Productivity · Windows 10 and 11
Shut down your PC on a timer
Pick what should happen (shut down, restart, sleep, hibernate, sign out, lock or turn the screen off) and when: after a while, at a time, once nobody has used the keyboard or mouse for a set time, or when a program closes. A minute before, a notification warns you and offers Cancel it.
How to set a shutdown timer
- 1
Open the shutdown timer
Open Octoolo's Productivity app and pick Shutdown timer under Your PC.
- 2
Choose what happens
Pick Shut down, Restart, Sleep, Hibernate, Sign out, Lock or Screen off.
- 3
Choose when
After a while offers 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 1 h, 1 h 30, 2 h and 3 h, or any hours and minutes. At a time takes a clock time. When I'm away waits until nobody has used the keyboard or mouse for 5 minutes to 3 hours. When a program closes lists the programs with a window open.
- 4
Decide about unsaved work
For shut down, restart and sign out, Close apps even if they have unsaved work forces every app closed. Leave it off to give apps the usual Windows chance to save.
- 5
Start the timer
Press Start the timer. A live countdown shows with Cancel it; the menu of Octoolo's icon in the corner of the taskbar also has Cancel the shutdown timer.
Four ways to choose when
| When | Good for |
|---|---|
| After a while | Falling asleep to a film or music: Sleep in 1 h 30 |
| At a time | A PC that should be off by midnight, or a restart at 3:00 after updates |
| When I'm away | Sleep or lock once you have left the desk |
| When a program closes | A long download, render or export in another program that quits when it is done |
When I'm away goes by the keyboard and mouse only. A film you watch without touching anything counts as away, so for that, use After a while. When a program closes waits for the program itself to close, not for its work to finish; some programs that render, convert or download have a setting to quit when they are done. Look again refreshes the list if the program started after you opened the page.
The warning, and what happens to open apps
A minute before the time, or as soon as an away or program condition comes true, a notification such as “Your PC will shut down in 1 minute” appears with Cancel it. The page counts down the last seconds too.
Without Close apps even if they have unsaved work, apps that are not responding are closed, and the others get the usual Windows chance to save, which can mean a program stops the shutdown to ask about a file. With it on, every app is closed and unsaved work is lost. Save first, or leave it off. Sleep and Hibernate show Not available on this PC when Windows' power settings turn them off.
How the timer behaves
- It keeps going with the window closed. Octoolo stays in the corner of the taskbar while a timer is set.
- It stops if you quit Octoolo. Quitting from the taskbar icon cancels it.
- It survives Octoolo restarting when its time is still ahead.
- It never fires late. If the PC was off at the time, it does not shut down hours later when you switch it on.
- Up to a month ahead. Times are limited to a month from now.
Windows' own shutdown command
Windows can also count down from the command line. In Command Prompt, shutdown /s /t 3600 shuts down in 3,600 seconds (one hour), shutdown /r /t 3600 restarts instead, and shutdown /a cancels it. That works well for a single countdown when you remember the seconds. Octoolo's timer adds the rest: sleep, hibernate, lock and screen off, a clock time, waiting for you to leave or for a program to close, and a warning with a button to cancel.
To see how long the PC is actually on each day, open screen time and its When this PC was on chart.
Questions, answered
How do I cancel the shutdown?
Press Cancel it on the page or in the one-minute notification, or choose Cancel the shutdown timer from Octoolo's icon in the corner of the taskbar.
Will it shut down while I am watching a film?
With When I'm away, it can: that choice goes by the keyboard and mouse only. Use After a while to fall asleep to a film.
Does it work with Octoolo's window closed?
Yes. Octoolo keeps running in the corner of the taskbar. Quitting Octoolo stops the timer.
Why are Sleep and Hibernate not available?
Windows' power settings turn them off on some PCs. Octoolo then shows Not available on this PC.
Will it lose my unsaved work?
Only if you turn on Close apps even if they have unsaved work. Otherwise apps get the usual Windows chance to save.
How far ahead can I set it?
Up to a month.
Shutdown timer, and 16 more apps.
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