Teaching your computer to shut down on its own is useful for many users. If you leave the latest season of the series downloading at night, want to limit the time of computer games for your child, or simply save as much as possible on electricity, you need a computer shutdown timer for Windows 7, 8 and 10. Let's consider the tools and programs from third-party manufacturers built into Windows.
Automatic shutdown of the computer in Windows 7 or 10 can be configured using the OS itself, without installing other applications. But there is no beautiful shell for this action; you will have to specify a number of parameters on the command line or scheduler.
Command line
To launch the command line, in the “Start” menu, find the “System Tools” section and click on the item of the same name. A window will appear with a black background and a blinking cursor. You can also open “Run” or hold down Win + R, you will see a small line. Enter the command shutdown /s /t N into it. Here “shutdown” is the name of the function, “/s” is the parameter for completely shutting down the PC, “/t N” indicates that the shutdown will take place in N seconds.
If you need to shut down the computer via the command line after 1 hour, enter shutdown /s /t 3600 and click “OK”. A system message will appear indicating that the PC will be turned off after the specified period of time. Before shutting down, you will be prompted to manually close running applications.
To force close all programs without your participation, add the /f parameter to the formula. If you decide to remove the timer, enter the command shutdown /a, then the automatic shutdown of the computer will be canceled. To end the session, use the /l parameter instead of /s; use the /h parameter to send the PC to sleep.
If you regularly need to shut down your computer via the command line, prepare a shortcut for the operation. To do this, right-click on the desktop, in the “Create” menu, go to “Shortcut”. In the window, enter the path to the program “C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe” with the necessary parameters. Automatic shutdown after 1 hour with the closing of all applications will correspond to the command “C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /s /f /t 3600”.
Next, set a name for the icon and click “Done.” To change the picture, select “Change icon” in the shortcut properties. Then, to activate the timer, you only need to double-click on the shortcut, and the computer will turn off after the specified number of seconds.
You can use the Task Scheduler tool to shut down your computer in Windows 10 or another version. It is hidden in the “Administrative Tools” section of the “Start” menu; you can also open the application by entering taskschd.msc by pressing Win+R.
How to set a computer shutdown timer in Windows 7 or 10: in the “Action” submenu, click on “Create a simple task.” Enter an arbitrary name, select the frequency of execution - daily or once. In the next step, set the computer shutdown timer: here you don’t have to count seconds, set the date and exact time. Set the action to “Start a program” and enter shutdown with the /s argument in the settings.
The task will be created and run at the set time. If your plans change, you can always edit the task settings by moving the auto shutdown to another hour.
Third party programs
Unlike Windows system tools, other programs for automatically turning off your computer have more extensive settings. You don't have to count down time in seconds and manually enter parameters to start the timer.
A laconic Smart Turn Off utility designed to automatically turn off a computer running Windows 10, 8, XP or Vista. Only basic settings are available: ending the session or completely shutting down the PC, after a specified period or at a certain time.
Switch Off program knows how to turn off your computer after a certain time. The utility has flexible settings: schedule by day of the week and specified time, choice of action - shutdown, reboot, sleep, disconnect VPN connections. Switch Off may close applications and show a warning before the function starts. Also, auto shutdown can be triggered not by the clock, but when there is no processor or user action for a certain period.
You can download the utility in full version or portable - it does not require installation, it can be launched from any media. The application adds its icon to the Windows notification area; to start the task, just click on it and select the desired function. Switch Off also has a web interface - you can use it to turn off your computer online in a browser from any device.
The program knows how to set a shutdown timer for a Windows 10 computer. The utility provides several action options to choose from; the time can be set - exact, after an interval, daily or when idle.
Before auto-shutdown, a reminder will be shown from which you can snooze the specified action.
The multifunctional PowerOff application for Windows 7 or 10 has a huge number of timer settings for turning off the computer. Select an action and set the trigger time to start the standard mode. The function can be associated with the processor load level or music playback by the Winamp player. The utility can manage your Internet connection by calculating traffic volumes.
Please note that when you close PowerOff, the timers will be reset. Therefore, set in the settings so that the utility minimizes instead of exiting completely, then the PC will turn off after a specified time.
Conclusion
Setting up an automatic computer shutdown using a timer is not difficult. Use Windows Commands - it's fastest - or other applications if you need more flexible settings.
