If a sleeping laptop won’t wake, force-wake, power-cycle, then fix drivers, power settings, and firmware to stop repeat failures.
Why Sleep Wake Fails On Laptops
Sleep is a low-power state that pauses work and keeps memory powered. When wake fails, the block usually sits in three places: devices that can’t resume, power policy that cuts needed power, or firmware bugs. The good news: you can test each layer in minutes.
Fast Triage Before Deep Fixes
- Press the power button once, then hold it for ten seconds to force shutdown. Wait fifteen seconds and start again.
- Unplug all USB gear and external displays. A faulty dongle or hub often stalls resume.
- Plug in the charger. Some models restrict wake on a low battery.
- Close the lid and open it again to trigger the wake sensor.
- If an external monitor stays black, wake the laptop screen first, then re-plug the display cable.
Fixes For Windows Laptops
1) Set Devices That Can Wake The PC
Open Device Manager → Keyboards → your keyboard → Properties → Power Management → enable “Allow this device to wake the computer.” Do the same for your main mouse. In command line, you can list wake-capable devices with:
powercfg -devicequery wake_from_any
powercfg -deviceenablewake "HID Keyboard Device"2) Check What Woke Or Blocked Sleep
These commands tell you the story:
powercfg /lastwake
powercfg /sleepstudy
powercfg /requestsIf you see a driver under “Requests,” close the app or update that driver. SleepStudy creates an HTML report that points to offenders.
3) Update Graphics, Chipset, And BIOS/UEFI
Display and storage drivers are common culprits. Use Windows Update first, then the laptop maker’s vendor helper app. Apply the latest BIOS/UEFI only from your vendor’s page.
4) Turn Off USB Selective Suspend (Test)
Go to Settings → System → Power → Additional power settings → Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings → USB settings. Set “USB selective suspend” to Disabled as a test. If resume becomes reliable, re-enable it later and update USB drivers.
5) Adjust Modern Standby And Hybrid Sleep
Check available sleep states:
powercfg /aIf the system uses “Standby (S0 Low Power Idle),” tune drivers and network adapters that stay active in sleep. On classic S3 systems, turning off “Hybrid sleep” can help: Advanced power settings → Sleep → set Hybrid sleep to Off. For background reading, see Microsoft’s overview of Modern Standby validation here.
6) Let Keyboard/Mouse Wake, But Block Random Wake
Network cards and wake timers can spin a machine up. Disable wake timers: Advanced power settings → Sleep → Allow wake timers → Disable (Battery and Plugged in). For WoL users, keep timers Off but allow the NIC to wake the PC only when needed in the adapter’s Advanced tab.
7) Fix Black Screen After Wake
Press Win+Ctrl+Shift+B to refresh the graphics driver. If the screen returns, update GPU drivers. If not, boot once with the lid closed on an external display, then reboot without the display to reset the path.
8) Repair System Files
Run an elevated Command Prompt and execute:
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthReboot afterward.
9) Clean Boot To Catch Conflicts
Use System Configuration (msconfig) → Services tab → Hide Microsoft services → Disable all. In Startup, open Task Manager and disable non-Microsoft items. Reboot, test sleep/wake, then add items back in batches.
10) Firmware And Fast Startup
Fast Startup can interfere with resume. Disable it as a test: Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do → uncheck “Turn on fast startup.” Enter BIOS/UEFI and load defaults, then re-set only needed changes. Apply the newest firmware from your vendor.
Fixes For Mac Laptops
1) Force Wake And Power Cycle
Tap the power key once. If nothing changes, hold the power key until the screen goes dark. Wait fifteen seconds, then start up. Unplug USB gear and HDMI/DisplayPort cables and test again.
2) Update macOS And Apps
Install the latest macOS point release and App Store updates. Many sleep fixes ship in minor updates.
3) Check Energy Settings And Peripherals
System Settings → Displays and Battery: set sleep times, allow Bluetooth to wake only if you need it, and test with everything unplugged. Look for lids, cases, or keyboards pressing keys while closed.
4) Safe Mode And Login Items
Start in Safe Mode to load only Apple extensions. If wake improves, remove heavy login items or third-party kernel extensions and retest.
5) Apple Silicon Versus Intel
On Apple silicon, a full shutdown acts as an SMC reset. For Intel models, reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM using Apple’s steps. Apple’s official guidance on unexpected sleep or wake is a handy reference on this page.
6) Learn What Prevents Sleep
Run this in Terminal to show assertions holding the system awake:
pmset -g assertionsTo review sleep and wake events:
pmset -g log | grep -i "sleep" | tail -n 507) External Displays After Wake
If a monitor stays blank, unplug and re-attach the cable, switch refresh rates, or test with a different cable/port. Update any display adapter firmware where the maker provides a tool.
