[Full Guide] How to Turn on PC Remotely in 2024

Remote access to PCs has become a new norm today, but it requires the PC to be running. One way is to keep your remote PC on 24/7, which leads to significant power consumption. An alternative and recommended way is to turn on PC remotely when needed. For example, if you want to access files remotely, you can first turn on computer remotely and then access files. Therefore, if you are looking to get your PC out of sleep mode remotely, this guide is for you. So, stick around to get the method of waking up the computer remotely.

1How to Turn on PC Remotely?

The best and built-in way to turn on PC remotely is by using "Wake on LAN (WoL). WoL is the built-in networking standard protocol in a computer that can wake up a computer from the low-power state with a unique signal/message over the network (called a magic packet). When the remote computer receives the network signal/message, it can turn on instantly.

To use this method, you have to enable Wake on LAN (WoL) on your remote computer and use a reliable third-party software to send a network signal to wake up computer remotely. In the following sections, we will discuss in detail the steps to follow.

2Prerequisites to Turn on Computer Remotely

Before we head to the steps on how to turn on PC remotely, it is important to clarify a few prerequisites/conditions to check. Some of the main ones are as follows:

Your remote computer network card should support the WoL feature.
WoL only works if the PC is in the sleep/hibernation state or fully shut down (if the network card remains powered).
WoL can only turn on a PC connected to the same network.
You need to enable WoL in the BIOS.
WoL may not work on the computer using the Fast Startup mode. You have to disable it to make WoL work.

If you fulfill the above conditions, it is easy to use the WoL feature. So, let's now focus on how to turn on computer remotely:

3Steps to Turn on PC Remotely

As mentioned earlier, you have to first enable the Wake-on-LAN (WoL) feature on your PC and then use third-party software to send the network signal. All these steps are discussed in detail below:

Step 1. Enable Wake-on-LAN from BIOS

The first step is to enable the WoL feature from the BIOS settings. For that, reboot your computer and press the key to open the BIOS settings, usually F2, F12, Del, or a similar key.

From the BIOS settings, look for the "Wake-on-LAN" option and enable it. It is usually located in the power option. It may also have a different name, as different manufacturers use different ways to build their firmware.

Note : If you don't see this option, then it is likely that your computer does not support the WoL feature.

Step 2. Enable Wake-on-LAN from Windows Settings

You also have to enable WoL from within Windows settings, as follows:

1.Open the Windows Settings app and click Network & Internet from the left sidebar.
2.Click Status.
3.Click Change adapter options under the Advanced network settings section.

4.Right-click your network device, and tap Properties.

5.From the Networking tab, click Configure.

6.Enable Wake on Magic Packet under the Advanced tab.

7.Under the Power Management tab, tick all the three checkboxes. These options allow the device to wake the computer.

Once you have performed the above steps, you have successfully enabled WoL on your computer.

Step 3. Wake Up Computer Remotely with Remote Support Software

Now that you have enabled WoL, the next step is to send the network signal (magic packet) to turn on computer remotely. There are multiple ways to do it. You can use PowerShell and relevant scripts, or you can use a reliable third-party tool that can make it easy to send the magic packet.

Below we are presenting two third-party tools you can use to wake up computer remotely:

1. NirSoft WakeMeOnLan

NirSoft WakeMeOnLan offers a click-based interface to easily turn on PC remotely. Here is how to download and use NirSoft WakeMeOnLan to turn on PC remotely:

1.Go to the NirSoft website and click the download link to download the WakeMeOnLan software.

2.Unzip the downloaded folder and open the WakeMeOnLan.exe file.
3.Click on the Play button from the top menu bar to list all the devices in the network.

Note : Your remote computer must be turned on for the tool to detect it. After it is added to the list, you can now use the WoL feature to turn it on remotely. Besides that, you can manually add the information of the remote computer by pressing Ctrl + N.

4.Right-click next to the device you want to turn on and click Wake Up Selected Computers.

Once done, the tool will instantly send the network signal (magic packet). This way, you can easily use NirSoft WakeMeOnLan to turn on computer remotely without any complications.

Bonus Tip: To determine the computer's IP and MAC address, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Properties (under the "Network status" section).

Look and copy the IP and Mac addresses.

