Troubleshoot why the "allow this device to wake the computer greyed out" option appears. Our guide fixes the issue fast. Learn how to update drivers, check BIOS settings, and edit registry keys for full PC control.
Allow this device to wake the computer grayed out
I have a new HP Laptop pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro.
I want to allow my Bluetooth devices (mouse & keyboard) to wake the computer from Sleep Mode. In the device manager, the option in the properties for the Realtek Bluetooth 5 Adapter to allow it to wake the computer is grayed out.
Is there any way to activate it?
- Question from https://www.elevenforum.com/
In the Windows Device Manager, the Power Management tab is the control center for how hardware interacts with your system’s power states. If the "Allow this device to wake the computer" checkbox is unclickable, it indicates a communication breakdown between the operating system and the hardware.
The most common culprits include:
Regardless of whether you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11, the troubleshooting steps below will help you resolve the issue
Before diving into deep menu settings, you can use the PowerCFG tool to see which devices are actually capable of waking your computer and force the setting.
1. Type cmd in the Windows search bar, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.
2. To see a list of all devices that support waking the PC, type the following command and hit Enter:
powercfg -devicequery wake_from_any
3. Look for your device (e.g., "HID-compliant mouse").
4. If you want to see which devices are currently enabled to wake the PC, type:
powercfg -devicequery wake_armed
5. If your device is listed in the "wake_from_any" list but not the "wake_armed" list, you can try to force enable it with this command (replace Device Name with the exact name found in the query):
powercfg -deviceenablewake "Device Name"
One of the most common reasons "allow this device to wake the computer" is not working is the USB Selective Suspend feature. This feature "drops" power to USB ports to save energy, which often makes it impossible for the mouse or keyboard to send a wake signal.
1. Press Win + R, type control, and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. Click Change plan settings next to your active power plan.
4. Click Change advanced power settings.
5. Expand USB settings and then USB selective suspend setting.
6. Change the setting to Disabled.
7. Click Apply and OK.
When troubleshooting "Allow this device to wake the computer" issues, many users experience a scenario where the PC becomes "stuck" in sleep mode. If the keyboard or mouse won't wake it, and the power button doesn't respond to a quick tap, the only choice is a hard reset(holding the power button for 10 seconds).
Hard resets are notorious for causing data loss, especially if you had unsaved documents, open databases, or active file transfers. If you find that a file has disappeared or become corrupted after a power-related crash, this is where MyRecover becomes an essential tool.
What is MyRecover?
MyRecover is a professional-grade data recovery software designed for Windows users. It is particularly effective in situations where system crashes, power failures, or "forced shutdowns" result in missing data.
Why use MyRecover in this context?
If your journey to fix your sleep settings leads to a corrupted partition or a missing folder, using a tool like MyRecover can save hours of re-work.
If the option is greyed out in Device Manager, the hardware is often blocked at the firmware level. Windows cannot enable a feature that the motherboard has turned off.
1. Restart your computer and tap the BIOS key (usually F2, Del, or F12) during startup.
2. Look for a section named Advanced, Power Management, or ACPI.
3. Enable "USB Wake Support": This allows USB devices to trigger a wake event.
4. Disable "ErP Ready": ErP (Energy-Related Products) is a European standard that reduces power consumption to below 0.5W when the PC is off/sleeping. When enabled, it often completely shuts down power to USB ports, making it impossible to wake the PC via keyboard or mouse. Turn this OFF.
5. Look for "Wake on LAN" (WoL): If you are trying to wake the computer via a network adapter, ensure this is enabled.
6. Save changes and exit (usuallyF10).
If the "allow this device to wake the computer" greyed out issue appeared after a Windows update, the driver might be the culprit.
1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Locate the device (e.g., under Keyboards or Mice and other pointing devices).
3. Right-click the device and select Update driver. Choose "Search automatically for drivers."
4. If it's still greyed out: Right-click the device > Properties>Drivertab > Roll Back Driver. Sometimes generic Windows drivers work better for power management than manufacturer-specific ones that include aggressive battery-saving features.
5. Try the Generic Driver: If updating doesn't work, select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list... and choose the "HID-compliant device" or "USB Input Device" rather than the brand-specific driver.
