Few things are scarier than an unresponsive computer. You’ve tried clicking the mouse, pushing the power button, shutting it, and reopening it…and no budge. Your Windows 11 computer still won’t wake up from sleep. So, how can you fix it?

Important: Please make a backup of all your important files before trying any of the fixes mentioned here. We are not responsible for any data loss you might incur.

Why Windows 11 Won’t Wake From Sleep

Unfortunately, you are not alone in your situation. Many users have dealt with problems around the Windows 11 computer not waking up from sleep.

If your computer self-assessment has led you to believe this is the problem, this is likely the case.

However, while this is a common problem, you should check and ensure everything has been considered.

The fixes for making your Windows 11 stop falling asleep and not waking up are quick and easy but won’t serve you if this isn’t the issue.

First off, make sure that your computer is plugged in and charged. Then, check your outlets, light switches, and all the basics.

You might consider a few things before trying other fixes if it isn’t that.

1. Check your mouse or trackpad

In the midst of the chaos, you might have forgotten that this could be a mouse problem.

If your Bluetooth mouse is out of battery or something is going wrong with the USB port, it is plugged into. Then, it would make sense for your computer not to respond.

If you have only tried jiggling the mouse, check and see if hitting a key on the keyboard will work.

If this prompts your computer to wake up, you likely have a USB issue or need to replace your mouse batteries.

If you are not using a mouse, and it seems like your trackpad is the issue, you will likely need to contact Windows support for help.

2. The computer needs an update

Updates can feel like a nuisance, especially when you are on a roll. Who among us hasn’t ignored, ignored, and ignored again an update that needs to be installed?

Updates are essential to your computer’s functioning. So when you google a computer question, and dozens of people say they have the same issue, this likely means something is malfunctioning in the software for many people.

Luckily, a software company can send out a patch to fix it (as long as it isn’t a user error kind of thing).

However, patches and updates don’t just install themselves. So it’s important to keep checking for software updates even if there’s no huge one coming out (like Windows 10 shifting to Windows 11 or something of that nature).

When you get your computer to wake up, see if there is a patch you need to install.

3. Power plan setting

The power plan settings may play a massive role in this particular problem.

The power plan helps your battery save power should you unplug your laptop. You can make your specific power plan settings, but most people use the default options.

If your laptop defaults to something else, it may affect how your computer falls asleep and wakes up.

Further down in the article, we review a few ways to update your power plan settings.

Essentially, you must change your default settings to either change the time frame for your Windows computer falling asleep or turn off the setting entirely.

First steps to checking the problem

When you have a computer issue, the most annoying advice is the classic, “Well, just turn it off and turn it off again!”

Unfortunately, we will be offering the same advice… but just at first! Below, we go over some of the basic “quick fixes” a tech person might provide to you before diving into the big fixes.

Do a hard reboot of your computer

A hard reboot of your computer is the first thing you will try if you face an issue…it’s the old “turn it off and back on again” trick.

A hard reboot is different from a regular reboot or restart because you aren’t going to the system menu and asking the computer to restart.

Usually, you do it by holding down the power button until the computer turns off and then waiting for a few moments before turning it back on again. On most models, it looks like this:

Locate the power button on your model (usually the button to turn the computer off, on, or lock it).
Hold it for a few seconds (it could be anywhere from five to twenty seconds).
Let your computer sit for a few moments.
Hold down the power button again until the computer turns back on.

When you hard reboot your computer, you’re powering it straight off. Though it isn’t ideal, sometimes it’s necessary.

In the worst-case scenario, you may lose what you were working on or mess up Windows by doing some patchwork. In that case, you’d redo the update or patch.

Use Troubleshoot Feature

How to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

Windows has a feature that can check out some of the more techy stuff for you.

The feature is called “troubleshooting,” Its function is pretty self-explanatory. This feature will search through some internal issues and see what is happening. To use this feature, you will:

Select the Start Button, usually the Windows icon in the left corner of your screen.
Select the Settings button.
In settings, find the select the System option on the left.
Select Troubleshoot. If you are having trouble finding it, search for Troubleshooting in the Find a setting search box.
Select Troubleshooting Settings, then Other troubleshooters.
Determine what kind of troubleshooting you’d like to do (in this case, Windows Updates may fit best).
Select Run the troubleshooter.
Questions may come up. Answer them to the best of your ability.

