Setting up a PC to be woken over the network
Wake-on-LAN lets the assistant switch on or wake a PC by sending it a special "magic packet". The PC has to be prepared for it once.
What Wake-on-LAN needs
- BIOS / UEFI. Find the option called Wake on LAN or Power On by PCI-E (the name varies by maker) and enable it.
- Network adapter properties. In Windows open Device Manager, double-click your network adapter and go to Power Management. Tick Allow this device to wake the computer and Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer.
- On the Advanced tab of the same window, set Wake on Magic Packet to Enabled.
Windows Fast Startup
Fast Startup puts the PC into a half-shutdown state in which many adapters do not listen. Turn it off: Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do → Change settings that are currently unavailable, then untick Turn on fast startup.
Laptops
Laptops usually wake only over a cable, from sleep and while plugged in to power. Waking over Wi-Fi rarely works.
If it does not wake
- Check that the PC was asleep or shut down, not unplugged, and that it is on the same network as the computer running the assistant.
- Check that the hardware (MAC) address in the Devices list matches the wired adapter of the PC, not a Wi-Fi one.
- Repeat the steps above — a Windows update sometimes resets the adapter settings.
Related
Letting the AI see devices on your home network.
Updated 2026-10-31