If you are dealing with a Network Adapter (Ethernet/Wi-Fi) where the wake-on-LAN feature is failing:
1. In Device Manager, expand Network adapters.
2. Right-click your adapter (e.g., Intel Ethernet or Realtek PCIe) and select Properties.
3. Go to the Advanced tab.
4. Scroll down to find Wait for Link,Wake on Magic Packet, and Wake on Pattern Match. Ensure these are all Enabled.
5. Go to the Power Management tab.
6. Ensure "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" is checked. (Note: On some systems, the "Wake the computer" box is greyed out unless the "Save power" box is checked first).
7. Check "Allow this device to wake the computer" and "Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer."
Windows "Fast Startup" is a hybrid between a cold shutdown and hibernation. While it makes booting faster, it is notorious for causing hardware initialization issues and ignoring "wake" commands from peripherals.
1. Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
2. Click on Choose what the power buttons do.
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable at the top.
4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
5. Save changes and restart your PC.
Step 7: Check Registry Settings (Advanced)
If the "allow this device to wake the computer" is not working despite being checked, a registry key might be overriding the behavior.
1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power
3. Look for a value named CsEnabled. If it exists and is set to 1, change it to 0. (Note: This is mostly relevant for older versions of Windows 10 to disable Connected Standby).
4. For modern systems, check: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings to ensure no global attributes are hiding the power management tabs.
Many modern mice and keyboards show up multiple times in Device Manager as "HID-compliant device." If you are looking at the wrong entry, the power management tab might be missing or the options might be greyed out.
1. In Device Manager, check every entry under Keyboards and Mice.
2. Usually, one entry represents the physical hardware while others represent virtual buttons (like volume keys).
3. Apply the "Allow this device to wake" setting to every HID-compliant entry related to your input device.
The "allow this device to wake the computer greyed out" issue is a multi-layered problem involving the BIOS, Windows power policies, and hardware drivers. By following the steps above—starting with the BIOS and moving into Windows PowerCFG commands—you can restore the convenience of waking your PC with a click.
However, remember that messing with power states and performing hard restarts during the troubleshooting process carries risks. Always ensure your work is saved. If the worst happens and you experience data loss during your system repairs, a dedicated recovery solution like MyRecover can help you retrieve your files and get back to work without missing a beat.
By balancing hardware settings with smart data protection, you can create a Windows environment that is both energy-efficient and highly responsive.
1. Why is "Allow this device to wake the computer" greyed out?
The option is usually greyed out because the hardware is not authorized at the BIOS level to draw power during sleep, or the current driver does not support wake-on-interrupt functionality. Disabling ErP Ready in your BIOS is the most common fix for this.
2. Can a hard restart caused by sleep issues lead to permanent data loss?
Yes. When a computer fails to wake and you perform a hard reset, any data in the RAM that wasn't written to the disk can be lost. Furthermore, file system metadata can become corrupted. If you find files missing after such an event, using a tool like MyRecover is highly recommended to scan for and restore lost data.
3. What is the difference between Sleep and Hibernation regarding wake settings?
Sleep keeps data in RAM and requires a tiny amount of power, allowing for a fast wake via mouse or keyboard. Hibernation saves data to the hard drive and turns off power almost completely. Often, "Allow this device to wake" only applies to Sleep; Hibernation usually requires the power button to wake.
4. Why is my mouse checked to wake the computer, but it’s still not working?
This usually happens because of USB Selective Suspend. Windows might have the "permission" to let the mouse wake the PC, but it has cut the power to the USB port entirely to save energy. Ensure Selective Suspend is disabled in your Advanced Power Plan settings.
5. How can I recover unsaved files if my PC crashed while stuck in sleep mode?
If your PC freezes during sleep and you lose an important document upon restarting, you should immediately stop using the drive to prevent overwriting. Use MyRecover to perform a "Deep Scan." This software can often find temporary files or auto-save versions of documents that were lost during the power failure.
6. Does disabling "Fast Startup" help with wake-on-USB issues?
Yes. Fast Startup changes how Windows handles shutdowns and sleep states. It can sometimes leave hardware in a state where it doesn't initialize properly during a wake event. Disabling it in the "Choose what the power buttons do" section of the Control Panel often resolves persistent wake-up glitches.