Most PC users keep their desktops in sleep mode to be ready to use within a few seconds. However, many have complained about their Windows PC waking up from sleep alone. You may see PC cabinet fans spinning without your input. Here are the best ways to stop a Windows PC from waking up randomly.
Windows computer keeps waking up from sleep often leads to inconvenience during night hours. It may even result in an eye-popping electricity bill at the end of the month. Let’s go through the top ways to diagnose the problem and set your computer to sleep for good.
Why Did Your Computer Wake Up From Sleep Automatically
You can use the Command Prompt tool on Windows and identify the main factor waking up the PC from sleep. Follow the steps below to find the root cause.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type Command Prompt and choose ‘Run it as administrator.’
Step 2: Type the following command:
powercfg -lastwake
Step 3: You may see a device that awakened the PC.
You can disconnect such devices from your PC and try again.
1. Disable Wake Timers
You can disable wake timers from Control Panel and stop your PC from waking up from sleep.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type Edit Power Plan and hit Enter.
Step 2: Select ‘Change advanced power settings.’
Step 3: Expand Sleep and select ‘Allow wake timers.’
Step 4: Disable wake timers from the expanded menu.
2. Stop the Mouse and Keyboard From Turning on PC
Your little one may accidentally press a keyboard key or mouse and turn on the PC. You can stop such behavior from the Device Manager menu.
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows key to open the Power User men and select Device Manager from the Power User menu.
Step 2: Expand Keyboards, right-click on your keyboard, and choose Properties.
Step 3: Move to the Power Management menu and disable the device to wake the computer. Click OK.
Step 4: Expand the Mouse and right-click on your device. Select Properties.
Step 5: Move to Power Management and disable the same. Click OK.
3. Turn off UsoSvc Service
UsoSvc (Update Orchestrator Service) is a critical service handling Windows updates in the background. You can turn it off to stop the PC from waking up.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type Command Prompt and choose ‘Run it as administrator.’
Step 2: Run a couple of commands below:
sc stop UsoSvc
sc config UsoSvc start= disabled
Step 3: Hit Enter after each, and you are good to go.
4. Disable Scheduled Tasks
One of the scheduled tasks may wake up the Windows PC without your consent. You can disable such tasks using the steps below.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type Task Scheduler, and hit Enter.
Step 2: Go to the following path:
Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > UpdateOrchestrator.
Step 3: Double-click on Reboot from the right side.
Step 4: Move to the Conditions menu.
Step 5: Disable the ‘Wake the computer to run this task’ checkmark. Select OK.
You can also right-click on the Reboot option and select Disable to turn it off. After that, you need to make the ‘Reboot’ file read-only in File Explorer.
Step 1: Open File Explorer and go to the following path:
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator
Step 2: Right-click on the Reboot file and select Properties.
Step 3: Enable the Read-only checkmark and click OK.
5. Disable Network Adapters From Switching on PC
Your PC’s network adapter may turn on the PC from sleep on its own.
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows key to open the Power User men and select Device Manager from the Power User menu.
Step 2: Right-click on an adapter and select Properties.
Step 3: Disable the ‘Allow this device to wake the computer’ option under the ‘Power Management’ menu.
6. Disable Awake From PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys offers a convenient way to keep your PC awake on demand. It may overrule your PC’s power settings and wake it up.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type PowerToys and hit Enter.
Step 2: Disable the ‘Awake’ option.
7. Modify Registry
Your computer keeps waking up from sleep can be related to registry settings. Let’s tweak them.
Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type Registry Editor and hit Enter.
Step 2: Head to the following path:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Step 3: Double-click on PowerdownAfterShutdown.
Step 4: Set value data to 1 and click OK.
8. Update Windows
Your last resort to fix the PC randomly waking up issue is downloading the latest Windows update. Go to Settings and select Windows Update from the sidebar. Download and install pending updates, and you are good to go.
9. Get Rid of Antivirus Apps
One of the third-party antivirus apps may schedule tasks in the background. McAfee is one such infamous app to do so. You can either disable such apps or completely remove them from your PC.
Troubleshoot Windows Irregularities
Windows PC automatically waking up from sleep can disturb you in specific hours. Before you shut down the PC entirely, use the tricks above and keep it ready in no time. Which trick worked for you? Share your findings in the comments below.
