Is it possible to set a timer on the computer? How to turn off your computer after a certain time

Sometimes situations arise when it is necessary for the computer to be able to turn off on its own according to a schedule. For example, you need to distribute your working hours, limit access for children, or turn off the device after performing some lengthy operation. There are several ways to set the Windows shutdown timer.

Setting a timer using Windows

A reliable method using the built-in Shutdown program.

Allows you to set a shutdown timer for Windows 7, 8 (8.1) and 10, as well as restart the computer after a set time without using additional applications:

1. The first thing you need is to press the key combination Win + R (Win is the key with the Windows icon), after which a small window will open in the lower left corner “Run”.
2. In the field that appears, enter shutdown -s -t N, where N is the time before shutdown in seconds. For example, 1 hour = 3600 s. The -s option is responsible for shutting down, and -t indicates the time. To reboot the computer, replace the -s parameter with -r. To force applications to close (without the ability to save the process), add -f (after -a).
3. Click on “OK”. A notification will appear informing you that the job will complete after the specified time.
4. To cancel the timer, enter shutdown -a. The system will notify you as you get closer to shutdown time.

If you need to regularly use the computer shutdown timer for Windows, it will be more convenient to create a shortcut. To do this you will need:

1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.
2. Select New > Shortcut.
3. In the window that appears, specify the path to the desired program “C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe” and add parameters for shutdown, for example, -s -f -t 1800. Click “Next”.
4. Enter the name of the shortcut and click on “Done”.

Task Manager

The Windows operating system has a special Task Scheduler application for creating and managing common tasks. Algorithm of actions:

1. First of all, click on the “Start” menu.
2. To set the Windows 10 shutdown timer, find the “Administrative Tools” section, where you select the desired program. Search in alphabetical order.
3. For Windows 7, go to Control Panel. Select the “Category” viewing mode. Click on “System and Security” > “Administration” > “Task Scheduler”.
4. Or press Win + R and enter taskschd.msc in the Run window and click OK.
5. In the “Task Scheduler”, hover your mouse over the “Action” tab, and then select “Create a simple task” from the list.
6. Enter a custom name and description if desired. Click "Next".
7. Select a trigger, i.e. the frequency of the operation performed, for example, daily or once. Click “Next”.
8. Set the exact time when your computer will turn off. Click on “Next” again.
9. Select an action for the “Run a program” task. Continue.
10. Enter shutdown in the script line and -s in the arguments line.
11. Review all settings and click Finish.

The task will be created and the computer will turn off at the specified time. After this, you can always go back and edit the parameters as needed in the task scheduler library or disable the task altogether.

Third party programs

Additional applications are needed for convenience and more flexible settings. But not all programs downloaded from the Internet can be safe for your computer.

During the global technical revolution, human needs are increasing, so another need has appeared - to turn off the computer at a certain time or after a certain time. A common reason is watching a movie at night, when many people turn on the movie before going to bed and fall asleep listening to it. Of course, this does not have a beneficial effect on a person’s sleep, but that’s another topic.

Now let's figure out how to set our computer or laptop on a timer. There are a large number of programs that are created specifically for this purpose; you can also set your computer on a timer through the Windows command line.

Computer shutdown timer programs.

Timer programs are not particularly different in functionality; they basically set the computer to turn off, reboot, or go into sleep mode at a certain period of time. Below I will give a list of the most popular timer programs that antivirus and users do not complain about.

Airytec Switch Off.

The program that I use myself, because it has earned the trust of users and it is the only one with an official website. In addition, none of the antiviruses suspected anything dangerous in Airytec Switch OFF. This timer is also compatible with Windows 8 and 10.

After launch, an icon appears in the Windows notification area.

By clicking the Job button, you can set the following functions:

In the settings you can change the following parameters:

Another distinctive feature of Switch OFF from other timers is the remote shutdown of the computer.

Wise Auto Shutdown.

Another good free timer, and in Russian, is Wise Auto Shutdown ().

As you can see from the screenshot, the interface is extremely clear and intuitive. In addition, there is a function to turn off the computer after a certain period of inactivity. Wise Auto Shutdown provides notifications that your computer is about to shut down, which can sometimes help you extend the timer in time.

A very decent timer that does not overload the system and has a clear interface.

