This Article Applied to:

Wi-Fi Routers with 2.5G/10G LAN ports

Phenomenon Description:

When connecting a WOL-capable device, typically a computer, to the 2.5G/10G LAN ports on the Archer Router, you might find that WOL becomes ineffective. This happens because most devices' network cards (NICs) automatically slow down their connection speed to 10 Mbps after going to sleep. Unfortunately, the high-speed 2.5G/10G LAN ports on the router aren't designed to work with this slower speed. This mismatch in speed causes the device to lose its connection with the router, and as a result, it can't be woken up by the WOL application.

Workaround:

To restore WOL functionality, we recommend the following workarounds for our customers.

Workaround Solution 1: Use 1Gbps LAN Ports

Connect the device that needs to be woken up to one of the 1Gbps LAN ports on the router. These ports support a negotiated rate of 10 Mbps, which ensures that your device remains connected to the router even after it goes to sleep, enabling WOL to function as intended.

Workaround Solution 2: Adjust NIC Sleep Settings

To prevent your NIC from downshifting to 10 Mbps, which can disrupt WOL, follow these steps to set it to 100 Mbps or keep it from slowing down:

Step 1

On the computer, navigate to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center, then click on Local Area Connection > Properties > Configure > Advanced.

Step 2

Look for the setting labeled "WOL & Shutdown Link Speed' or similar. Change it to 100 Mbps First or Not Speed Down.

Additional Information

If the issue persists after trying the above workarounds, please ensure you have followed the instructions to configure all the settings properly both on your computer and on the router:

How to set up Wake-on-LAN on TP-Link wireless router