Support & Help

Last updated June 15, 2026

Fast version: save a computer with the right MAC address and local IP address or hostname, then tap Wake. To put a supported computer to sleep, configure its computer type and tap Sleep. If nothing happens, the culprit is usually a Wake-on-LAN or Sleep on LAN setting, a router rule, a firewall rule, or a machine that has gone fully off instead of politely asleep.

Computer Wake Up sends magic packets for Wake-on-LAN and sleep requests for supported computers. "Magic packet" is the real name, which is helpful, because it also sounds like what you end up wishing for when a stubborn desktop ignores you.

Getting started

On iPhone or iPad:

Open Computer Wake Up.
Add a computer.
Enter its name, MAC address, and local IP address or hostname.
Pick the computer type so the app knows how sleep should work.
Optionally pick an icon and color so future you knows what you meant.
Save it, then tap Wake or Sleep.

On the Mac companion:

Launch the app and look for the menu bar icon.
Open the popover.
Use Scan Network to look for devices nearby, or add one manually.
Save the computers you care about, then wake them from the menu bar later.

Setting up Sleep

Sleep works differently depending on the kind of computer you saved.

Mac sleep

Install and open the Computer Wake Up Mac companion on the Mac you want to sleep.
Keep the menu bar companion running.
Save that Mac in Computer Wake Up with its correct MAC address.
Set the computer type to Mac.
Tap Sleep from your iPhone, iPad, or another Mac companion.

Mac sleep requests are signed and delivered through your iCloud account to the Mac companion. The Mac companion then asks macOS to sleep.

Windows, Linux, servers, and NAS devices

Install Sleep on LAN on the target computer from github.com/ctborg/sleep-on-lan.
Keep the Sleep on LAN listener running on that computer.
Allow Sleep on LAN through the target computer’s firewall if prompted.
In Computer Wake Up, save the target computer’s MAC address and local IP address or hostname.
Set the computer type to Windows, Linux, Server, NAS, or Unknown.
Tap Sleep while the target computer is awake and reachable on your network.

For non-Mac devices, Computer Wake Up sends a Sleep on LAN packet to the saved address on UDP port 9. The target computer must be awake, reachable, and running the Sleep on LAN listener for the request to do anything.

What has to be true for this to work

the target computer must support Wake-on-LAN
Wake-on-LAN must be enabled in firmware or operating system power settings
Sleep on LAN must be installed and running for non-Mac sleep
the Mac companion must be running for Mac sleep
the saved MAC address must be correct
your network gear has to allow the traffic through
some machines need Ethernet, and some only wake from sleep rather than full shutdown

Troubleshooting

The computer does not wake

Double-check the MAC address first. It is the least glamorous problem and also the most common.
Confirm Wake-on-LAN is enabled in BIOS, UEFI, or system settings.
Try the test while both devices are on the same local network.
If the machine is on Wi-Fi, check whether that hardware actually supports wireless Wake-on-LAN.
If the machine was fully shut down, test again from normal sleep.
If your router blocks broadcast traffic, the packet may be fine and the network may be the one with attitude.

The computer does not sleep

Confirm the saved computer type is correct. Macs and non-Macs use different sleep paths.
For a Mac, make sure the Computer Wake Up Mac companion is installed, open, and signed into the same iCloud account.
For Windows, Linux, servers, and NAS devices, make sure Sleep on LAN is installed and running on the target computer.
Check that the saved local IP address or hostname still points to the target computer.
Allow Sleep on LAN through the target computer’s firewall and make sure UDP port 9 is not blocked.
Test while both devices are on the same local network. VPNs, VLANs, guest Wi-Fi, and strict routers can block the packet.

Scan Network does not find anything

Some devices do not advertise themselves in a discoverable way.
Routers, VLANs, and Bonjour visibility can all affect scan results.
Manual entry is always a perfectly respectable fallback.

Saved computers are not syncing

Make sure iCloud is enabled for the app on each device.
Make sure those devices are signed into the same iCloud account.
Give CloudKit a minute. It is usually right, just occasionally dramatic.

The Mac app seems missing

The companion lives in the macOS menu bar. It is not trying to be mysterious; it just is not a normal windowed app.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account?

No. There is no app-specific account or login.

Does the app send my computer list to your servers?

No. Saved computers stay on your device and can optionally sync through your own iCloud account.

Can I use it with a NAS or home server?

Yes, as long as that device supports Wake-on-LAN and is configured to respond to magic packets. Sleep requires Sleep on LAN or another supported sleep path on that device.

What is Sleep on LAN?

Sleep on LAN is a small listener for non-Mac computers. Computer Wake Up sends it a local-network sleep packet, and the listener handles the sleep request on the target machine.

Can I wake a computer from outside my home?

Sometimes, but that depends on your network setup. The app can send the packet; your router still gets a vote.

What if I do not know the MAC address?

Check the target computer’s network settings, your router’s client list, or try the Mac companion’s scan feature as a starting point.

Still stuck?

If you found a bug, want a feature, or have a machine that refuses to respect modern convenience, email support-computer-wake-up@borg.fyi.