How to Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time

This updated guide examines How to Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 4:

Scheduling Regular Shutdowns for Windows

1. Open the Task Scheduler app. If you want your scheduled shutdown to occur more than once, you'll want to use Task Scheduler. Task Scheduler is available on all versions of Windows. Here's how to find it:
   • Windows 10: Press?Win+Sto open the search bar, typetask scheduler, and then click Task Scheduler in the search results.
   • Windows 8: Press the?Winkey, typeschedule tasks, and then click Schedule tasks in the results.
   • Windows 7: Click the Start menu, select Control Panel , and then choose System and Security . Click Administrative Tools and then click Task Scheduler .
2. ClickCreate Basic Taskin the "Actions" panel. It's at the top of the panel on the right side of the window. This opens the "Create a Basic Task" wizard.
3. TypeShutdown timerfor the name and clickNext.
4. Select when you want the task to activate and clickNext. For example, if you want the computer to turn off every night at 11:30 PM, select Daily . If this is just a one-time scheduled thing, select One time .
5. Enter the time and date and clickNext. For example, let's say that beginning on July 19, 2019, you want your PC to shut down nightly at 11:30 PM. You'd enter7/19/2019into the date field, and11:30:00 PMinto the time field.
   • Leave the "Recur ever: X days" setting to "1" if you want the action to occur every day.
6. Select "Start a program" and clickNext.
7. Type the path to the shutdown.exe app into the "Program/script" box. The location should beC:WindowsSystem32shutdown.exeunless you've changed the letter for your Windows drive.
8. Type/sinto the "Add arguments" field and clickNext.
9. Review your shutdown task and clickFinish. The summary screen gives you a chance to review the scheduled date(s) and time(s) for the shutdown. Once you save your task, the computer will shut down at the scheduled time.
   • If you need to edit or delete your task, open Task Scheduler and click the Task Scheduler Library folder in the left panel. When you find your task in the center panel, right-click it to find the option to edit Properties or Delete the task.

Method 2of 4:

Scheduling Regular Shutdowns for macOS

1. Click the Applemenu. It's at the top-left corner of the screen. A menu will expand.
2. ClickSystem Preferenceson the menu.
3. Click theEnergy Savericon. It looks like a lightbulb.
4. ClickScheduleat the bottom-right corner of the window.
5. Check the box next to the second drop-down menu. It's the one that says either Sleep , Shut Down , or Restart .
6. SelectShut Downfrom the second menu.
7. Enter the time and frequency. For example, if you want the computer to shut down nightly at 11:30 PM, you'd choose Every Day from the bottom-center drop-down menu, and then enter 11:30 into the "at" box.
8. ClickOK. As long as your Mac is awake at the scheduled time, it will shut down automatically.^[1]

Method 3of 4:

Scheduling a One-Time Shutdown for Windows

1. Right-click the Startmenu. It's usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. ClickCommand prompt (Admin)orWindows PowerShell (Admin). One or both options will appear in the menu.
   • If prompted to give permission for the app to run, follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
3. TypeSHUTDOWN /S /T /F number-in-seconds . Replace number-in-seconds with how long from now (in seconds) you want the computer to shut down.^[2]
   • For example, if you want the computer to turn off in 30 minutes, you'd typeSHUTDOWN /S /T 1800.
   • Check out this Google tool that can help you convert minutes and/or hours to seconds.
4. Press?Enter. This runs the command and begins the timer. The PC will automatically shut down once the timer reaches the end.
   • If you want to cancel the automatic shutdown, return to the prompt and use the commandshutdown /a.

Method 4of 4:

Creating a Shutdown Shortcut for Windows

1. Open Notepad on your Windows PC. You write a script that adds a shortcut to your desktop that, when double-clicked, schedules a shutdown. You'll find Notepad in your Windows Start menu in a folder called Windows Accessories or Accessories .
   • Use this method if you don't want to schedule a recurring shutdown (e.g., nightly at 11:30pm) but would like to quickly schedule such a shut down if necessary.
2. Enter the following code into the Notepad file. Let's say you want the script to shut your computer down at 11:30 PM on the day you run it: Type each of the following lines on its own individual line in the file:
   • @echo off
   • :W
   • if %time%==22:30:00.00 goto:X
   • goto:W
   • :X
   • shutdown.exe /s /f /t 60 /c
     • This script will constantly check the time and, when 11:30 PM rolls around, will shut down the computer (after a 60-second grace period). You can replace that time with the time of your choice (in 24-hour/military time format).
3. Click theFilemenu and selectSave As. The Save As window will appear.
4. Open theDesktopfolder. You can do this by expanding the This PC menu in the left panel and selecting Desktop .
5. SelectAll Filesfrom the "Save as type" drop-down. It's near the bottom of the Save As window.
6. Typeshutdown-timer.batinto the "File name" field and clickSave. Your new script is now saved to your desktop. You should see its icon (some gears) on your desktop.
7. Double-click theshutdown-timer.batfile to schedule a shutdown. A blank command prompt screen should appear. You will need to leave this window open so that the computer will know to shut down at the right time. Once the time comes, you'll have 60 seconds to save your work before the computer shuts down.
   • If you want to disable the script before it's time to shut down, press?Win+Rto open the Run menu, typeshutdown –a, and then clickRun.