{"id":185014,"date":"2022-03-08T08:47:54","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T07:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=185014"},"modified":"2025-07-01T20:54:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T03:54:21","slug":"how-to-schedule-automatic-shutdown-windows-10-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/how-to-schedule-automatic-shutdown-windows-10-11\/","title":{"rendered":"How to schedule automatic shutdown in Windows 10 and 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Windows 10<\/a> introduced the world to simplicity as a means of achieving success. It didn’t just build on the achievements of the OS’s past; it completely wiped the failure that was Windows 8 and 8.1 from users’ minds. Rumor has it that’s why there was never a Windows 9; Microsoft wanted to show the world that it was reinventing the OS<\/strong>, not just trying to fix the Windows 8 ‘optimized for touch screen’ mess. With it shipped all sorts of new utilities to make life easier. One of them was the ability to schedule an automatic shutdown<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, Windows 11<\/a> has arrived with its sleek, new, almost transparent look. An OS truly built for the devices of the future, not just the technology of now. Windows 11 promises a brand new look and feel for Microsoft users, but luckily, it hasn’t done away with the functionality of Windows 10. Therefore, most of the utilities, like scheduling an automatic shutdown<\/strong>, are in the same place they were on Windows 10. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Automatic shutdown in Windows 10 and 11<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below we’ll take you through three ways to achieve an automatically scheduled shutdown<\/strong> on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. You’ll truly have your pick of processes and utilities when you reach the end of this article. Luckily, much like the processes themselves, this article isn’t all that long. No TL: DR necessary!<\/p>\n\n\n

  1. Method 1: Task scheduler<\/h2>\"How

    We’ve included screenshots of how to do this in Windows 11, but the <\/span>Windows 10<\/span> procedure is identical. Follow the instructions just as you would in Windows 11, and you’ll achieve the same results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 1: Open an App<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Select <\/span>Start<\/b>, search for <\/span>Task Scheduler<\/b>, and hit <\/span>Enter<\/b> to run the app.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 2: Create Basic Task<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Select <\/span>Create Basic Task<\/b> and then give it a name and description. We’d suggest something simple like <\/span>‘Automatic Shutdown’<\/b> and ‘<\/span>This utility will automatically shutdown this device<\/b>.’\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 3: Tweaks<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Now you need to choose when you want the process to start. Then, simply instruct Task Scheduler how frequently you’d like the utility to run.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 4: Date and Time<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Next, you’ll choose the date and time the task should start. Confirm by clicking <\/span>Next<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 5: Pick a Function<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Now head to <\/span>Start a Program<\/b> from the list of actions provided, and click <\/span>Next<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 6: Pick a Program<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Hit Browse and search for <\/span>C\/Windows\/System32\/shutdown.exe<\/b>. Type’\u00a0 -s’ into Add Arguments and then hit Next.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 7: Finish<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Select <\/span>Finish<\/b> to complete the setup of your brand new task. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  2. Method 2: Command prompt<\/h2>\"How

    Step 1: Open Command Prompt<\/span><\/h4>\n

    To start off, you’ll need to open the <\/span>Command Prompt utility<\/b>. Simply hit <\/span>Start<\/b> and search for <\/span>Command Prompt<\/b> in the dialogue box.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 2: Type a Command<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Once you’ve opened Command Prompt, type in ‘shutdown -s -t <number of seconds>’ and hit <\/span>Enter<\/b>. You need to use the number of seconds exactly, so if you want to shut your device down automatically after 100 minutes, type in ‘shutdown -s -t 6000’.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  3. Use a desktop shortcut<\/h2>\"How

    Step 1: Right-click Anywhere<\/span><\/h4>\n

    The first thing you need to do is right-click on an <\/span>empty section of your screen<\/b>. This will open up a menu interface. Hover your cursor over New and then click on <\/span>Shortcut<\/b> when the second menu interface appears.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 2: Type a String of Commands<\/span><\/h4>\n

    You’ll see a pop-up next asking what item you’d like to create a shortcut for. In the dialogue box, type ‘<\/span>C:\\Windows\\System32\\Shutdown.exe<\/b>‘, then hit Next.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 3: Name Your Shortcut<\/span><\/h4>\n

    It’s now time to name your <\/span>Shortcut<\/b>. We’d suggest something obvious like <\/span>Automatic Shutdown<\/b>. Click <\/span>Finish<\/b>, and you’ll have created a shortcut!<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 4: Tweak a Few Properties<\/span><\/h4>\n

    You’ll see your new <\/span>Shortcut<\/b> appear somewhere on the left-hand side of your screen, complete with the snappy name you chose in step 3. Beam with pride for a few seconds, and then right-click on it and hit <\/span>Properties<\/b>. You’ll notice a few blank spots in the new box. In the <\/span>Target<\/b> input box, type’ -s -t 3600 -c “Operation was successful”‘, this means that <\/span>Operation was Successful<\/b> is the text that you’ll see when the task is complete. If you’d like, you can replace 3600 with any length of time, for instance, 100 minutes, 6000 seconds, that we used in method 1.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ol><\/div>