How To Turn On a Laptop Without a Power Button

Do you suspect that your power button is faulty? It can be frustrating to turn on your laptop to work on a task or study, only to find out the power button isn’t functioning. While a computer failing to turn on may be due to other hardware problems, a faulty power button is a primary suspect. Are there any ways to turn on a laptop other than using the power button? Yes, there are.

This article takes you through the two non-technical ways to turn on your laptop without the power button.

Method #1: Using an External Keyboard

Most computer models have a function that lets you turn on your laptop using an external keyboard. Unfortunately, this function is disabled by default, and you have to enable it before the power button fails. Below is the step-by-step process to enable the function.

1. When your power button is still intact, start your computer.
2. Depending on your computer model, press either “F2,” “DEL,” or “F10” to open the BIOS settings.
3. Navigate to “Advanced” on the BIOS settings menu.
4. Click on “Power Management Options.”
5. Tap on “Power By Keyboard” or “Wake On Keyboard.”
6. Enter the key you want as an alternative to your power button.
7. Save the settings and exit.

Alternatively, you can configure the BIOS settings while your laptop is on. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Click on the “Start” menu.
2. Tap on “Settings.”
3. Click on “Update & Security.”
4. Scroll down and click on “Recovery.”
5. A new window opens. On the “Advanced Section” menu, tap on “Restart Now.”
6. Click on “Troubleshoot.”
7. Tap on “Advanced Options.”
8. Navigate to “Power Management” or “ACPI Management.”
9. Press “Enter.”
10. Click on “Power By Keyboard” or “Wake On Keyboard.”
11. Enable this function using either the “-” or “+” key on your keyboard.
12. Choose your preferred key to turn on the laptop.
13. Save the settings and exit.

Method #2: Using Wake-on-LAN Function

The other non-technical method to turn on your laptop without the power button is using a pre-enabled Wake-on-LAN function. Follow these steps to enable this function on your computer:

1. Start your laptop.
2. Press “F2,” “F10,” or “DEL” to enter the BIOS settings.
3. Select “Power Management.”
4. Enable “Power-on-LAN” or “Wake-on-LAN,” depending on your computer model.
5. Enter your preferred key to power the computer.
6. Save the settings and exit.

Alternatively, follow the following process to set up the Wake-on-LAN when your computer is on:

1. Open “Settings.”
2. Navigate to “Update & Security.”
3. Press “Recovery.”
4. Tap on “Restart Now” under “Advanced Setup.”
5. On the new window that appears, press “Troubleshoot.”
6. Click on “Advanced Options.”
7. Scroll down the menu and click on “Power Management” or “ACPI Management.”
8. Press “Enter.”
9. Go to “Power-on-LAN” or “Wake-on-LAN.”
10. Use the “-“ or “+” keys on your keyboard to enable this function.
11. Input your preferred key to turn on the laptop.
12. Save the settings.
13. Press the “F10” key to exit.

After enabling the Wake-on-LAN function on your computer, you need to complete the setup by configuring the network card. This step is crucial as it confirms if this method will work in the future when your power button fails. 

Here are the steps to configure your network card:

1. Search for the “Device Manager” on the search box. Alternatively, you can right-click on the “Start” menu and scroll up to locate the Device Manager.
2. Click on the “Device Manager.”
3. Scroll down on the menu and locate “Network Adapters.”
4. Right-click on “Network Adapters” and select “Properties.”
5. Navigate to “Power Management.”
6. Check the box that reads, “Allow this device to wake the computer.”
7. Enable the “Wake On Magic Packet” option under “Advanced.”

Summary

You can turn on your laptop without the power button using an external keyboard or the Wake On LAN function. However, you’d need to have enabled these two functions before the power button fails.

Frequently Asked Questions