Conventional wireless interface (WiFi) controllers cannot resolve authentication for trusted client devices without calculation from a host processor. Leaving the host processor on or awaking it from a sleep state each time a non-authenticated trusted client device attempts to connect wastes power. A hostless authenticated wake service allows a host controller to enter a sleep state while the WiFi controller responds to multicast domain name service-service discovery (mDNS-SD) queries from trusted client devices. Once a client device is authenticated, the WiFi controller may respond to a trusted client request to awake the host processor for further command processing and service provision. Not only does this approach reduce power consumption by allowing the host processor to remain in the sleep state, it allows trusted client devices to discover its presence while ensuring security.