Why is my computer restarting after sleep?

Why is my computer restarting after sleep?
I have been facing a frustrating issue with my computer restarting after sleep mode. Every time I put my PC to sleep, it wakes up but instead of resuming where I left off, it completely restarts. This means I lose any unsaved work and have to go through the whole booting process again, which is time-consuming and annoying. I’m unsure about what’s causing this behavior as it happens randomly without any recent software or hardware changes. It’s becoming a significant inconvenience, and I’m looking for insights to understand why this is happening and if there’s something inherent in the system settings or possibly a hardware malfunction causing the restarts.
7 Answers

Your situation with the computer restarting after sleep might be technical, but here’s a practical approach based on my experience:
- Event Viewer Insights:
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Use the Event Viewer to identify patterns or specific errors causing restarts. Look for critical errors that happen right after the wake-up time.
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Update Firmware:
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Sometimes, firmware updates for your SSD or hard drives can solve these issues. Check with your hardware manufacturer.
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Check Sleep Mode Compatibility:
- Verify that all components are compatible with Windows sleep mode. Some older hardware may not fully support newer sleep mode protocols.
Taking these steps can illuminate the root cause of your problem based on system logs and hardware compatibility.

The issue of your computer restarting after sleep is likely due to a conflict with the power settings or a hardware malfunction. Here’s how I fixed it on my machine:
- Check Power Settings:
- Go to ‘Control Panel’ -> ‘Power Options’.
- Select ‘Change plan settings’ for the active power plan.
- Click on ‘Change advanced power settings’.
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Expand ‘Sleep’ -> ‘Allow hybrid sleep’ and disable it.
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Disable Fast Startup:
- Head to ‘Control Panel’ -> ‘System and Security’ -> ‘Power Options’.
- Click ‘Choose what the power buttons do’.
- Click ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable’.
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Uncheck ‘Turn on fast startup’.
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Update Drivers:
- Make sure all drivers, especially graphics and network drivers, are up to date from the manufacturer’s website.
These steps helped stabilize my system and it no longer restarts after sleep. It might work for you too.

The problem you’re experiencing with the computer restarting after sleep can be due to a myriad of factors. For my case, it required a bit of digging:
- BIOS Settings:
- Enter BIOS settings during startup (usually by pressing Del, F2, or Esc).
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Check power management settings and ensure that ‘Wake on Lan’ is disabled. Some settings might be causing the system to improperly resume from sleep.
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Motherboard Compatibility:
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If you built your computer, ensure that the motherboard is compatible with the power settings in the OS. Check the motherboard manufacturer’s website for any BIOS updates.
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Power Supply:
- An inconsistent power supply can cause the computer to restart. Test your power supply unit (PSU) or have it checked by a professional.
These steps were instrumental in addressing the problem on my computer.

I suspect that your problem with the computer restarting after sleep could be related to Windows updates or software conflicts. Here’s what worked for me:
- Uninstall Recently Installed Software:
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If the issue started after installing new software, try uninstalling it to see if the problem persists.
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Windows Updates:
- Ensure Windows is fully updated. Sometimes, pending updates can cause such issues.
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Go to ‘Settings’ -> ‘Update & Security’ -> ‘Windows Update’ and check for updates.
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Event Viewer:
- Open the Event Viewer by typing ‘eventvwr’ in the Run dialog.
- Look for any critical errors under ‘Windows Logs’ -> ‘System’ that coincide with the restart times.
These methods assisted me in identifying and rectifying the software-related issues on my PC.

I’ve dealt with a similar issue where my system would restart after sleep. Through some trial and error, here’s what I discovered:
- Memory Issues:
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Faulty RAM can cause unexpected restarts. Run a memory test using ‘Windows Memory Diagnostic’ or tools like Memtest86.
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Check Peripheral Devices:
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Sometimes connected peripherals like USB devices can cause issues. Unplug all non-essential devices and see if the problem persists.
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System File Corruption:
- Corrupted system files can cause instability. Run ‘sfc /scannow’ in the Command Prompt to repair any system file errors.
Addressing these areas helped me resolve the restarting issue after sleep.

One potential reason for your computer restarting after sleep could be due to system settings and connected devices. Here are some suggestions:
- Driver Issues:
- Updating or rolling back drivers can often solve the problem. Focus on graphics, network, and chipset drivers.
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Use ‘Device Manager’ to check for driver updates.
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Power Management Settings:
- Adjust the power settings for devices prone to cause issues under ‘Device Manager’.
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Right-click the device, select ‘Properties’, go to the ‘Power Management’ tab, and uncheck the option to allow the computer to turn off the device to save power.
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Check for a Clean Boot:
- Perform a clean boot to determine if background services or startup programs are causing the issue.
- This can be done by using ‘msconfig’ to disable non-essential services and startup items.
These detailed steps should help find a potential fix for your problem.

Experiencing a computer restarting after sleep mode can be incredibly frustrating. In my situation, I took the following actions to solve it:
- Adjusting Windows Settings:
- Open ‘Settings’, go to ‘System’ -> ‘Power & sleep’.
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Set ‘When plugged in, PC goes to sleep after’ to ‘Never’ to test if sleep mode is the cause.
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Check for Overheating:
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Ensure that your computer is not overheating, which can sometimes cause restarts. Clean out dust from the fans and ensure proper ventilation.
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Malware Scans:
- Run a thorough malware scan using reliable antivirus software to ensure there are no malicious programs causing sudden restarts.
By addressing the overheating potential and verifying no malware was present, I was able to prevent my computer from restarting after sleep.