Sleep timer.

a program with the original name Shutdown Timer. Programs with a simple interface and, according to some sources, may contain malware, but I did not find anything. The main thing during installation is not to install additional components.

In this program, you can schedule computer shutdowns many days in advance, and also set a scheduled reboot of your computer or laptop. The only disadvantage of the program is that it is difficult to close the program; a notification constantly pops up that there is no need to close the program, so it is better to just minimize it.

How to set a computer shutdown timer, without programs.

For those who do not want to risk cluttering up the free space of their computer, there are several ways to set a computer or laptop on a timer using the built-in Windows functions. For this:

If your plans change and you suddenly want to cancel the timer, then:

1. Press the key combination Win+R.
2. In the dialog box enter: shutdown -a.
3. Click OK.
4. The timer has been cancelled.

If you don’t like this method because you have to remember the key combination and command, then I suggest you familiarize yourself with another way to set a timer.

There is another way to turn off a computer or laptop after a certain time.

Video on how to set a timer to turn off your computer.

Detailed video instructions on how to set a timer on a computer or laptop.

The computer shutdown timer will allow you to automatically turn off your computer after a certain preset period of time. At the end of the time interval, the personal computer will automatically shut down and turn off.

The Windows computer shutdown timer completely shuts down the computer rather than putting the PC into sleep or hibernation mode. This function is in demand in different situations.

Often, for various reasons, the user does not have the opportunity to shut down work on the computer, and he does not want to leave a running PC unattended for a long time. The way out of this situation is to use a timer to turn off the computer after a certain time specified by the user.

Shutting down your Windows 7 computer automatically using a timer is carried out using system tools or using third-party software. In this article you will find instructions that tell you how to set a shutdown timer for a Windows 7 computer using the system's built-in tools, without using third-party applications.

You can turn off your computer using a timer using Windows 7 tools. In this article we will look at 5 ways to automatically turn off your PC using system tools: running a command in the Run dialog box, creating a shortcut to start the shutdown timer, shutting down the system after running a “.bat” file, creating a task in the Windows Task Scheduler, shutting down the system in the command line.

Start the Windows 7 computer shutdown timer in the Run dialog box - method 1

One of the easiest ways to shut down your computer at a specific time is to use a command entered into the Run dialog box. Read more about the commands that you can use in the Run window.

1. Press the “Win” + “R” keys on your keyboard.
2. In the “Run” window, in the “Open” field, enter the command: “shutdown -s -t X” (without quotes), and then click on the “OK” button. “X” is the time in seconds before the computer automatically turns off.

A window will appear on the screen warning you that Windows will shut down after a certain time, in this case, 10 minutes. Close the message window.

At the appointed time, Windows 7 will shut down your computer.

How to turn off the Windows 7 computer shutdown timer in the Run window

If the user's plans change and the shutdown of Windows needs to be canceled, a command will be required to cancel the previous shutdown command.

You can cancel Windows 7 shutdown only while waiting for the computer to automatically shut down:

1. Press the "Win" + "R" keys.
2. In the “Run” dialog box, enter the command: “shutdown -a” (without quotes), click on the “OK” button.

The automatic shutdown of your computer in Windows 7 will be cancelled.

How to turn off your computer using a timer using a shortcut on the desktop - method 2

To quickly start a timer that will shut down the system after a specified period of time, create a special shortcut on your computer desktop.

1. Right-click on the Desktop.
2. From the context menu, select New and then Shortcut.
3. In the “Specify the location of the object” field, enter the path: “C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t X” (without quotes), and then click on the “Next” button. “X” is the time in seconds until the system shuts down.

1. In the “What should I name the shortcut?” window. Enter any name convenient for you, click on the “Done” button.

A shortcut will appear on the Desktop to start the computer shutdown timer.

Select the appropriate icon for the shortcut:

1. Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties.
2. In the “Properties” window, in the “Shortcut” tab, click on the “Change Icon” button.
3. In the “Change Icon” window, select the appropriate icon, and then click on the “OK” button.

A timer start icon with a clear picture will appear on the desktop.

To start the countdown to shut down the operating system, double-click on the shortcut with the left mouse button.

Starting a timer to shut down Windows 7 using a bat file - method 3

Another quick way to enable a timer counting down until the end of the operating system is to use an executable (batch) file with the “.bat” extension.

