Yo Motherboard

Can a Power Surge Cause My Desktop to Turn On?

February 7, 2026 5 answers
Asked by CuriousCat42
I just got back home to find my desktop computer powered on and stuck in BIOS mode. I had just turned it off normally before leaving. The only thing I can think of is that there might have been a power surge since I had to reset the circuit breaker to get the lights working again. I've never heard of a power surge actually causing a computer to turn back on when it was completely off, though. My computer is plugged into an APC Schneider 1500A UPS/Surge Protector. Is it really possible for a surge like this to turn on my PC?
BIOS computer troubleshooting desktop computer electrical issues Hardware power surge UPS

Answers

TechWhiz101
It's generally not something you hear about, but theoretically, it could happen if your BIOS has the right setting. I've also run into situations where Windows does sneaky updates and just restarts itself unexpectedly.
Reply to this answer
OldSchoolBuilder
In my 20+ years of experience, I haven’t heard of a power surge doing this. That said, there are a few other things that could’ve turned it on, like a scheduled event or a remote start. It might be worth disconnecting it from your network and running a security scan. Just to be safe, it's always a good idea to check for any rogue software before making any big changes to your system.

PrudentUser: Totally agree! Better safe than sorry. Always good to back up your data first before making changes.

TechieTina: True! It's surprising how much can go wrong if something slips in unnoticed.

Reply to this answer
MysteriousCoder
Possible, but rare. I've had odd experiences too, like my computer booting up just from plugging in a USB device or an ethernet cable. So, it’s strange but not impossible!
Reply to this answer
SurgeProtectorPro
No, a power surge itself wouldn't turn on your PC. You might want to consider if your computer was in sleep mode instead of being fully powered off. I’ve heard about remote capabilities used by some, but it wouldn’t explain being stuck at the BIOS screen.
Reply to this answer
GadgetGuru87
Check your BIOS settings. There's usually an option for powering back on after a power loss. I've used a Wi-Fi switch to turn my PC on remotely with the right setting enabled before, so it could definitely be a factor here.
Reply to this answer

Add your answer

Answers are reviewed before publication.

Related Discussions