Turning off a computer using a timer is a very typical task that many users face. However, not everyone knows how this problem can be solved. In this article we will talk about how to turn off your computer using a timer in Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP. To solve this problem we will use the command line, task scheduler and third-party programs.
Turn off the computer using a timer using the command line
The easiest and fastest way to shut down your computer using a timer is to use the “shutdown” command, which works equally well in Windows 7 and other versions of Windows. This command can be executed from the command line or using the Run menu.
The shutdown command has many parameters that allow you to fine-tune the process of shutting down your computer. Below we will look at the most basic of them:
- /s – Shut down the computer;
- /h – Switch to hibernation mode;
- /f – Forces termination of all open programs without warning the user;
- /t – Set the timer in seconds.
In order to shut down the computer using a timer using the shutdown command, we need to use the /s (shutdown the computer) and /t (set the timer) parameters. Thus, the command to turn off the computer will look like this:
- Shutdown /s /t 60
After executing such a command through the Command Prompt or Run menu, the computer will shut down after 60 seconds.
If you want to reboot the computer using a timer, then instead of the /s parameter, you need to use the /r parameter. The same thing with hibernation mode. We use /h instead of /s and the computer, instead of turning on, will go into hibernation mode. You can also add the /f parameter. In this case, shutdown (reboot, hibernation) will begin immediately, and all running programs will be closed without warning the user.
The disadvantage of this method of shutting down the computer is that the shutdown task is created only for one time. If you need to turn off your computer on a timer daily, then you need to use Task Scheduler or third-party programs.
We use the scheduler to turn off the computer using a timer
Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP operating systems have a very powerful tool available called Task Scheduler. You can use it to turn off your computer using a timer. To open Task Scheduler, launch the Start menu (or Start screen tiles if you're using Windows 8) and search for "Task Scheduler." You can also launch the Task Scheduler using the “taskschd.msc” command.
After starting the task scheduler, click on the “Create a simple task” button. This button is on the right side of the window.
Then we are asked to indicate when we want to complete this task. You can select "Once" if you want to timer off your computer only once. If you need to turn off your computer using a timer daily or in another mode, then you can choose another option that is more suitable for you.
At the next stage, you need to specify the triggering of this task.
After this, we need to enter the shutdown command as well as startup parameters. How the launch parameters of this command are used has already been discussed above.
That's it, the task to turn off the computer using a timer has been created. You can view it in the Assignment Library.
From the context menu (right mouse click) you can manage the created task.
You can run, complete, disable, delete, or open the job properties.
Programs for turning off the computer using a timer
If the described methods for turning off a computer using a timer do not suit you or seem too complicated, then you can turn off the computer using programs from third-party developers. Below we will look at several such programs.
A powerful free program to turn off your computer using a timer. Using the PowerOff program you can configure almost any little thing. On the other hand, due to the huge number of functions, the interface of this program is too overloaded. Which can be very difficult to figure out.
A small program to turn off your computer. The Switch Off program is equipped with a small number of functions and has an easy and intuitive interface. The program is equipped with a built-in web server that allows you to turn off your computer via a local network or via the Internet.
The developer of this program for turning off the computer using a timer claims to support only Windows 7, 8 and XP. Although it should work on Windows 10 without problems.
The shutdown computer gadget category for Windows 7 and 8 provides users with gadgets that perform the functions of shutting down the computer, restarting the computer, putting the computer into standby mode, and logging out. They are very convenient because the necessary buttons are at your fingertips for quick execution of commands. Also, many computer shutdown gadgets are equipped with additional functions, such as system monitoring and others.
Don’t know why you should download the computer shutdown gadget for Windows 7? Meanwhile, using such a utility has a number of undeniable advantages!
Most users shut down or restart their computer in the standard way, which is used in all versions of Windows, that is, using the Start menu. If there is a need to turn off the device at a certain time or put it into sleep mode, we use the traditional and well-known task scheduler.
