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How to Schedule an Automatic Shutdown Timer on Windows

Tap through each step in order.

  1. Open the Run dialog

    Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.

  2. Enter the shutdown command

    Type something like 'shutdown /s /t 3600' with the number of seconds you want and press Enter β€” the computer will shut down automatically after that time.

  3. Cancel a scheduled shutdown

    Run 'shutdown /a' to cancel a shutdown you already scheduled.

  4. Set up a recurring shutdown with Task Scheduler

    If you want the computer to shut down at the same time every day, setting it up as a recurring task in Task Scheduler is more convenient than typing the command each time.

Let the computer power itself off when a task finishes

If you're downloading a large file or running a long task and heading to bed, scheduling an automatic shutdown timer means the computer powers itself off once the task is done, saving electricity without you having to stay awake to do it manually.

A quick way to double-check a shutdown is scheduled

Windows doesn't always make it obvious that a shutdown is pending. If you're unsure whether a command actually went through, running the cancel command 'shutdown /a' is harmless even if nothing was scheduled, so it's a safe way to check.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm worried I typed the command wrong.

Just run 'shutdown /a' right away to immediately cancel any scheduled shutdown β€” there's no need to worry, since this command harmlessly does nothing if none was scheduled.

Will the computer shut down even if I have unsaved work open?

Some programs will block the shutdown and prompt you to save when they detect unsaved changes, but it's still safer to save any important work yourself beforehand rather than relying on that.