Network

Wake sleeping devices

If a computer at home is asleep, another of your devices on the same local network wakes it when you need it. The device list shows which device can be woken.

FreemacOS · Windows · Linux · Android · iOS / iPadOS
The Network page, Devices: names, addresses, path and roles of the devices in the network with “Check reachability”The Network page, Devices: names, addresses, path and roles of the devices in the network with “Check reachability”

Shown: Mac

What you do with it

Available on

MacWindowsLinuxiPhone & iPad BientôtAndroidBrowser

“Wake” with one click

You wake a sleeping device with one click: if another device on its local network can wake it, the device list on the Network page says “Sleeping · wakeable”. “Wake” in the device’s panel asks that other device to do it.

  • Then it says “Waking …”, or “Did not wake” if it fails
  • An access to a sleeping device wakes it even without the button

Two switches per computer

You decide per computer on the Network page under “Wake”: “Wake on access” (off at first) lets another device on the same network wake this computer when somebody from your network accesses it. “Wake devices on the local network” (on at first) lets this computer wake your sleeping devices.

  • On the Mac, “Wake for network access” must be on in the system settings
  • On the Windows PC the network adapter must allow “Wake on LAN”
  • The choice stays saved on this computer

From your phone, too

On iPhone, iPad and Android “Wake” appears in the network page’s device list under the sleeping device. A phone only asks another device; it wakes no devices itself and cannot be woken this way.

  • A sleeping Android device is woken by DeskRanger itself when you connect
  • In a remote session “Wake” works there only at the device itself

Reachable again after waking

After sleep or a network change DeskRanger reconnects by itself.

  • If loading the device list fails, DeskRanger keeps trying

Everything step by step, for every platform:

From away into your home network

Questions fréquentes

What do I need for a device to be woken?

A second device of your own that is on the same local network and allows waking. On the sleeping device “Wake on access” and the system’s setting must be on.

Can I wake a phone?

A phone cannot be woken this way. DeskRanger does wake a sleeping Android device by itself when you connect.