How to Check Devices Allowed to Wake Windows 11

If your Windows 11 computer wakes up unexpectedly from sleep mode, specific connected hardware components are likely responsible. Windows allows certain hardware—such as keyboards, mice, and network adapters—to wake the system. This guide explains how to quickly identify which devices currently have permission to wake your PC using the Command Prompt and how to verify these settings in Device Manager.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt (Fastest)

The Command Prompt provides the quickest way to generate a complete list of all devices configured to wake your PC.

  1. Right-click the Start button on your taskbar or press Windows Key + X.

  2. Select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).

  3. In the command window, type the following command and press Enter:

    powercfg -devicequery wake_armed

  4. Windows will display a list of all connected devices that currently have permission to wake the computer. If the list is empty, no hardware devices are permitted to wake the system.

Check What Last Woke Your PC

To see the specific device or event that triggered the most recent wake-up, run this command:

powercfg -lastwake

Method 2: Using Device Manager

Device Manager allows you to check permissions for individual devices through a graphical interface and modify them if necessary.

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Locate the category of the hardware you want to check (common categories include Keyboards, Mice and other pointing devices, and Network adapters).
  3. Double-click the category to expand it.
  4. Right-click the specific device and select Properties.
  5. Click on the Power Management tab. If this tab is missing, the device does not support wake functionality.
  6. Look at the option labeled Allow this device to wake the computer:
    • If the box is checked, the device has permission to wake your PC.
    • If the box is unchecked, the device cannot wake your PC.

How to Prevent a Device from Waking Windows 11

If you identify a device that is causing unwanted wake-ups, you can revoke its wake permissions: