Waking the computer from sleep mode is fairly easy. You just need to press any key on the keyboard or move the mouse (on a laptop, move fingers on the trackpad) to wake the computer. But on some computers running Windows 10, you cannot wake the PC using keyboard or mouse.
We need to press the power button to wake the computer from sleep mode. While pressing the power is as easy as pressing any key on the keyboard, most users prefer to wake computer using keyboard and mouse.
To make the keyboard or mouse or both wake your computer from sleep mode, you just need to change the default power settings of these devices which can be done under Device Manager.
Note that most external keyboards and mice support waking the computer from sleep. However, the same cannot be said about laptop keyboards and trackpads. For instance, my ThinkPad doesn’t support waking PC from sleep mode using the internal keyboard and mouse. There is no option even in BIOS to configure the keyboard and trackpad to wake the laptop. At the same time, my MacBook running Windows 10 supports waking computer using built-in keyboard and mouse.
Method 1 of 2
Wake Windows 10 computer from sleep with a keyboard
Step 1: Open the Device Manager. To do that, right-click on the Start button on the taskbar and then click Device Manager.
Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand Keyboards to see your keyboard entry.
Step 3: Right-click on your keyboard entry and then click Properties.
Step 4: Under the Power Management tab, check Allow this device to wake the computer option. Click OK button. From now onwards, you will be able to wake the Windows 10 computer using the keyboard.
If the Power Management tab is missing, try to install the latest keyboard driver. If the Power Management tab is still missing, it’s likely because your keyboard does not support waking the computer from sleep.
Method 2 of 2
Wake Windows 10 PC from sleep using mouse/trackpad
Step 1: In the Device Manager, expand Mice and other pointing devices entry to see your mouse.
Step 2: Right-click on your mouse entry and then click Properties to open the mouse properties.
Step 3: Here, switch to the Power Management tab. Check Allow this device to wake the computer option and then click OK button. That’s it! You can now use the mouse to wake your Windows 10 PC from sleep.
Again, if the Power Management tab is not showing up, it’s likely because your mouse or trackpad doesn’t support waking the computer from sleep.
Gary Gargison says
Debbie,
You’re not alone. ACPI Lid under System Devices (in Control Panel) has a Power Management tab however it is greyed out and can’t be enabled. It appears a number of people have this problem (other forums) and the usual, update drivers, run sfc /scannow, etc. do not work. And every moderator goes silent once you say you have done all that they recommend (short of a clean install). I have to believe that there is a Registry hack out there somewhere but until we find it I guess I, at least, will have display off after a few minutes and set Sleep to Never in Power Plan. And will perform a clean shut down (Alt-F4) every time I will be away for any length of time.
Debbie says
I have no ‘power management’ option on either the keyboard or the mouse! What else can I do? I’m always forced to use my power button and I don’t want to do that. (I am running Windows 10, all is up to date.)