Fixes That Help Every Platform
- Keep OS and drivers current.
- Use direct USB connections instead of stacked hubs.
- Test with Balanced power on battery.
- Check lid sensor by using the power key for a week.
A Step-By-Step Path You Can Follow
Step 1 — Prove Basic Wake Works
Test wake with the power key while plugged into AC and with all accessories removed. If the system always wakes here, you’re chasing a device or policy issue, not a hardware fault.
Step 2 — Check The Last Wake Story
On Windows, use powercfg /lastwake and /sleepstudy to see the last resume and any blocked requests. On Mac, read pmset -g log entries time-aligned to your test. Jot the device or process name you see.
Step 3 — Remove The Blocker
Update or roll back the offending driver or app. Common names: GPU, Wi-Fi, storage, backup tools, RGB controllers. For Mac, remove launch agents you don’t need.
Step 4 — Tighten Power Policy
Disable wake timers, test USB selective suspend Off, and set Hybrid sleep Off on S3 systems. Reboot and retest wake ten times in a row. If it passes, re-enable parts one by one.
Step 5 — Refresh Firmware
Install BIOS/UEFI and controller updates from the laptop maker. For Mac, install the latest macOS build; Apple bundles firmware updates inside macOS installers.
Step 6 — Prove It’s Fixed
Loop ten sleep-and-wake cycles on AC and ten on battery. Aim for twenty clean passes.
Windows Commands You Can Copy
# List devices that can wake
powercfg -devicequery wake_armed
# Enable wake for a device
powercfg -deviceenablewake "Intel(R) USB 3.1 eXtensible Host Controller"
# See what woke the machine last
powercfg /lastwake
# List blockers
powercfg /requests
# Dump a sleep report to HTML on your Desktop
powercfg /sleepstudy /output %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\sleepstudy.html
# Quick graphics reset after a black screen
# Press: Win+Ctrl+Shift+BMac Terminal Snippets You Can Copy
# Show active sleep blockers
pmset -g assertions
# Show available sleep states and settings
pmset -g
# Tail sleep and wake entries
pmset -g log | grep -i "Wake" | tail -n 20
# Reset display services after a wake glitch
sudo killall -HUP WindowServerFixes When A Sleeping Laptop Won’t Wake
This section lines up the most effective remedies in the order that solves the most cases, based on field reports and vendor guidance.
1) Give Input Devices Wake Rights
Windows: set keyboard and mouse to wake the system in Device Manager, then test. Mac: allow Bluetooth to wake only if you need it; noisy desks can ping-wake machines.
2) Tune Network And USB
Disable wake timers on Windows. For users who need Wake on LAN, keep timers Off while enabling the NIC’s wake only when on power. Avoid under-powered USB docks.
3) Align Sleep State With Hardware
Some models run Modern Standby (S0). Others use S3. Drivers must match the model’s sleep state. If powercfg /a shows S0, keep network and storage drivers current. If it shows S3, test with Hybrid sleep Off.
4) Update Graphics Early
Black screens after wake nearly always tie to display drivers, cable chain, or the dock. Update GPU drivers, firmware on docks, and try a different cable.
5) Reset Controllers When Needed
Windows: full shutdown, then start; if needed, disable Fast Startup. Mac on Apple silicon: shut down for thirty seconds. Intel Macs: reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM with Apple’s steps.
When To Suspect Hardware
- No wake with power key on AC and all devices removed.
- Fans spin, lights show, but display never lights after many cycles.
- Resume only fails when the lid sensor is used.
At that point, contact your vendor for a board, battery, sensor, or display cable check.
Common Causes And Quick Fix Path
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fast Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Black screen after wake | GPU driver or cable path | Press Win+Ctrl+Shift+B; update GPU; try new cable |
| Wake only with power button | Device wake not allowed | Enable keyboard/mouse wake in Device Manager |
| Random wakes at night | Wake timers or NIC | Disable wake timers; trim NIC wake settings |
| Never wakes on battery | Low battery policy | Plug in, raise battery threshold, retest |
| Sleep fails on Mac | Login item or extension | Safe Mode; remove extras; update macOS |
After You Fix It: Keep Wake Reliable
Stick to a light routine: install OS updates monthly, refresh GPU and Wi-Fi drivers quarterly, avoid unpowered hubs, and prune Mac login items. If you depend on Wake on LAN, retest settings after big Windows releases. The Microsoft Modern Standby overview and Apple’s sleep guide linked above give you the official playbooks.