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Program your operating system Windows to turn off automatically can be a useful task in several situations. This can be especially useful if you often leave your computer running long tasks, such as downloads, updates, or backup processes, and want to save energy or avoid leaving your computer on unnecessarily for long periods of time. In this article, you will learn how to configure Windows to automatically shut down at a specific time using “Task Scheduler”.
Step 1: Opening Task Scheduler
“Task Scheduler” is a powerful Windows tool that allows you to automate various actions, including shutting down your computer at scheduled times. Follow the steps below to access it:
Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the “Run” dialog box.
type it taskschd.msc in the dialog box and press Enter or click “OK”. This will open the Windows Task Scheduler.
Step 2: Creating a New Task
Now that you’re in Task Scheduler, follow these steps to create a new task that will schedule Windows to shut down:
In the left pane of Task Scheduler, navigate to “Task Scheduler Library” and right-click on it.
In the context menu that appears, choose “Create Basic Task…”.
This will open the Create Basic Task Wizard. Follow the instructions in the wizard to configure the task:
On the first screen, give your task a name (e.g. “Auto Shutdown”).
Then add an optional description for the task.
Click “Next” to proceed.
Step 3: Configuring Task Triggering
Now you must configure when and how the task will be executed:
Choose the “Daily” option if you want the automatic shutdown to occur every day at a specific time. Other options such as weekly or monthly are also available depending on your needs.
Click “Next” and specify the date and time you want the automatic shutdown to occur. Make sure you enter the time correctly, using the HH:MM format.
On the next screen, select the “Start a program” option and click “Next”.
Step 4: Configuring the Shutdown Action
Now, you must configure the action that will be performed when the task is triggered:
In the “Program/script” field, enter the following command: shutdown.
In the “Add arguments (optional)” field, enter the following argument to shut down your computer immediately: /s /f /t 0. This command will force Windows to shut down after a delay of 0 seconds.
Click “Next” and review the task settings.
Step 5: Completing the Setup
The last step allows you to review all the settings you have configured for the task. Make sure everything is correct and click “Finish” to create the task.
Step 6: Testing the Task
To test the task and ensure it works as expected, follow these steps:
Go back to Task Scheduler.
In the left pane, expand the “Task Scheduler Library” folder and right-click the task you just created.
From the context menu, choose “Run”.
This will perform the task and your computer should shut down automatically.
Step 7: Additional Settings (optional)
If you want to configure the task to shut down the computer at a different time or with specific actions, you can edit it at any time in Task Scheduler. Just right-click on the task and select “Properties”.
Generally speaking, having Windows automatically shut down at a specific time is a convenient way to save energy and automate recurring tasks. Task Scheduler is a powerful tool that allows you to configure automation tasks such as automatic shutdown. Be sure to use this functionality carefully and according to your needs, preventing the system from turning off unexpectedly during use. With the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set Windows to shut down on its own according to your preferred schedule.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
