---
id: wakeonlan
version: "4.0.0"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# wakeonlan — A small python module for wake on lan.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 209.2K/mo

## What it is and what it does

wakeonlan is a lightweight Python module that implements the wake-on-LAN protocol to remotely power on computers across a network. It sends specially formatted magic packets to a target MAC address, optionally with SecureOn password authentication, and can route packets through specific network interfaces or external hosts. The package works as both a Python library and a standalone command-line tool.

Typical use cases include remote system administration, lab automation, and power management in networked environments. The module requires only typing_extensions as a runtime dependency and supports Python 3.10 and later. It is actively maintained, production-stable, and carries no known security vulnerabilities.

Use it for:

- Wake a single remote computer by MAC address for scheduled maintenance or remote access.
- Power on multiple computers in sequence for lab or cluster initialization.
- Integrate wake-on-LAN into automation scripts or system administration tools.
- Route magic packets through a specific network interface or external gateway for cross-subnet waking.
- Enforce SecureOn password authentication when waking sensitive network devices.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Sends wake-on-LAN magic packets to power on computers remotely by MAC address, with support for SecureOn passwords, custom hosts, ports, and network interfaces.

Yes. wakeonlan is a stable, actively maintained, single-purpose tool with minimal dependencies and no security issues. Install it if you need to remotely power on computers via wake-on-LAN; the low friction and permissive MIT license make it a straightforward choice. The only prerequisite is that wake-on-LAN must be enabled in your target hardware's BIOS.

## Install

pip install wakeonlan
uv add wakeonlan
poetry add wakeonlan

## Installing wakeonlan

Before you install: Low friction: pure Python wheel with a single lightweight dependency (typing_extensions). Active maintenance with a recent release 47 days ago and 309 repository stars.

License in practice: MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal attribution requirements—no licensing friction for any use case.

Quickstart:

pip install wakeonlan

import wakeonlan

wakeonlan.wake('ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff')

# Or with custom host and port:
wakeonlan.wake('ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff', host='192.168.1.1', port=9)

Wake-on-LAN must be enabled in the target computer's BIOS; the target computer must have a MAC address but does not need an IP address at wake time.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package handles IPv6 wake-on-LAN in addition to IPv4 (CLI shows both flags but Python API documentation is not detailed).
- Performance characteristics when waking many computers in sequence or in parallel.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 209.2K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

wake on lan python, remote power on mac address, magic packet sender, wol protocol, network device wake, network-administration, hardware-control

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