This file can be created using the Notepad program included with Windows.

Open Notepad, enter one of the following commands:

Shutdown.exe -s -t X -c "message text" shutdown.exe -s -t X

The commands differ in that after executing the first command, a message will appear on the screen indicating that the computer will be turned off. Instead of the phrases “message text”, write in English, something like “computer off timer”. “X” is the time in seconds before the system turns off.

In the file saving window, in the “File type” field, select “All files”, and in the “File name” field, enter any name with the “.bat” extension, for example, “PC.bat”.

To start the timer, click on the “.bat” file.

Shutting down a Windows 7 computer in Task Scheduler - method 4

Using Windows Task Scheduler, you can specify the time when your computer should be turned off.

On the computer.

In the main scheduler window, in the right column “Actions”, select “Create a simple task...”.

In the “Create a simple task” window, give the task a name, for example, “Turn off the computer” (without quotes), and then click on the “Next” button.

In the “Task Trigger” window, select to run the task “One time”, click on the “Next” button.

In the next window, set the time to complete the task, and then click on the “Next” button.

In the Action window, select Run a program.

In the “Run a program” window, in the “Program or script” field, enter the path to the file:

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe

In the “Add arguments (optional)” field, enter “-s” (without quotes), click on the “Next” button.

In the “Summary” window, review the parameters and click on the “Finish” button.

Disable the computer shutdown task in Task Scheduler

If plans change, the user can disable the task in the Task Scheduler.

In the main window of the Task Scheduler, in the left column, click on the “Task Scheduler Library” option. Find the task, right-click on it, and select “Disable” from the context menu.

How to turn off the computer via the command line using a timer - method 5

You can turn off your computer using a Windows 7 timer using the command line.

Launch Command Prompt.

In the command line interpreter window, enter the command and then press the Enter key:

Shutdown -s -t X

“X” is the time until Windows shuts down in seconds.

The Windows 7 shutdown timer has started.

The user can select the exact time to turn off the computer. In this case, you need to run the following command:

At XX:XX shutdown /s /f

“XX:XX” is the time when you should automatically turn off your computer.

How to cancel computer shutdown via command line

If necessary, the user can disable the computer shutdown timer function running on the command line.

Enter the Windows command prompt.

In the command prompt window, enter the command, and after entering the command, press “Enter”:

Shutdown –a

The system shutdown will be cancelled.

Conclusions of the article

Using the computer shutdown timer, the user can shut down the Windows 7 operating system at a specified time. The PC will automatically shut down. You can run a command to shut down the system in the Task Scheduler, in the “Run” window, in the command line, using a specially created shortcut, using an executable “.bat” file.

It happens that the computer works for a long time and will complete the task only after a long time. However, a person needs to do things in the real world in the same timely manner as in the virtual one. In this case, the Windows 7 computer shutdown timer helps a lot. Of course, there are applications that have sleep and shutdown settings, but not every program has this capability.

For example, if you download a long series, but don’t want to listen to the computer hum all night, then you just need to consider turning it off. Along with programs that are designed specifically to solve this issue, there are already existing standard Windows tools. It can also be used in Windows xp.

Standard remedy

There is a standard program in the operating system that is activated after certain actions:

• Click on the Start button;
• Go to Programs >> Standard;
• Click Command Line.

The Windows management bar interface will open.

This is not a graphical interface that many are used to using. But the thing is that such a program is even simpler, the main thing is to know certain commands. In this case, you should type shutdown /? and then press the Enter key. All information about the special shutdown application will be displayed on the monitor. In order to set your computer to a sleep timer or to turn it off, you only need three letters:

• s – it means turning off the computer;
• t – it indicates the period of time after which the computer will turn off;
• a – allows you to cancel the shutdown.

As a result, it turns out that if you want to shut down Windows 7 or xp for about an hour, you should enter the phrase shutdown –s –t 3600 on the command line. The notification in Windows 7 will appear in the following form:

In the Windows xp operating system, a special window appears in which the countdown will be carried out.

To make things even faster, you can simply open the Start menu and click Run.

What should you do if you no longer want to turn off your computer? For example, it occurred to me to work a little more. You can simply type shutdown –a.