If the troubleshooting feature has no problem, this doesn’t mean the issue is a user error. It just means that there wasn’t anything found internally by the feature.

They will likely run a troubleshooter if you need to call IT to support you through the issue.

If you do it beforehand, you can contact them with the assurance that you either found the issue but didn’t know what to do with it or nothing came up.

Signs There Is A Bigger Problem

By your assessment, your machine won’t wake from sleep. So, how would you know if there was something more going on?

You can look for a few things to ensure no more significant problems. If, in addition to not waking from sleep:

Your computer is displaying a blue screen with an error message.
The power light isn’t turning on.
Your computer is emitting an error noise.
You’ve been warned that your computer may have a virus by your virus software.
The computer won’t wake up even after a few hard reboots.

These can indicate there is a more significant issue at hand. Contact Windows support if you think this may be the case, or bring it to your preferred repair squad.

4 Easy Fixes To Wake Your Computer From Sleep

If you’ve reached the point with some of your candles where prevention is no longer an option, don’t panic; there are a few things you can do to try to reverse the tunneling.

1. Change Your Power Plan Setting

Turning off Link State Power Management in the Power Options of Windows 11.

If you’ve done a hard reboot and your computer is back, you can change your power plan setting to stop the problem from happening again.

When you change your power plan settings, you adjust the default settings you likely already had installed on your computer.

Or, if you have made some adjustments, this may fix whatever caused an issue.

To change your power plan settings:

Go to the Start Menu, which is usually on the left-hand corner of your screen and looks like the Windows icon, and find the “Control Panel” option. If you can’t find the control panel option, you can search for it in the search bar in the top-right.
In the Control Panel, find Power Options and select it.
Select Change plan settings for the power plan you selected, whether a high-power plan or balanced.
Then, go to Change advanced power settings. A power options menu should pop up.
Click on the plus-sign (+) next to PCI Express.
Select the plus-sign (+) icon next to Link State Power Management.
Turn the setting to Off.
Click on Apply and then OK.

This should update your computer’s automatic power management settings.

2. Turn Off “Sleep” Option

If your computer is oversleeping, you might consider not letting it sleep. You can turn off the “sleep” option in your settings.

Go to the Start Menu, which is usually on the left-hand corner of your screen and looks like the Windows icon, and find the Control Panel option. If you can’t find the Control Panel option, you can search for it in the search bar in the top-right.
In the Control Panel, find Power Options and select it.
On the left side of the window, select the Change when the computer sleeps.
Select the drop-box next to Put the computer to sleep:.
On the drop-down menu, select Never.
Select Save Changes.

Turning off your sleep settings might drain your battery and cause other issues. Weigh out the pros and cons of this choice before committing to it.

If you’d like to try it for a few days, that’s okay too. No irreversible damage can be done from your computer having its sleep settings turned off.

3. Reinstall Windows 11

You might consider reinstalling Windows 11 if nothing else seems to be working.

If you have already updated all the patches Windows has required, you can reinstall Windows 11. To do this:

Go to the Start Menu, which is usually on the left-hand corner of your screen and looks like the Windows icon.
Click on System.
Select Recovery.
Find the Reset PC option and select the Reset PC button.
Select Keep My Files. This is important! Otherwise, your files will all be removed.
Select a reinstall option.
1. Cloud install will use a version of Windows 11 from the internet (cloud) that hasn’t been installed on your computer.
2. Local will access the Windows 11 already on your computer and use it to install.
Click through by selecting Next.
Click Reset.

Most of your apps and personal settings will be erased when you reinstall, but as long as you select “Keep My Files,” your files should remain.

It’s not a bad idea to save them in a cloud or flash drive during reinstallation, just in case!

The reinstall will strip your computer of the Windows 11 software and then reinstall it.

When you reinstall, you must re-update all of your Windows patches. This is a more time-consuming option for fixing your “No Wake” issue, but it may be beneficial to try.

4. Check with Windows Support

If all else fails, you might want to check with Windows Support to see if anything else is happening.

Though rare, something could be wrong with your specific computer or software.

In addition, if everything points to a “No Wake” problem, but there is a virus or something else going on, a professional will find it.