However, the usual algorithm is not always convenient, since it consists of several steps. But if you install a small Windows 7 computer shutdown timer program on your desktop, all these actions can be carried out in one click. However, such utilities have several additional advantages:
Quick and easy to download - even a novice user can easily cope with the task in just a few minutes;
do not “load” or “slow down” the operation of the system;
They are light in weight and compact in appearance, so they look attractive on the desktop;
thanks to a wide selection of covers and interfaces, any computer shutdown gadget for Windows 7 harmoniously combines with any desktop wallpaper;
due to timely shutdown, they save the wear and tear of hardware and expensive electricity;
In addition to the basic functions - shutting down, rebooting, putting the computer into sleep mode or standby mode, as well as logging out - most of the widgets are equipped with additional options that allow you to optimize the workflow as much as possible.
So, for example, by downloading a utility to turn off a PC, you at the same time get the opportunity to install, continuously monitor the state of the central processor, including, by core, the memory load level of the electronic device, the quality of the Wi-Fi connection and other parameters. A number of utilities allow you to set delayed shutdown in two options - taking into account real time and using a countdown timer. The built-in timer program also has an undeniable convenience - and such multifunctionality can be found among the widgets offered by developers for shutting down and restarting the computer.
Is it possible to find a Windows 8 computer shutdown timer?
By and large, any computer shutdown timer gadget designed for the seventh version of Windows can also work on Windows 8. But during the downloading and installation process, certain difficulties may arise, since the standard components responsible for the installation and operation of widgets are absent in the eighth version.
In order to avoid this, you must first download the 8GadgetPack or Desktop Gadgets Revived patch. Both of these programs, once installed, allow users to set the shutdown timer for their Windows 8 computer without complications or hassles and use it to its fullest extent.
The above-mentioned programs are free, do not require registration on sites that offer them for download, work on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions and weigh only 20.59 MB and 4.72 MB, respectively, which means they will not affect no impact on the speed and stability of the computer device.
Thus, downloading the Windows 8 computer shutdown timer will be easy even for those who do not consider themselves highly skilled users, since the patch programs are easy to manage and have a fairly primitive and understandable interface. By the way, with the help of such utilities, gadgets are also installed on Windows 8.1 and 10.
Warning: The Windows 8 computer shutdown timer operates in the same format as its predecessor for version 7. The program does not warn about unsaved files, so it is advisable to save all the necessary documents before turning off the computer!
Download Windows 7 computer shutdown timer on our website: appreciate the convenience and speed of the process!
We offer you an extensive and diverse collection, which contains a wide variety of widgets - narrowly focused and multifunctional, stylish and discreet, colorful and laconic. You can download any Windows 7 computer shutdown timer on our website without registration, SMS or payment. At the same time, the mini-applications for Windows that you will find in our catalog are full-fledged utilities with a full set of described functions and can be used for any period of time.
We do not limit our visitors in the number of programs they need. If you can’t decide on a choice among several widgets, there is a great solution: - all the ones you like, and then, after testing the utilities in practice, choose the most comfortable and functional one. Or change them from time to time, refreshing the appearance of your desktop and giving it variety and attractiveness.
So, no complex or multi-step actions are required from you: in order to download the Windows 8 or 7 computer shutdown timer, just go to the catalog, look through different widgets, select the one that best suits your needs and click on the “Download” button. After a short time, the application will appear on your electronic device, after which it will need to be installed. Then, having selected the desired settings, you can start using the functionality of the gadget.
We hope we have convinced you that it is quite reasonable and advisable to download such a useful widget as the Windows 7 computer shutdown timer and use it in your work. Still have doubts? There is a great solution - test the convenience of mini-applications in practice right now! Moreover, it won't cost you a penny.
Most likely, you have already read my previous one about how to set up automatic shutdown of your computer using standard means, in relation to Windows 7. But in nature there are many programs and utilities designed specifically for such purposes, designed to simplify the user’s life and eliminate the need to delve into system settings. Among all this software, there is sure to be a program that will satisfy all your requirements, because there are enough of them, from the simplest timers to entire software complexes. Let's walk through a few of the most popular ones, from more complex to simpler.
Program to turn off your computer
At first glance, this program may seem overly complex and sophisticated to you due to the many tabs, windows, buttons and settings. But the devil is not as scary as he is painted - this is, firstly (I don’t think it will cost you much effort to figure everything out), and secondly, no one is forcing you to use all the functions of this program. On the start tab “Timers” we can select the required action (turn off the computer, sleep, standby or reboot) and configure its main parameters.