Automatic methods

To avoid writing abstruse lines in abstruse software environments, you can use applications. In Windows 7, this is an ordinary task scheduler program that can put the computer into sleep mode or simply turn it off according to a schedule. This standard utility provides great flexibility as you can set up a regular schedule to turn it on and off. This is very convenient if, for example, the user is far from home, and remote access to the computer requires constant switching on.

In Windows xp, this is a program called Shutdown Timer, it looks like this:

Everything is simple here, the controls are intuitive and no installation is required. You can also set sleep and shutdown modes. This excellent program, 10 seconds before shutting down, displays a special window in which you can cancel the decision made to turn off the computer. It's great that you no longer have to wait for any applications to complete their tasks. Naturally, if you approach the matter wisely, life will become much simpler.

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Read about different ways to enable the computer shutdown timer, how to configure it and create a shortcut. The development of computer technology does not stand still and is developing at a tremendous pace. What seemed impossible yesterday is already a past stage today. The creation of new computers and mobile devices significantly expands the possibilities of their use every day.

An important link in the chain of expanding possibilities for using computer technology is the development and implementation of new software. Increasing functionality and reducing the size of modern computer devices allow them to be used in all areas of modern life. Computer technologies, together with control elements, significantly simplify the use of various devices and perform important functions for monitoring them. Today it is difficult to imagine any device that does not have computer control elements. Starting from the simplest devices (wristwatch, toaster, gas oven, etc.) to the most complex devices (modern high-speed cars, spacecraft control center, modern electrical networks and power generating stations, etc.), computer elements are used everywhere technologies and programs.

The main objective of this widespread use of electronic technology is to improve the use, management and control of the process for the convenience of the individual consumer. For example, when working at a power plant, computer technology allows you to calculate and select the correct parameters for the successful completion of the task of transmitting electrical energy, protects the system from failures and errors, and also saves significant financial resources.

At the household level, the use of computer technology makes it much easier for the user to manage and control devices. One of the control elements is the reminder function or time control function (timer). It is present in almost all devices, so it is not surprising that modern personal computers have such a function. The time control function (timer) allows you to set shutdown parameters for the system to complete the assigned tasks or after a certain period of time has passed. There may be various situations when the timer function is needed. You may need to leave your desk (an emergency, the end of the work day, it's just late enough to go to bed, etc.), but all the processes on your computer have not yet completed and cannot be stopped from running. For example, an installed anti-virus program performs a full scan of the system for vulnerabilities and threats, the process of transcoding the video stream is in progress, the system is creating a backup copy, uploading or downloading a large amount of data, etc. In this case, you can set a timer for a certain period of time, after which the system will automatically turn off the computer.

Note: Today, a large number of programs have the function of automatically turning off the computer when the task is completed, but not all. Therefore, the time control function may be required in various situations.

If you decide to set up the time control function, then use the suggested methods presented below:

In this guide, we will show you ways to set the shutdown timer using the operating system's capabilities. "Windows". If for some reason you do not want to use standard features "Windows", then there are many third-party programs and applications that you can find on the Internet. These programs have an improved graphical interface and will provide you with additional benefits such as the ability to log out, hibernate, set a precise shutdown time, or close after a period of inactivity. The algorithm of actions for all applications is almost the same and intuitive, so using them should not cause you any additional difficulties.

Set a computer shutdown timer using the command line

This method is universal and is suitable for all versions of the operating system "Windows", starting from version "Windows 7" and ending with the latest version "Windows 10". It involves using the team's capabilities "shutdown", which can automatically turn off the computer after a certain specified time, and can also restart it.

To manually create a sleep timer, open the dialog box "Run". You can use one of the four proposed methods to choose from:

Method 1: Click the button "Start", located on "Taskbars" in the left corner of the desktop and open the main user menu "Windows". In the list of installed programs and applications, using the scroll bar, move the slider down and find the section "Service - Windows", open the submenu and select dialog box "Run".

Method 2: Right click on the button "Start" on "Taskbars" or press the keyboard shortcut together "Windows + X", and in the menu that opens, select the dialog box "Run".

Method 3: Press the button "Search", located on "Taskbars" next to the button "Start". Or open the main user menu "Windows" by pressing the button "Start", using the scroll bar, move the slider down and select a section "Search" Here.

In the search field, start typing your search term "Run" and in the best match line, select the desktop app "Run".

