Schedule PC to Turn On Automatically in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to make your Windows 10 PC power on by itself at a set time, using the built-in Task Scheduler and your system’s BIOS/UEFI settings. You’ll need about 10 minutes and access to your computer’s firmware settings — no extra software required.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC (desktop or laptop) plugged into a power source (laptops must stay plugged in).
• Administrator access to Windows.
• The ability to restart into BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing a key like F2, Del, or Esc during startup — check your manufacturer’s site for the exact key).
• Knowledge of your PC’s model or motherboard brand (to locate the power-on setting).

Step-by-Step

1. Open Task Scheduler. Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter. Alternatively, search for “Task Scheduler” in the Start menu.
2. Create a new task. In the right-hand pane, click Create Task… (not “Create Basic Task”).
3. Name the task. In the General tab, give it a name like “Auto Power On”. Check Run with highest privileges.
4. Set the trigger. Go to the Triggers tab, click New…. Choose On a schedule. Set the frequency (daily, weekly, etc.) and the exact time you want the PC to turn on. Click OK.
5. Add an action. Go to the Actions tab, click New…. In the Program/script field, type shutdown. In Add arguments, type /s /t 0. This action will actually shut down the PC, but the trick is that the scheduled task wakes the machine from sleep/hibernate first. Click OK.
6. Disable the task (for now). In the Conditions tab, uncheck Start the task only if the computer is on AC power (if you want it to work on a laptop, though it’s safer to leave it checked). Also uncheck Stop if the computer switches to battery power. Click OK to save the task.
7. Enable wake timers in Windows. Open Control Panel → Power Options → Change plan settings (next to your active plan) → Change advanced power settings. Expand Sleep → Allow wake timers → set to Enable for both battery and plugged in. Click Apply and OK.
8. Restart into BIOS/UEFI. Restart your PC. During boot, press the key your manufacturer specifies (often F2, Del, F10, or Esc). If you’re not sure, look for a message like “Press F2 to enter Setup” during startup.
9. Find the power-on setting. In BIOS/UEFI, look for a tab called Power Management, ACPI, or Advanced. The exact name varies by manufacturer. Look for options like Resume by Alarm, RTC Alarm, Power On by RTC, or Wake on RTC Alarm.
10. Enable the alarm. Set it to Enabled. Then set the date and time to match your scheduled task. Some BIOS versions let you set a specific day; others only allow a daily alarm. If yours only allows a daily alarm, you’ll need to adjust the task to run daily as well.
11. Save and exit BIOS. Press F10 (or the key shown) to save changes and exit. The PC will restart normally.
12. Test it. Shut down your PC completely (Start → Power → Shut Down). Then wait for the scheduled time. If everything is set correctly, the PC will turn on by itself.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to enable wake timers in Windows. Without this, the scheduled task won’t wake the PC from sleep or hibernate.
• Setting the BIOS alarm incorrectly. If the BIOS time doesn’t match the task time, the PC won’t turn on. Double-check both.
• Using “Create Basic Task” instead of “Create Task”. The basic wizard doesn’t give you the necessary options for this trick.
• Not disabling the task after testing. The shutdown action will run every time the task triggers, which could shut down your PC if it’s already on. You’ll need to disable the task after it’s done its job.
• Laptop not plugged in. Most laptops won’t wake from sleep on battery power unless you explicitly allow it in power settings, and some BIOS versions ignore the alarm on battery.

Tips

• If you only want the PC to turn on once, set the task to run once and then disable it after it triggers.
• Use a consistent time between BIOS and Windows. If you change the time in one, update the other.
• For a daily wake-up, set the BIOS alarm to a time a few minutes before the Windows task, so the PC is fully on when the task runs.
• If your BIOS doesn’t have an RTC alarm, you can still use the Windows task to wake from sleep, but not from a full shutdown. In that case, put the PC to sleep instead of shutting down.
• Check your motherboard manual online for the exact BIOS setting name — it varies widely.

Troubleshooting

• PC doesn’t turn on at all: First, verify the BIOS alarm is enabled and set correctly. Reboot into BIOS and double-check the time and date. Also, make sure the PC is plugged into a working outlet and the power supply is on (if desktop).
• PC turns on but then shuts down immediately: This likely means the Windows task ran the shutdown command. Check the task’s trigger time — it might be set to run at the same time as the BIOS alarm. Adjust the task to run a few minutes later, or disable the task after it fires.
• PC wakes from sleep but not from shutdown: This is normal if your BIOS doesn’t support RTC alarm. Use sleep instead of shutdown, or check if your BIOS has a “Deep Sleep” or “ErP” setting that disables the alarm — turn that off.
• Task Scheduler shows the task ran but PC didn’t wake: Check the Conditions tab of the task — make sure “Wake the computer to run this task” is checked. Also, verify wake timers are enabled in Power Options (step 7).
• BIOS doesn’t have any RTC alarm option: Some older or budget motherboards lack this feature. In that case, you can only wake from sleep or hibernate, not from a full shutdown. Use sleep mode instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule the PC to turn on at a different time on weekends?

Yes, but it requires two separate tasks and two BIOS alarms (if your BIOS supports multiple alarms). Most BIOS versions only allow one alarm, so you’d need to change it manually. Alternatively, set the BIOS alarm to the earliest time and use Windows Task Scheduler to wake from sleep at different times on different days.

Will this work if my PC is in hibernate mode?

Yes, the Windows task can wake the PC from hibernate, as long as wake timers are enabled and the PC is plugged in. For a full shutdown, you still need the BIOS alarm.

Does this work on laptops?

Generally yes, but the laptop must be plugged into AC power. Many laptops also have a BIOS setting to allow wake on AC, which you should enable. Some laptops may not support RTC alarm at all.

Is it safe to leave the scheduled task enabled?

It’s safe, but the task includes a shutdown command. If you leave it enabled, it will shut down your PC every time it triggers, even if you’re using it. That’s why it’s best to disable the task after it has run.

Can I use this to turn on my PC remotely?

No, this method only works locally. For remote wake, you’d need Wake-on-LAN (WOL) and a separate device to send the magic packet.

What if my PC is in fast startup mode?

Fast startup can interfere with shutdown and wake timers. You may need to disable Fast Startup in Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do → Change settings that are currently unavailable → uncheck Turn on fast startup.

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