Schedule a shutdown
for exactly the right time.

Choose the right kind of shutdown

Windows users often mean two different things when they search for a scheduled shutdown. The distinction matters because it keeps old rules from running when you no longer expect them.

1. Timer: shut down after a duration, such as one or two hours from now.
2. Schedule: run one action at a chosen date and clock time, such as tonight at 11:30 PM.
3. Routine: repeat an action on selected days, such as every weekday after work.

Schedule a one-time shutdown

In Auto Shutdown & Scheduler, open Schedule, choose Shut Down, then select the date and time. Review the summary before starting it. The screen is deliberately separate from the countdown timer so you can see that this is a calendar-based action rather than a relative delay.

This fits common situations: shutting down after a backup that will finish before bedtime, planning a PC restart at the end of the day, or making sure a shared computer does not remain on overnight.

Repeat it with a routine

For a recurring shutdown, open Routine instead. Choose the action, select the time, and pick the days when it should run. A weekday routine is useful for work PCs; a custom selection is better when your schedule is not the same every day.

Before enabling a repeating rule, consider holidays, travel, and overnight tasks. A routine is easy to pause or cancel when your plans change, but it is safest when the chosen action and days match a real habit.

Want the PC to turn off at the same time each night? Read the nightly shutdown routine guide →.

Give yourself time to cancel

For shutdown, restart, sleep, hibernate, and sign-out actions, save important work before the scheduled time. The app can show a configurable in-app warning before the action runs, leaving you time to cancel. The optional desktop widget also keeps the next action visible while the main window is closed.

If the schedule was only for one occasion, return to the relevant screen and cancel it once it is no longer needed. That small habit is the best way to avoid an unexpected shutdown later.