Method 4: Using a keyboard shortcut "Windows + R" call the dialog box "Run" directly. Enter the command in the command line field. Parameter "XXXX" indicates the time in seconds that must pass before the computer automatically turns off. For example, if you want the computer to shut down after 2 hours, the command should look like this "shutdown -s -t 7200". Click the button "OK" or key "Enter" on the keyboard to execute the command.

Immediately after the command is executed, a warning reminder will be displayed on the computer screen "Windows": “Your session will be ended. Job "Windows" will be completed in 120 minutes. Shut down on April 4, 2018 15:07:28". After the specified time has elapsed, all programs will close and the computer will be turned off.

If the shutdown time range is less than ten minutes (600 seconds), a message will be displayed directly on the desktop. For example, when you type in the command line field of a dialog box "Run" team "shutdown -s -t 600", you will see the following message.

If you need to restart your computer after a certain period of time, then in the command line field of the dialog box "Run" enter the command, replacing the parameter in it "-s" on "-r".

Replace parameter "XXXX" for the exact amount of time in seconds after which the system must be rebooted. Click the button "OK" or key "Enter" on the keyboard and run the command. A pop-up reminder in the notification center will tell you the exact time to reboot.

To cancel a scheduled computer shutdown, open the dialog box again. "Run" and enter the command. Click the button "OK" or key "Enter" on the keyboard to run the command.

Upon execution of the command, a warning reminder will pop up in the notification center: “Logout cancelled. The scheduled shutdown has been cancelled.".

Create a shutdown timer shortcut

If you plan to use the shutdown timer regularly, but constantly using the command line option seems inconvenient to you, then you can create a shutdown timer shortcut on your desktop.

Right-click on any empty space on your desktop and from the menu that opens, click "Create", open the submenu and select the section "Label".

In line "Specify the location of the object" window "Create shortcut" Enter the command with the required shutdown timer parameters using the sample described earlier. For example, if you want to create a shortcut to turn off timer after one hour, then enter the command "shutdown -s -t 3600" directly or provide the full path "C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 3600".

Now the computer shutdown timer shortcut will always be on the desktop of your personal computer. Whenever you need to start the computer shutdown timer, simply double-click on the created shortcut to activate the timer.

To cancel a scheduled computer shutdown, create a shortcut on your desktop for the timer shutdown command using the described shortcut creation algorithm. Or enter in the dialog box "Run" command to cancel the timer.

If you don't want the shortcut to be on your desktop, you can pin it to "Taskbars". Right-click on it and select section from the menu that opens.

Your shortcut icon will be immediately pinned to "Taskbars", and you can simply remove the shortcut on your desktop by pressing the key "Delete" on the keyboard or by selecting the section in the menu.

Additionally, to be able to quickly distinguish your sleep timer shortcut from others on your desktop or in "Taskbars", select the appropriate icon for it. Right-click on the shortcut and select section from the menu that opens.

Go to the tab "Label" and press the button "Change icon...".

In the window "Change icon" Select the computer shutdown timer icon option that suits you from the list provided. Or you can suggest your own version of the icon via the button "Review…".

Click the buttons "Apply" And "OK" and save the changes you made to the shortcut properties. The computer shutdown timer shortcut will automatically change to the selected icon option.

Set a computer shutdown timer using Windows Task Scheduler

This is the second possible method to set the computer shutdown timer using the capabilities of standard applications "Windows". Open dialog box "Run" one of the methods we described earlier (for example, call it directly using the keyboard shortcut together "Windows + R"). Enter in the command line field "taskschd.msc", press the button "OK" or "Enter" on your keyboard and launch Task Scheduler "Windows".

In the planner window in the area "Actions" select item “Create a simple task...”.

In the window that opens, in the required field, enter any task name that suits you (for example, in our case we chose the name "shutdown3600") and press the button "Further" to continue.

Next, from the proposed task launch options, select the one you need, depending on what task you are solving. For the computer shutdown timer, select the cell "One time" and press the button "Further".

At the next stage, specify the task start parameters: date and exact time of shutdown, and then click the button "Further".

Select an action for a task by checking the box "Run the program" and press the button "Further".

On the page "Running the program" enter strings in the field "Program or script" team "shutdown", and in the line "Add arguments (optional):" specify the parameter "-s". Confirm your data entry with the button "Further"