In the “Standard Timer” block, you can select the desired action from three proposed options: turning off the computer at a strictly specified time (with a date), at the end of the countdown timer (you can set a specific time) and after a specified time of system inactivity.
On the top right is the “Winamp’ dependent timer” block. This option suggests performing a specified action depending on the current state of the Winamp multimedia player, either after a specified number of tracks played or upon completion of the last file in the playlist. I would also like to note that this feature can be available not only to users of Winamp, but also to the respected player Foobar 2000. For this purpose, the corresponding “Winamp API Emulator” plugin was written. This feature in Power Off should appeal to supporters of going to bed with musical accompaniment.
Just below we see the “CPU dependent timer” block. From the very name of the block its purpose becomes clear. Depending on the CPU load level and the load fixation time (both parameters can be set here), the program will perform the specified action, turn off the computer, for example. If you've ever had to do something as time-consuming and processor-intensive as video transcoding, then I'm sure you'll appreciate this Power Off feature. Now you can go to the bedroom without worrying about your computer running - the program will turn it off automatically as soon as the recoding process is completed and the CPU load drops below the level you specify for a certain time.
The lowest block “Internet dependent timer” is very useful when there is a need for long-term downloading of files from the Internet. Depending on the speed of passing traffic, the program can take a certain action. Now, when all your downloads are completed and for a specified time the traffic speed is lower than the one you set, the program will automatically turn off (or put into sleep mode) the computer.
Time PC can put the computer to sleep and then wake it up in time.
Small, but no less useful timed computer shutdown program, which can put the computer into hibernation at a given time, and then wake it up in accordance with the schedule. The Time PC program has a built-in seven-day scheduler, and there is an autoload function along with the system.
Smoothly go to sleep with the Sleep Timer 2007 program
One of the small programs with little functionality and does not require installation. Its capabilities include the following:
- after the specified time has elapsed, shutdown the computer, restart it or put it into sleep mode
— forced termination of specified processes
— smooth decrease in volume of the playing track
— launch with specified parameters via a shortcut
It may seem strange why you need to turn off your laptop/computer on a schedule if you can do it yourself, but there are actually many reasons. Why and how to enable the shutdown timer on Windows 7? For example, some task is being performed on the device, and you urgently need to leave, or other users are working on your PC via a remote connection, and they will complete it closer to the night or in the morning, and there is no need for your presence. Everyone will find a situation in which they need to enable the Windows 7 shutdown timer. So, there are several ways to enable the Windows 7 shutdown timer, we will describe each below with detailed instructions.
Enable shutdown timer using CMD
From the articles on our portal, you are well familiar with CMD - a command line that allows you to manage services and software components from DOS mode with elevated privileges. There is no point in talking about the advantages, since everyone has at least once encountered working in cmd. So let's get started.
You can launch cmd in several ways:
Start panel → Run.
Or
Using hotkeys + [R]. 
The next step is to move directly to how to enable and configure the timer:
Enter without quotes and maintaining the syntax “shutdown –s –t 300” → “OK”. 
Where “–s” means to save all applications with the correct shutdown of the machine, “-t 300” indicates the amount of time in seconds before the OS turns on the shutdown timer - it turns off after 5 minutes. You can specify absolutely any period, but in seconds. In addition, you can specify the option to force shutdown without saving and dialogs from the system “-f”.
As a result, the system will start the timer and return the message “Windows will shut down in 5 minutes.” - this is an example based on the entered command; moreover, the date and exact time of shutdown will be indicated. 
It is not difficult to enable the timer using the described means, but if there is no longer a need, the following parameter will help you disable it:
Enter the following into cmd without quotes and maintaining the syntax: “shutdown -a” → “OK” /, where the parameter “-a” turns off the timer.
A message appears in the system tray indicating that logging out is disabled. 
Enable OS shutdown timer: quick way
You can enable the timer in Windows 7 without constantly using cmd; you can use access to commands from the system’s graphical shell, for this:
The image at the top of the properties window should change → “Apply” → “OK”. 
Time management assistant
There is another way to enable scheduled shutdown of the OS using the built-in tools of Windows 7, which is more suitable for less experienced users. Below are detailed instructions on how to enable the Windows 7 computer shutdown timer using the task scheduler.
- In the list we find “Task Scheduler”.
