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How to Create a Shutdown Timer in Windows 10

Four ways to automate shutdowns one-time or for regularly scheduled dates

By S.E. Slack S.E. Slack Senior Strategy & Editorial Director, Lifewire.com California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo S.E. Slack has 30+ years' experience writing about technology. She has authored 12 books, thousands of articles, and worked for IBM and Microsoft. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 18, 2022 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide

What to Know

For one-time use: Open Command Prompt, then type shutdown –s –t > # of seconds > Enter.Also, for one-time needs: Use the Run command: shutdown –s –t > # of seconds > OK.You can also use Task Scheduler to create a detailed system and schedule for regularly scheduled shutdown events. This article explains four ways to set a specific, automatic shutdown time for your PC. We also include information on how to stop a scheduled shutdown.

How to Schedule a Computer to Shut Down With Command Prompt

Follow these steps to use the command prompt for a one-time shutdown. In the Windows Search Box, type CMD. Select Enter. In the Command Prompt window, type shutdown -s -t and the number of seconds you want. Note the CMD and Run command processes use seconds to measure time, not minutes. For example, if you want to shut down in 10 minutes, use 600 seconds. If you want your computer to shut off in 10 hours, use 36,000. The choice is always yours; remember to add it in seconds instead of minutes. Select Enter. A window will pop up, warning you Windows will shut down in the amount of time you requested. That's it. Your computer will now automatically shut down at the time you specified. You'll receive a warning a few minutes before shutdown to remind you then, too. No longer want your computer to shut down at a specific time? Cancel the request by opening the Command Prompt and typing shutdown -a. Select Enter.

How to Set up Automatic Shutdown With the RUN Command

Follow these steps to use the command prompt for a one-time shutdown. In the Windows search box, type RUN. You can also press the Windows button + R at the same time instead. Select Enter. In the Run dialog box, type shutdown -s -t and the number of seconds you need. Select OK. A window will pop up showing you that it received your request, and your computer will log off at the time you requested.

Using PowerShell for Immediate Shutdown

If you'd like a quick and immediate shutdown for Windows, use Windows PowerShell, the Start-Sleep, and the Stop-Computer cmdlets. The Start-Sleep cmdlet suspends activities in a script for a specified period of time. This puts applications to sleep or closes them. The Stop-Computer cmdlet will shut down the specified computer. In Windows Search, enter powershell and select either Windows PowerShell or Windows PowerShell ISE. At the prompt, enter Start-Sleep -s ##; Stop-Computer -ComputerName localhost. Where -s represents Seconds and ## is the number of seconds. In our example, we use 1800. For the local computer, use ComputerName localhost or specify the computer name you wish to shut down.
Press Enter. Make sure you've saved or closed any documents or apps as this will shut down your computer immediately.

How to Use Task Scheduler to Set up Regular Shutdowns

If you need to set a shutdown timer for multiple uses (i.e., daily or weekly automatic shutdowns), it's best to use the Task Scheduler, so you don't have to remember to set things up all the time. Follow these steps: Open the Task Scheduler by typing Schedule into the Windows search box. Select Enter. In the Task Scheduler, go to Actions and choose Create Basic Task. In the Name and Description boxes, enter a name and description of your task. Select Next. In the Create Basic Task Wizard window, select a trigger. Select Next. Enter the dates and times as needed using the prompts from the Wizard. Select Next. In the Action window, select Start a program. Select Next. In the Start a Program window, use the Browse button to select the shutdown program on your computer. It might say shutdown.exe or some other form of shutdown, depending on your computer. After you have selected the shutdown file, select Open. In the Start a Program window, select Next. In the Summary window, select Finish. With these four approaches, you can manage your computer's time and energy with ease. How to Change Windows 10 Network to Private FAQ How can I set a sleep timer on my Windows 10 PC? To set your Windows 10 sleep timer, you'll change your Windows sleep settings. In the Search box, search for sleep, and select Power & sleep settings from the results. In the Sleep section, under When plugged in, PC goes to sleep after, select the drop-down box to choose the amount of time you want your computer to remain idle before going to sleep. How do I set a shutdown timer in Windows 8? To set a shutdown timer in Windows 8, press Windows+X to bring up the Quick Access Menu. Select Run, enter a shutdown command in the box > OK. Or, open Task Scheduler and choose Create Basic Task, enter shutdown > Next. Then, select the start date, shutdown time, and frequency and follow the prompts. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Properly Reboot (Restart) a Windows Computer How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows How to Find a Windows 11 Product Key Switch Command Prompt and PowerShell on the Win+X Menu How to Open Command Prompt (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc.) How to Enable or Disable the Administrator Account in Windows How to Fix a Frozen Windows 10 Taskbar What is the Shutdown Command in Windows? How to Install and Setup BASH on Windows 10 What's Conhost.exe in Windows? What Does it Do? What Is the Windows Terminal & How Does It Work? Scan and Fix Your Hard Drive: Windows System Files How to Access Device Manager From the Command Prompt Windows 10 Battery Report: What It Is And How to Use It How to View Windows Uptime in Windows 10 How to Use the Format Command to Write Zeros to a Hard Drive Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies