How can I enable automatic shutdown in Windows 10?

To enable automatic shutdown in Windows 10 through Task Scheduler, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + S and type “Task Scheduler,” then press Enter.
2. In the Task Scheduler, click on ‘Create Basic Task…’ on the right-hand side.
3. Name your task ‘Automatic Shutdown’ and click Next.
4. Set a trigger for the shutdown, for example, select Daily if you want it to occur every day at a specific time, then click Next.
5. Specify the time for the shutdown and click Next.
6. Select Start a program, and then click Next.
7. In the Program/script field, type shutdown and in the Add arguments field, type /s /f /t 0, then click Next.
8. Review the summary and click Finish.

This will configure an automatic shutdown at the specified time. You can adjust the settings based on your needs.

Another straightforward method is to use the Command Prompt. Here’s how:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
3. Input the command: shutdown -s -t 3600 and press Enter. This schedules a shutdown after 3600 seconds (1 hour). Adjust the number to set a different timer.
4. To cancel the scheduled shutdown, type shutdown -a in the Command Prompt and press Enter.

This method is quick but limited to the session you’re working in.

For tech-savvy users, PowerShell scripts offer a versatile method. Here’s an example:

1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator by pressing Win + X and selecting ‘Windows PowerShell (Admin)’.
2. Use the following script to set up a scheduled task:
   powershell
$shutdownTime = (Get-Date).AddMinutes(60)
New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Once -At $shutdownTime |
New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute 'shutdown.exe' -Argument '/s /f /t 0' |
Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName 'AutoShutDown' -Description 'Automatically shuts down the PC'
   This script schedules a shutdown for 60 minutes from the current time. Adjust the timing by changing the AddMinutes value.
3. Press Enter to execute.

PowerShell scripts offer flexibility and are ideal for those comfortable with scripting.

Finally, a combination of a desktop shortcut and Task Scheduler can also work seamlessly:

1. Create a shutdown shortcut on your desktop by right-clicking and selecting New > Shortcut.
2. In the shortcut location, type shutdown.exe -s -t 00 and click Next. Name your shortcut (e.g., Daily Shutdown) and click Finish.
3. Use Task Scheduler to run this shortcut:
4. Open Task Scheduler and create a new basic task.
5. Set a trigger and action pointing to the shortcut you created.
6. Complete the setup and save the task.

This method integrates a daily shutdown setup with minimal commands and steps.

For those who prefer a graphical user interface, a third-party tool like ‘Wise Auto Shutdown’ can make the process simpler. Here’s how you can set it up:

1. Download and install Wise Auto Shutdown from the internet.
2. Open the program and select ‘Shut Down’ as the action.
3. Specify when you want the shutdown to occur (after a specific period or at a scheduled time).
4. Click Start Task to activate the automatic shutdown.

Using third-party software often provides a user-friendly interface and more customization options compared to built-in tools.