Sleep mode is an easy way to save power on your computer. Once an operating system enters sleep mode, it shuts down the computer while saving the present state for each task you were working on.
Typically, all you need to do to wake up your PC is move the mouse. But sometimes, that doesn’t work. Even though you can always use the power button to wake it up, using a mouse is more practical.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most common problems that prevent your mouse from waking up your Windows computer from sleep and how to fix them.
Mouse Not Working in Sleep Mode: What’s the Cause?
Exiting sleep mode on Windows should be relatively straightforward. However, sometimes, you may discover that this doesn’t work as intended after Windows is suspended, preventing you from using it to resume activity. Here are a few possible problems:
- Difficulties with the hardware
- Compatibility issues
- Outdated or corrupt drivers
- Incorrectly configured settings
How to Wake Up Your Computer With a Mouse
For your mouse to wake up your PC from sleep, first, you need to see if that option is allowed. Take these actions:
- To access the “Power User” menu, right-click the Start button or press “Win + X.”
- Choose “Device Manager.”
- Check the devices connected to your PC.
- Tap the arrow next to “Mice and other pointing devices” if you cannot wake your PC from sleep using the mouse.
- Your computer mouse will appear in this list and go to the “Power Management” tab. Double-click each one if you don’t see a specific one.
- Your mouse should now wake up your computer from its sleep mode.
If you’re using these options on a laptop, be very careful. Your laptop could accidentally wake up from sleep in a bag if you have a wireless mouse connected and forget to switch it off. If you leave this for a while, it might generate heat and harm your computer.
Possible Solutions
There are several solutions to this issue. Try each one until you happen across one that fixes the problem.
Reconnect the Mouse
You can try a few things to help your computer start working properly again if you’re having trouble using the mouse to wake it up from sleep. If there is a hardware problem, unplugging and reconnecting can usually solve the problem. Also, make sure the mouse batteries are still working.
Update the Drivers
Sometimes, drivers that are not up to date can cause a variety of problems. This is a common issue. To fix it, do the following:
- When the Run window appears, press “Windows + R” and enter “
devmgmt.msc“.
- After you click “OK,” the “Device Manager” window will pop up.
- Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” option in the Device Manager.
- Right-click the potential troublesome device.
- Choose “Update Driver.”
- After choosing “Automatically search for the driver,” click “OK.”
- Once finished, restart your computer to see if the problem is fixed.
Remove the Problematic Driver
Remove any recently applied updates and see if the problem still exists.
- When the Run window appears, press “Windows + R” and enter “
devmgmt.msc“. - Click “OK,” and the “Device Manager” window will pop up.
- Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” option in the “Device Manager.”
- Select the defective or broken driver with the right mouse button, then click “Uninstall Device.”
Prevent Your Computer From Turning Off USB Ports
While sleeping, your computer may also reduce energy through its USB ports. When you click or move your mouse in these circumstances, it won’t detect the signal.
- Navigate to “Settings” and then to “System.”
- Choose “Power & sleep,” then “Additional power settings.” To see it, horizontally expand the “Settings” window.
- Select “Change plan settings.”
- To access a window with more options, select “Change advanced power settings.”
- Expand “USB settings” and “USB selective suspend settings” in that window.
- Select “Disabled” from this drop-down box and click “OK.”
This will prevent your system from turning off USB ports to conserve power, making it easier for you to wake it up from sleep using a mouse.
Reactivate Hibernation
Hibernation is a different power-saving mode in Windows, and it’s notable for interfering with sleep mode and causing the computer not to wake up. Hence, we can try turning the feature on and off to see if that resolves the problem. This is how to do it:
- Enter “
cmd” into the Windows search bar.
- Select “Command Prompt” and then choose “Run as administrator.”
- If the “User Account Control” window asks you a question, choose “Yes.”
- To turn hibernation off, type “powercfg.exe /hibernate off”, then hit “Enter.”
- Turn on hibernation again by typing “powercfg.exe /hibernate on”, then hit “Enter.”
To test whether your computer is operating properly, try putting it to sleep and then waking it up.
Use Windows Troubleshooter for Hardware and Device
While the mouse is connected, run this troubleshooter to check if that can solve the problem using the command prompt. This is how it works:
- Enter “
cmd” into the Start menu’s search field and run the “Command Prompt.”
- Type “
-id DeviceDiagnostic msdt.exe” and hit “Enter.”
Doing this should start the troubleshooter. Let it run its scan and repair any issues that it may detect.
Additional FAQ
What is the difference between sleep mode and hibernation?
When in sleep mode, a computer is turned on but not running any software, and your computer appears to be off but is actually blank. Sleep mode conserves energy by switching your computer to a low-power mode, making it ideal for moments when you need a few minutes to yourself.
When a computer is in hibernation mode, its volatile memory (RAM) contents are copied to its hard drive (HDD). The operating system can be safely shut down without causing data corruption.
Although shutdown and sleep both have power-saving features, it is still unclear which is best for your computer. If you aren’t using your computer for longer than 20 minutes, you should put it in sleep mode. On the other hand, shut down the computer if you won’t use it for more than two hours.
To Wrap It All Up
Sometimes, you may encounter some errors while trying to wake up your Windows. A mouse can cause a few of them. Situations like this can be frustrating and confusing, but this guide will help you fix most mouse-related issues.
You may want to consider changing the way you wake your computer, replacing the mouse, or even resetting it to its default settings if nothing else works.
How often do you encounter these issues? What was the best fix for you? Let us know in the comment section below!
