4 Methods to Schedule Windows 11 PC Shutdown Without Software

Windows 11 offers various methods to automate actions within the system to help users save time and simplify processes even when away from the computer. One of these methods is the ability to schedule Windows 11 PC shutdown. This helps conserve battery when downloading large files or updating the OS without needing to wait for those processes to finish or to prevent forgetting to shut down the PC, which could make the device vulnerable to unauthorized access. Below are the steps to schedule Windows 11 PC shutdown.

Learn more: How to Enable/Disable Sleep Mode in Windows 11

Tricks to Automatically Schedule Windows 11 PC Shutdown

How to Schedule PC Shutdown on Windows 11

1. Scheduling Windows 11 PC Shutdown Using the Run Dialog Box

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Enter the command shutdown -s -t 3600, then click OK or press Enter. Your computer will shut down after 1 hour.

Below are some predefined Windows 11 PC shutdown commands with preset times that you can use as alternatives to the above command:

- Shutdown after 1 minute: shutdown -s -t 60
- Shutdown after 5 minutes: shutdown -s -t 300
- Shutdown after 10 minutes: shutdown -s -t 600
- Shutdown after 15 minutes: shutdown -s -t 900

- Shutdown after 60 minutes: shutdown -s -t 3600
- Shutdown after 2 hours: shutdown -s -t 7200
- Shutdown after 4 hours: shutdown -s -t 14400
- Shutdown after 8 hours: shutdown -s -t 28800
- Shutdown after 12 hours: shutdown -s -t 43200
- Shutdown after 16 hours: shutdown -s -t 57600

To cancel the scheduled Windows 11 PC shutdown command, open the Run dialog box, enter the command shutdown -a and press Enter.

Discover how to set up scheduled shutdowns on Windows 11 using shortcuts.

Struggling to remember complex shutdown commands on Windows 11? Opt for a shortcut key instead.

Follow these steps: Right-click on your desktop, select New > Shortcut.

In the window that appears, input C:\windowssystem32shutdown.exe under Type the location of the item and click Next.

Step 3: On the window asking 'What would you like to name the shortcut?', input the name for the Windows 11 shutdown timer shortcut in the field Type a name for this shortcut and click Finish.

Step 4: Now, the new shortcut will appear on your Desktop screen, right-click on it, select Properties, and input -s -t 3600 -c 'Operation was successful' into the Target field in the Properties window.

You can change '3600' with the time period you desire (measured in seconds) and 'Operation was successful' with any text you wish to see such as Goodbye or See you later. You can also change the default icon with the options provided below. Then, press OK to save changes.

You can create a shortcut to cancel the Windows 11 shutdown timer with similar steps as above, only replacing -s -t 3600 -c 'Operation was successful' with shutdown -a.

Learn more: How to disable Windows Update on Windows 11

3. Schedule automatic shutdown on Win 11 using Command Prompt

Command Prompt provides another efficient way to schedule shutdowns on Windows 11. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Enter the keyword cmd into Windows Search and right-click on the corresponding result, select Run as administrator.
Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, input the command shutdown -s -t number, where number represents the remaining seconds before the command is executed.

- To cancel the command, input shutdown -a on the next line in the same Command Prompt window.

4. Schedule shutdown on Win 11 using Task Scheduler

To schedule automatic shutdown on Windows 11 using Task Scheduler, follow these steps:

Step 1: Enter the keyword Task Scheduler into Windows Search and click on the corresponding result to open the Task Scheduler application.
Step 2: In the Task Scheduler window, click on Task Scheduler Library and select Create Task... in the right panel.

Step 3: In the Create Task window, select the General tab and input the task name, such as Shutdown computer or Turn off PC. Then, check the options Run whether user is logged on or not and Run with highest privileges. In the Configure for menu at the bottom of the Create Task window, select Windows 11.

Step 5: Next, switch to the Trigger tab and click the New button.

Step 6: In the New Trigger window, select On a schedule and Daily to schedule task execution. Then, choose the start date and number of times the task will repeat. Here, Mytour selects 1 time. Finally, check Enabled in the bottom left corner of the window and click OK.

Step 7: At this step, switch to the Actions tab and click the New button.

If you wish to remove this task from your computer in the future, reopen Task Scheduler. Right-click on the task and select Delete.

Thus, Taimiemphi.vn has provided you with some ways to schedule shutdown on Windows 11. With these measures, you won't need to install any third-party software on your computer. Check out more Windows 11 Tips here.