# Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983370886/395e9c2e-6963-448e-9665-45baf25d6265.jpeg)

WOL is a pretty neat feature that allows a user to boot a pc via another server/system on the same network. For my use case, this helps me save electricity whenever I don't need my system to be running. My Windows 10 setup stopped functioning after the upgrade to Windows 11. Here's how I got it working once again after the upgrade.

Prerequisites
-------------

*   Ensure that the motherboard supports WOL and the feature is enabled in bios
*   A system with Windows 10/11

WOL Setup
---------

To set up WOL, we need to first identify the ethernet adapter we want to use for WOL on the system. Hit `Windows + R` , enter the following command and hit `enter`.

    ncpa.cpl

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983372797/65ad7895-6720-4817-aa20-17f98fd438f2.png)

Next, locate your Ethernet adapter and head to the properties.

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983374695/12a20d73-82e2-4a4a-aa69-659f71b6960c.png)

Hit configure once the ethernet properties window pops up.

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983375810/918abab2-f125-456f-ab06-26c316c63b01.png)

After a new window pops up, head to the advanced tab and set `Wake on Magic Packet`'s value to `Enabled`.

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983377028/71df33a9-b0ad-4c60-ac8e-b52c13ec1f2a.png)

Next, we need to change some power management settings for the feature to work well. I missed out on a step during this step which cost me a couple of hours ☹️. Hit `Windows + R` , type the following command and hit `Enter`.

    powercfg. cpl

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983378062/e4c18c42-70e5-47f0-9927-0890fcbb1814.png)

Then, select `Change Plan Settings` for whichever plan you are currently using and hit `Change advanced power settings`.

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983379009/e2b17ce1-72ed-4aaa-8052-40cfdde8a2e8.png)

Head down to the `PCI Express` option and set it to `Off` as shown below.

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983380285/5e22bdf9-22a0-4eb2-bdd7-20676f53b004.png)

Once that's done, head back to power options and select `Choose what the power buttons do` , hit `Change settings that are currently unavailable` and uncheck `Turn on fast startup`.

![Enabling Wake-on-Lan on Windows 11](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1680983381381/9ea463a0-8342-4d51-b0ca-613ca2b2bd28.png)

Save changes and the system's all good to go! All that's left is to use another machine in the same local network and send a WOL magic packet to the router while specifying the MAC address of the windows machine's network adapter.

Hope you didn't waste hours figuring this out 😄!