# Is it possible to turn a typical PC on remotely?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-turn-a-typical-pc-on-remotely/535763>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 11, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-turn-a-typical-pc-on-remotely/535763 "2010-04-11T20:32:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-turn-a-typical-pc-on-remotely/535763/1 "2010-04-11T20:32:54Z")

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I often leave my computer on at home when I go to work so that I can access it remotely.

I vaguely remember seeing an option in a PC’s bios which implied that it could be switched on by the network. I assumed it would work by receiving a signal from the etheneret cable along the lines of “I am trying to talk to you. Please respond” and the NIC would get that message and think “Ah, ok. You’ll probably want my boss to be switched on for that. I’ll tell the bios to switch everything on”

If it IS possible, does it require the computer to be wired to the network? (In other words, and here is where I may be getting a little to ambitious with my questioning, can a computer be switched on wirelessly?!!)

And you’re welcome if I gave you a laugh with my silly question 😃

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**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-turn-a-typical-pc-on-remotely/535763/2 "2010-04-11T20:40:10Z")

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You are looking for WakeOnLan.

> **[Wake On LAN through your LAN or the Internet](http://www.ezlan.net/WOL.html)**
>
> Site about, Home and SOHO Networking.,Gives advice, insight, and tips about computing, Netwroking, Broadband, Internet, Servers, Microsoft Windows.

GUI tool here:

> **[Welcome To Depicus - Home of the Geek](https://www.depicus.com/wake-on-lan/wake-on-lan-gui)**
>
> depicus is home to the computer nerd who is now cool, ably assisted by mara and mimi and mia

Essentially, your BIOS needs to support it and you will need to put the proper forwards in your firewall for you to send the wake on lan packet remotely.

> [@](#):
>
> (In other words, and here is where I may be getting a little to ambitious with my questioning, can a computer be switched on wirelessly?!!

I dont think most or perhaps even any BIOSes support wireless drivers or wireless networks. Wired only.

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**Author:** ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-turn-a-typical-pc-on-remotely/535763/3 "2010-04-11T20:43:34Z")

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Some BIOSes have a “Wake on LAN” option that will bring them out of sleep mode if there is LAN activity. I can’t remember seeing anything exactly as you describe.

A friend of mine back in the old days of modems had a bulletin board system that turned the computer on when the phone rang and answered a call from a modem. You’d have to call back a few minutes later when the computer finished booting to log onto the bulletin board.