How to Find Devices That Can Wake Your Computer

By Timothy Tibbetts

If your computer is being woken up from Sleep or Hibernate, finding the cause is simple for any skill level. Here's how.

1: Find the Wake Source in Windows With Command Prompt

The easiest way is to use the Command Prompt or PowerShell, even if you're not familiar with either. It will help if you understand your hardware and devices. Otherwise, the Event Viewer in Step 2 will give you more details.

Type in powercfg lastwake into the Command Prompt or PowerShell.

You should see the device that woke your computer. Often it is a USB (thumb drive or external drive, for example) or maybe a wireless device.

2: Find the Wake Source in Windows With Event Viewer

Press the Windows Key + R, type in eventvwr.msc and press Enter.

Expand Windows Logs.

Right-click on System, and click on Filter Current Log.

Expand Event sources and click on Power-Troubleshooter.

Click on OK.

Click on anything under System, and you can see the details below.

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