Why your computer wakes up when you don't want it to
When you use Remote Desktop Connection to control a computer from somewhere else, your keyboard and mouse at the remote location can accidentally wake up the computer you're controlling — even when you're not trying to do anything. This happens because Windows treats input from any keyboard or mouse as a signal that someone wants to use the machine, so it wakes from sleep mode. If you're remotely managing a computer that should stay asleep until you deliberately turn it on, or if you're troubleshooting a system that keeps waking unexpectedly during a remote session, you need to disable this specific wake trigger.
The good news is that you can turn off keyboard and mouse wake-up without affecting other ways to wake your computer — like a scheduled task or a network packet. You control this through your computer's power settings and Device Manager, both of which are built into Windows. The process takes about five minutes and requires no special software or administrator knowledge beyond what you already have on your own machine.
Key Takeaways
- Remote Desktop input can wake a sleeping computer because Windows treats any keyboard or mouse activity as a wake signal.
- You can disable keyboard and mouse wake-up in Device Manager by changing the power management settings for each device.
- The setting you need is called "Allow this device to wake the computer" — you uncheck it for both your keyboard and pointing device.
- Disabling this setting does not prevent you from using Remote Desktop; it only stops accidental wake-ups from keyboard and mouse input.
- You may need to repeat this process if Windows updates reinstall default drivers or if you add a new keyboard or mouse.
Finding and opening Device Manager
Device Manager is the Windows tool that shows you every piece of hardware connected to your computer and lets you change how each one behaves. To open it, right-click the Start button in the bottom left corner of your screen and select "Device Manager" from the menu. If you do not see that option, you can also press the Windows key and R together, type devmgmt.msc into the box that appears, and press Enter.
Once Device Manager opens, you will see a list of hardware categories. Look for "Keyboards" and "Mice and other pointing devices" — these are the two you need to change. If you do not see these categories listed, click the arrow next to "Human Interface Devices" to expand it; sometimes Windows groups them there instead. You may also see a category called "Universal Serial Bus controllers" if you have USB devices; ignore that for now.
Disabling wake-up for your keyboard
Click the arrow next to "Keyboards" to expand that category. You will see one or more keyboard devices listed — usually something like "Standard PS/2 Keyboard" or "HID Keyboard Device." Right-click on the keyboard entry and select "Properties" from the menu that appears.
In the Properties window, click the "Power Management" tab at the top. You will see a checkbox that says "Allow this device to wake the computer." If that checkbox is checked, click it to uncheck it. Then click "OK" to save the change. If the checkbox is already unchecked, the setting is already disabled and you can close the window.
If you have more than one keyboard listed under the Keyboards category, repeat this process for each one. This is uncommon on a single computer, but some setups have multiple input devices registered separately. Once you have unchecked the box for all keyboards, move on to your pointing device.
Disabling wake-up for your mouse or trackpad
Click the arrow next to "Mice and other pointing devices" to expand that category. You will see entries like "HID-compliant mouse," "Synaptics Touchpad," or similar names depending on what pointing device your computer has. Right-click on each one and select "Properties."
In the Properties window, click the "Power Management" tab. Look for the checkbox that says "Allow this device to wake the computer" and uncheck it if it is checked. Click "OK" to save. Repeat this for every device listed under the pointing devices category, since some computers have multiple input devices — for example, both a built-in trackpad and an external mouse.
After you have unchecked this setting for all keyboards and pointing devices, close Device Manager. The changes take effect when ready — you do not need to restart your computer. Your computer will now ignore keyboard and mouse input when deciding whether to wake from sleep.
Testing whether the change worked
To verify that keyboard and mouse input no longer wakes your computer, put the computer into sleep mode by pressing the Windows key and X together, then selecting "Shut down or sign out" and "Sleep." Wait a few seconds, then move your mouse or press a key on your keyboard. The computer should remain asleep. If it wakes up, go back to Device Manager and double-check that you unchecked the box for all keyboards and pointing devices — you may have missed one.
If your computer still wakes unexpectedly after you have disabled all keyboard and mouse wake settings, the wake signal may be coming from something else — a network adapter, a scheduled task, or a USB device. Those require different fixes in the same Power Management tabs, but at least you will know the keyboard and mouse are not the cause.
What happens if Windows updates your drivers
Sometimes Windows automatically downloads and installs updated drivers for your keyboard or mouse. When this happens, the new driver may reset the power management setting back to its default — meaning "Allow this device to wake the computer" becomes checked again. If you notice your computer starting to wake from keyboard or mouse input again after a Windows update, go back to Device Manager and repeat the steps above to uncheck the box again.
You can reduce how often this happens by disabling automatic driver updates in Windows Update settings, but that is a separate process and comes with its own trade-offs. For most people, it is easier to just re-disable the wake setting after an update than to prevent updates entirely. Mark this article as a bookmark so you can find these steps quickly if you need to repeat them.
Other ways a computer can wake during Remote Desktop
Even after you disable keyboard and mouse wake-up, your computer may still wake from sleep if you have other wake sources enabled. Network adapters can wake a computer when they receive certain types of network traffic — this is called "Wake on LAN" and is sometimes useful for remote management but can also cause unwanted wake-ups. USB devices, scheduled tasks, and timer events can also trigger wake-up.
If you want to prevent all wake-ups except for deliberate power button presses, you will need to disable these other sources as well. Open Device Manager again and look for "Network adapters" — right-click each one, select Properties, click the Power Management tab, and uncheck "Allow this device to wake the computer." The same process works for any other device you want to disable as a wake source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling keyboard and mouse wake-up prevent me from using Remote Desktop?
No. Remote Desktop Connection works through your network connection, not through your keyboard and mouse. Disabling this setting only stops accidental wake-ups from input devices; you can still connect to and control the computer remotely.
What if I have a wireless keyboard or mouse?
Wireless keyboards and mice appear in Device Manager the same way as wired ones. Find them under "Keyboards" or "Mice and other pointing devices," right-click, select Properties, go to the Power Management tab, and uncheck the wake-up box. The process is identical.
Do I need to restart my computer after making these changes?
No. The changes take effect when ready. You can test them right away by putting your computer to sleep and trying to wake it with your keyboard or mouse.
What if the Power Management tab does not appear in the Properties window?
Some devices do not have power management options. This is normal and usually means that particular device cannot wake the computer anyway. Move on to the next device in the list.
Can I disable wake-up for just one keyboard or mouse if I have multiple?
Yes. You can disable the setting for some devices and leave it enabled for others. For example, you could disable it for a wireless mouse but leave it enabled for your keyboard if you prefer to wake the computer by pressing a key.