How to Schedule Shutdown Timer on Mac

This guide shows you how to set a shutdown timer on your Mac, so it powers down automatically after a specified amount of time or at a specific time. You’ll learn the built-in methods (using System Settings and Terminal) and a couple of third-party app options. No extra software is required for the basic methods, but we’ll cover those too if you want more flexibility.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac running macOS Ventura (13) or later for the System Settings method. For older versions, the steps are similar but the menu names differ (System Preferences).
• Admin access to your Mac (you’ll need to enter your password for some steps).
• Optional: A third-party app like Amphetamine or Shut Down Timer if you want a menu bar timer with more options.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Using System Settings (Scheduled Startup/Shutdown)

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. In the sidebar, click Battery (on a MacBook) or Energy Saver (on a desktop Mac).
3. Scroll down and click the Options button (next to “Battery Health” on laptops, or “Wake for network access” on desktops).
4. Look for Schedule or Startup and Shutdown – the exact wording varies. Click Schedule.
5. Check the box next to Shut Down (or “Startup or Wake” if you want to set a startup time too).
6. Choose Every Day, Weekdays, Weekends, or a specific day from the dropdown.
7. Set the time you want the Mac to shut down.
8. Click OK or Apply to save. Your Mac will now shut down at that time every day (or on the selected days).

Note: This method only allows a fixed daily schedule, not a countdown timer (like “shut down in 30 minutes”). For a countdown, use Terminal or a third-party app.

Method 2: Using Terminal (Countdown Timer)

1. Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities, or use Spotlight with Cmd+Space and type “Terminal”).
2. To shut down after a certain number of minutes, type the following command and press Enter:
   sudo shutdown -h +30
   This will shut down the Mac in 30 minutes. Replace 30 with any number of minutes.
3. You’ll be prompted for your password. Type it and press Enter. Note: the cursor won’t move as you type – that’s normal.
4. To cancel the scheduled shutdown, type:
   sudo killall shutdown
   Or simply sudo shutdown -c (the “-c” cancels a pending shutdown).

Tip: To shut down at a specific time (e.g., 11:30 PM), use sudo shutdown -h 23:30.

Method 3: Using a Third-Party App

1. Download a free app like Amphetamine (from the Mac App Store) – it’s primarily a “keep awake” tool but includes a timer to schedule actions like shutdown.
2. Install and open the app. It appears as a small icon in the menu bar.
3. Click the icon, then go to Triggers or Timer settings.
4. Set a trigger: “After X minutes” or “At a specific time”, then choose Shut Down as the action.
5. Enable the trigger. The app will handle the rest.

Other apps like Shut Down Timer or Power Manager offer similar features – search the Mac App Store for “shutdown timer”.

Common Mistakes

• Typing the wrong time in Terminal: The -h flag expects minutes (for countdown) or a 24-hour time (for a specific time). For example, sudo shutdown -h 23:30 shuts down at 11:30 PM, not 23 minutes and 30 seconds.
• Forgetting sudo: Without it, you’ll get a “permission denied” error. Always use sudo and enter your password.
• Setting a schedule and then forgetting it: If you use System Settings, the Mac will shut down every day at that time. To disable, go back and uncheck the box.
• Not saving your work: The Mac will force-quit any open apps during shutdown. Unsaved documents may be lost.
• Using a countdown with minutes only: The +30 means 30 minutes from now. If you want hours, you’ll need to calculate minutes (e.g., 2 hours = 120).

Tips

• Use the Terminal method for a one-time countdown. It’s quick and doesn’t require extra apps.
• For a recurring schedule (e.g., every night at 11 PM), use System Settings – it’s more reliable than Terminal for daily tasks.
• If you often forget to shut down, combine a shutdown timer with a reminder to save your work.
• Test the Terminal command with a short time (like 1 minute) first to make sure it works as expected.
• Consider using pmset for more advanced scheduling: sudo pmset schedule shutdown "MM/dd/yyyy HH:mm:ss" – but the built-in methods are usually enough.

Troubleshooting

• The shutdown command doesn’t work – “shutdown: NOT super-user”: You forgot sudo. Rerun with sudo and enter your password.
• Terminal says “shutdown: operation not permitted”: This can happen if you’re using a non-admin account. Switch to an admin user or ask an admin to run the command.
• The Mac doesn’t shut down at the scheduled time: Check if the Mac is asleep – the schedule may not wake it from sleep. In System Settings > Battery > Options, enable “Wake for network access” or “Start up automatically” if you need it to wake for the shutdown. Also, make sure the time zone is correct.
• Can’t find the Schedule button in System Settings: On some versions, it’s under System Settings > General > Energy Saver (desktop) or Battery > Options (laptop). If you don’t see it, search for “schedule” in System Settings.
• I accidentally scheduled a shutdown and want to cancel it: If you used Terminal, run sudo shutdown -c. If you used System Settings, go back and uncheck the “Shut Down” box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a shutdown timer for a specific time, not a countdown?

Yes. In Terminal, use sudo shutdown -h 23:30 to shut down at 11:30 PM. In System Settings, you can set a specific time for the schedule.

Will my Mac shut down even if I’m using it?

Yes, the shutdown will happen regardless of activity. It will force-quit any open apps, so save your work beforehand.

Can I schedule a restart instead of a shutdown?

Yes. In Terminal, use sudo shutdown -r +30 to restart after 30 minutes. In System Settings, you can choose “Restart” instead of “Shut Down” in the schedule options.

Is there a way to set a shutdown timer without Terminal?

Yes. Use System Settings for a recurring schedule, or install a third-party app like Amphetamine for a countdown timer with a graphical interface.

What happens if I close the Terminal window after setting a shutdown?

The shutdown command continues to run in the background. Closing Terminal won’t cancel it. To cancel, open Terminal again and run sudo shutdown -c.

Can I schedule a shutdown to happen only once, not daily?

With System Settings, you can choose a specific day of the week (e.g., “Saturday”) and it will only run on that day. For a one-time shutdown, use Terminal – it’s a one-off command.

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