process of starting it up again.

Sleep mode also allows you to save on electricity and battery power. However, if your PC suddenly won’t go into sleep mode, there is a problem. Too much coffee perhaps? You may also have issues with the wake up cycle. Maybe it’s not enough coffee?

Although PCs can’t drink coffee, they too can have functional problems when they don’t get what they need. Both sleep and wake cycle problems can include nonupdated drivers, incorrect Windows settings, sources of interference (not frequency related but elements such as vibrations), etc.

Overall, there could be several reasons for the sleep issue, and there are several solutions to try depending on the reason. In most cases, it is easy to fix. Grab your thinking coffee and let’s get started.

Temporarily Turn Off The PC Mouse to Allow Sleep Mode

If you’re having trouble getting your PC into sleep mode, the problem may stem from a super-sensitive mouse.

You may not even realize that your mouse absorbs even the smallest of vibrations from your surroundings, and that action simply doesn’t allow your PC to go into sleep mode. Sometimes, the computer does sleep but gets woken by that slight mouse movement when someone walks by or something causes vibration to the surface it lies on. The good news is that there is an easy fix.

1. If you’re using Windows 10 or 8, press the “ (Windows key) + X,” then select “Device Manager.” If you’re using Windows 7 or XP, press the “ (Windows key),” then click “Control Panel,” followed by “Hardware and Sound.” Then, select “Device Manager.”
   
2. Now, click on “Mouse and other pointing devices.”
   
3. Right-click over the “PS/2 Compatible Device” item and select “Properties.”
   
4. Switch to the “Power Management” tab.
   
5. Uncheck the “Allow this device to wake up computer” box, then click on “OK.” to save. It is now safe to close Device Manager.
   

Now, your mouse won’t react when there are small vibrations around the PC. Do keep in mind, however, that it will also prevent you from using the mouse to wake the computer up.

Confirm that Windows Sleep Mode is Enabled

If the issue persists, and you’re sure that your mouse is not the culprit, then your PC might not have the sleep mode feature enabled in the first place.

The default settings might not allow your computer to enter sleep mode. Alternatively, someone who may have used the computer wanted to ensure the computer never went into sleep mode. You need to go into your computer’s power settings to fix this issue.

If you’re using Windows 10 and 8, here’s what to do:

1. Go to “Start” and click on “Settings,” the select “System.”
   
2. Click on “Power & Sleep,” then scroll and choose “Additional power settings.”
   
3. Now, click on “Change plan settings” in the next window.
   
4. Next, select “Change advanced power settings.”
   
5. Now, the “Power Options” screen will pop up. You can expand each feature and customize the power settings. You can also enable or disable hibernation and allow wake timers by manually adjusting settings.
   
6. As a shortcut, you can select “Restore plan defaults.” This should automatically revert your PC to the standard settings that will enable sleep mode.
   

If you’re using Windows 7 and XP, you can do the following:

1. Tap on “ (Windows key),” then select “Control Panel.”
2. Choose “System and Security” then select “Power Options.”
3. Now,click on “Change when the computer sleeps” followed by “Change advanced power settings.”
4. Next, select “Change advanced power settings.”
   
5. Uncheck the “Allow this device to wake up computer” box, then click on “OK.” to save. It is now safe to close Device Manager.
   

What to Do if Your PC Won’t Go to Sleep After an Update

Regular Windows updates are routine processes on any PC or laptop. While these updates often solve one problem, they usually give rise to another.

It’s not uncommon that a Windows update delivers a glitch that usually requires a prompt solution in the form of another update. After the old 1903 Windows 10 update, some users complained that their PCs wouldn’t go into sleep mode.

If you’re experiencing this issue currently, you may want to restore the default power settings that were explained in the section above. Alternatively, wait for the next update and see if it solves this problem.

What to Do if My PC Won’t Wake Up

You may encounter the opposite when your PC doesn’t want to wake up from sleep mode. This can be even more frustrating, especially if there is something that you were working on that you can no longer access.

Here’s the thing; you cannot forcibly wake the PC if it’s stuck in Sleep Mode. You also can’t safely/properly shut it down, which is the recommended route under normal circumstances.

Regardless, before shutting down the PC or laptop forcibly, try clicking on the mouse or trackpad button. This has worked in some situations when the keyboard wouldn’t wake up Windows. Sometimes, it’s a simple setting that isn’t activated that allows the device to wake the system up.

Check Device Settings to Solve Sleep Mode Problems

1. Depending on which Windows version you’re using, access “Device Manager.”
   
2. Expand the “Keyboards” section, then right-click on the keyboard you’re using—often labeled as “HID Keyboard Device. If several appear, check all of them.
   
3. Select the “Power Management” tab.
   
4. Check the “Allow this device to wake up the computer” box.
   

You can repeat the same steps for your mouse. Select “Mouse and other pointing devices” from the “Device Manager” window. If the above process doesn’t work, you have no choice but to long-press the power button and shut the device down manually. After the reboot, there are steps you can take to avoid running into the issue again, such as updating device drivers. If drivers are outdated, it could be the reason why the PC won’t wake up.

In closing, occasional glitches are to be expected when dealing with PCs, especially if they’re not brand new. However, not having a functional sleep mode can undoubtedly cause a significant problem if you’re using your PC every day.

Fortunately, regardless of whether you’re dealing with your PC or laptop not being able to sleep or wake up, there is a quick fix waiting around the corner. If the issues still persist, you may need to take your computer to a certified service provider for help, or replace a couple devices/components.

Windows Sleep Mode FAQs

Why Won’t My Monitor Go to Sleep when the PC Does?

When you successfully enable sleep mode, your monitor should automatically go dark. If that’s not happening and your computer is showing a blue screen, the issue may relate exclusively to the monitor.

However, if the monitor still displays the desktop, your PC isn’t in sleep mode, even though you may have prompted it.

Can Sleep Mode Damage Your PC?

Many Windows users aren’t sure whether keeping their PC in prolonged sleep mode is bad for the device. The answer is no. Sleep mode does not damage the computer, and there are some benefits from it, such as running background maintenance programs.

It’s also incredibly convenient. However, shutting down your PC is preferable when it comes to sudden power surges and power consumption. You always get a clean reboot, which does not happen in sleep mode.

What’s the Difference Between Sleep Mode and Hibernation?

For Windows computers, hibernation uses even less power than sleep mode. This option was specifically designed for laptops that rely on battery power, but PCs also have it (may need activated in “Power Management” settings). Hibernation shuts down the PC completely by caching the current status of Windows onto the storage drive and reloading it when the system gets turned back on. You’ll be back at the same place where you left off.

The idea behind hibernation is to use it when you’ll be away from the device for an extended period. In that case, you may want to unplug it too.