Set Shutdown Timer in Windows: Step-by-Step Guide

• Author: Vladimir Artiukh
• Editor: Oleg Afonin
• Updated: 2.05.2024 15:29

Want to know how to set a shutdown timer in Windows? Look no further! In this article, we’ll show you step-by-step how to set up a timer for automated shutdowns on your Windows computer. Whether you need to schedule a shutdown for energy saving or other purposes, our tutorial will guide you through the process with ease. Say goodbye to manual shutdowns and hello to automation!

Contents

• Set the timer with the Command Prompt
• Create a shortcut for shutdown timer
• Set the timer with Task Scheduler
• Questions and answers
• Comments

In today’s tutorial, we will show you how to configure a shutdown timer using the functionality of the Windows operating system. If, for some reason, you don’t want to use the integrated functions of your Windows, there are lots of similar third-party apps that can be downloaded from the Internet. They offer improved graphical interface and extra features, such as the option to log off, turn on the sleep mode, set the exact idle time interval for shutting down or logging off and more. The sequence of steps for all applications is very similar and user-friendly, so you shouldn’t have any difficulties in doing everything right on the first try.

Set the timer with the Command Prompt

This is an all-inclusive method that work for all versions of Windows, from Windows 7 and to the latest builds of Windows 10. It involves using the functionality behind the command shutdown, which can turn off or restart a computer automatically after a set period of time.

To create a shutdown timer manually, open the Run dialogue box. You can use any of the four methods described below:

Method 1. Click on the Start button in the lower left corner of your desktop, on the Taskbar and open the main Windows menu. You will see the list of installed programs and applications; drag the scroll bar to find the group Windows System and open the nested menu to select Run.

Method 2. Right-click on the Start button in the Taskbar or press the key sequence Windows + X to open the context menu and select the Run dialogue box.

Method 3. Click on the Search button on the Taskbar next to the Start button.

Alternatively, open the main Windows menu by clicking on the Start button, then start typing any word you want to search for, and the search feature will be enabled automatically.

In the search field, start typing the query Run, and select the desktop app Run in the best match section.

Method 4. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows + R to open the Run dialogue box. In the Command Prompt window, type the command shutdown -s -t XXXX. The value XXXX denotes the time (in seconds) before the computer should be powered off. For example, if you want the computer to be turned off in 2 hours, the command should look like this: shutdown -s -t 7200. Click ОК or press Enter on your keyboard to perform this command.

At once, Windows will show warning on the screen: You are about to be signed out. Windows will shut down in 120 min. Shutdown will start on ________. When the time is up, all programs will be closed, and the computer will be powered off.

When the shutdown time period is less than ten minutes (600) seconds, the warning will be shown on the desktop. For example, when you enter the command “shutdown -s -t 600”, you will see such a message.

If you need to restart the computer after a certain period of time, open the Run window and type the command shutdown -r -t XXXX, replacing the value -s with -r.

Replace the value XXXX with the exact time in seconds after which you need the operating system to restart. Click ОК or press Enter on your keyboard to perform this command. The pop-up reminder in the Action Center will show you the exact time left before the restart.

To cancel a scheduled shutdown, open the Run app again and type the command shutdown -a. Click ОК or press Enter on your keyboard to perform this command.

When the command shutdown -a is performed, the Action Center will flash a warning: Logoff is cancelled. The scheduled shutdown has been cancelled.

Create a shortcut for shutdown timer

If you are going to use the shutdown timer regularly, and opening the Command Prompt every time seems a nuisance, you can create a desktop shortcut for such shutdown timer.

Right-click on an empty area of your desktop, and click New in the nested menu that appears, then select Shortcut.

In the line Type the location of the item of the Create shortcut window, type the command with the required shutdown timer settings (use the examples we gave above). For example, if you want to create a shortcut for the shutdown timer that will do the job in one hour, type the command shutdown /s -t 3600 or specify the full path C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 3600.

After that, click Next to continue. In the new window, type the shortcut name (for this example, we used the name shutdown3600), click Finish and the shortcut will be created.

Now, it will always be there on your desktop. Every time you need to activate the shutdown timer, just double-click on this shortcut to start.

To cancel the scheduled shutdown, create another desktop shortcut, this time to disable the timer with the command shutdown -a; use the same sequence of steps for creating shortcuts as we described before. Alternatively, cancel the timer by typing the command shutdown -a in the Run dialogue box.

If you don’t want the shortcut to be on the desktop, you can attach it to the Taskbar. Right-click on it and select Pin to taskbar from the context menu.

The shortcut icon will appear immediately on the Taskbar, and the desktop shortcut can be removed now: press the Delete button on the keyboard or select Delete from the context menu.

Additionally, you can select a corresponding icon for the shutdown timer shortcut, so that you can always find it easily. Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties from the context menu.

Then go to the tab Shortcut and click on Change Icon….

In the Change Icon window select an item that you prefer to have for the shutdown timer shortcut. Alternatively, you can select your own icon (if you have it), and find it by clicking Browse….

Click Apply and ОК to save the changes you have made to the shortcut properties. The shutdown timer shortcut will change automatically into the icon you have chosen.

Set the timer with Task Scheduler

This is the second way of setting a computer shutdown timer with the help of Windows built-in functionality. Open the Run dialogue box with one of the methods we have described here (for example, access it directly by pressing the key shortcut Windows + R). Type taskschd.msc in the command prompt, click ОК or press Enter on your keyboard to start the Task Scheduler.

In the Scheduler window, go to Action and select Create Basic Task….

In the window Create Basic Task Wizard fill the required field with any task name you prefer (for example, we use the name shutdown3600) and click Next to continue.

Select one of the options to start a task depending on your needs. For the shutdown timer, select One time and click Next.

In the new window, set when the task should begin: date and exact time for shutdown, then click Next.

Select an action for the task by checking the option in Run a program and click Next.

In the page Start a program, type the command shutdown in the field Program / script, and in the field Add arguments (optional): specify the setting -s. Confirm the data you have entered by clicking Next.

In the Summary page, check all parameters you entered and click Finish to complete task creation. Now your computer will be powered off on a definite date and at a definite time.

Now that you know typical ways to set a shutdown timer with the built-in features of the Windows operating system, you will always be able to use this function when necessary.