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Can I test my computer for Wake On LAN compatibility?

Only perform these steps if you are comfortable working with the command line interface.

Important: This test applies to Windows systems only.
  1. Download the zip file woltest.zip
  2. From the zip file, save woltest.exe to the computer you want to wake. The computer cannot be asleep when you do this.
  3. On the computer you want to wake, open a command prompt and go to the directory to which you unzipped woltest.exe.
  4. Enter the command woltest -info and press Enter.
  5. Review the resulting data and take note of the MAC address, Local IP, and subnet mask.
  6. Place the computer you want to wake into sleep mode.
  7. Move to any other Windows PC on your LAN and repeat steps 1-2 above.
  8. Open a command prompt and go to the directory to which you unzipped woltest.exe.
  9. Using the information you took note of in step 5, enter the following command: woltest -wake -mac [MAC address for interface] -ip [Local IP address on interface] -subnet [Local subnet mask on interface] and press Enter.

    Example: woltest -wake -mac 00:0c:20:1c:51:29 -ip 192.168.1.142 -subnet 255.255.255.0

This should wake up the sleeping computer. If not, your system may not be compatible with Wake On LAN.

Article last updated: 27 September, 2022