2. TeamViewer

TeamViewer is a well-known tool to remotely access PCs. However, you can also use it to send the magic packet to wake up computer remotely. Follow the below steps to do so:

1.Launch TeamViewer. Navigate to Settings.
2.Go to Network under the Device menu.
3.Click Wake-on-LAN.
4.Select Other TeamViewer within your local network.
5.Type the TeamViewer ID that will wake up the remote computer and then tap Add > OK.

6.To turn on the remote computer, select it from the contacts list and click Wake up.

This way, TeamViewer also offers a seamless way to turn on computer remotely. In fact, you can also use TeamViewer to remote control or access files from that computer.

4Bonus Tip: Access PC Remotely Through AirDroid Remote Support

Another effective way to turn on computer remotely is through the unattended mode offered by AirDroid Remote Support.

AirDroid Remote Support is a powerful remote access/support software solution for businesses. It allows users to remotely support, manage, and control desktop or mobile devices anytime, anywhere.

Talking specifically about turning PC remotely, AirDroid Remote Support offers an "unattended mode" functionality. This allows one to access a computer remotely without requiring authorization. This is best suited for situations where frequent access is required, such as IT support, remote work, server maintenance, etc.

To secure remote work, AirDroid Remote Support also offers a "Black mode". In this mode, the remote device is screened and shown as being under maintenance. This prevents passersby or end-users from knowing what is happening on the device. This is best for businesses that frequently provide remote support and need to protect their corporate privacy.

Here's how to use the unattended and black mode with AirDroid Remote Support:

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Step 1.Install the AirDroid Remote Support on the PC you want to turn on remotely and install AirDroid Business on the host computer.
Step 2.Launch the AirDroid Remote Support tool on the remote PC and enroll the device in your organization.
During the enrollment process, you will get the option to select attended or unattended mode. So, pick "Unattended" mode.
Once done, your remote device is set for unattended remote access.
Step 3.Launch the AirDroid Business tool on the host PC. Locate the "Unattended" device you want to remotely control and click "Connect". Once the connection is made, you will be able to access the device remotely.

Step 4.To turn on black mode, click its button from the top left corner and click "OK" to enable black screen mode.

That's it! This way, the AirDroid Remote Support toolkit offers an advanced way to get unattended access to the remote PC and keep corporate privacy intact with black screen mode.

5Troubleshooting Wake-on-LAN Feature

Although it is a straightforward process to use the Wake-on-LAN feature, sometimes it may not go smoothly. So, some of the useful troubleshooting tips related to WoL are as follows:

WoL should be supported at the firmware level. You cannot access the feature if the option doesn't show up in the motherboard's BIOS or the network adapter.
For the USB to Ethernet adapter, WoL can only work if your computer is sleeping because it is likely that the power will likely cut off from the USB port if the computer is powered off.
Disable "Fast Startup" to make the WoL feature work.
When the PC is powered off, make sure the card lights are still blinking (if you are using an Ethernet connection). It is essential because the network adapter should be active so that the PC can be turned on remotely.
If the remote device is a laptop, make sure it is connected to a power outlet.

Other than the lack of WoL feature at the firmware level, all the other issues related to the feature are easily fixable, as mentioned above.

Conclusion

The need to turn on PC remotely is becoming increasingly important due to growing digitalization and technological advancements. Luckily, the "Wake-on-LAN" built-in feature makes it easy to remotely turn on any computer linked to the network. Therefore, it's now your turn to follow the above steps and turn on computer remotely. And for more convenience, you can try AirDroid Remote Support. It's free to use! Get it right now.

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FAQs about Turning on PC Remotely

Q1. Can you turn on PC remotely with VPN?

Anita R.

No, you cannot use a VPN to turn on PC remotely. A VPN connection is mostly used to secure the remote desktop and secure access to the network with a least privilege access policy set up.

Q2. Can you use Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection to turn on computer remotely?

Anita R.

Yes, Microsoft Remote Desktop can turn on computer remotely. If you have enabled Wake-on-LAN (WoL) on the remote computer, you can use the Remote Desktop to send a network signal to turn on remote computer.

Q3. Can you wake up computer remotely with Port Forwarding?

Anita R.

Yes, you can use port forwarding to wake up computer remotely. If the remote computer is connected to the same network, set up port forwarding on your router to make it forward a UDP port (mostly 9) to the local IP address of the remote computer you want to turn on.