Auto Shutdown

To schedule your Mac to shut down automatically, you must use different methods depending on your macOS version. In macOS Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and later versions, Apple removed the automatic scheduling feature from the System Settings graphical interface. However, the underlying functionality remains fully accessible through the Terminal app.

Below are the step-by-step guides for both modern and older versions of macOS, along with a method to set a one-time countdown timer. For macOS Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and Later (Modern Macs)

You can safely automate recurring shutdowns on newer versions of macOS by using the native pmset command line utility within the Terminal app. Step 1: Open the Terminal App Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search. Type Terminal and press Return.

Alternatively, go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal. Step 2: Enter the Scheduling Command

To create a recurring shutdown event, use the sudo pmset repeat shutdown command followed by the day codes and the time in a 24-hour format (HH:MM:SS). The single-letter representations for days are: M = Monday T = Tuesday W = Wednesday R = Thursday F = Friday S = Saturday U = Sunday

To shut down every night at 11:00 PM:Type the following command and press Return:sudo pmset repeat shutdown MTWRFSU 23:00:00

To shut down only on weeknights at 10:30 PM:Type the following command and press Return:sudo pmset repeat shutdown MTWRF 22:30:00 Step 3: Enter Your Password

Because the command begins with sudo, Terminal will prompt you to enter your Mac login password for administrator privileges.

Type your password (no characters or stars will display on the screen as you type for privacy) and press Return. Step 4: Verify or Cancel Your Schedule

To view your active schedule: Type pmset -g sched and press Return.

To cancel all power schedules: Type sudo pmset repeat cancel and press Return.

Note: According to ⁠Apple Support, your Mac must be awake and you must be logged in for it to shut down at the scheduled time. If you have open documents with unsaved changes, the Mac may block the automated shutdown. For macOS Monterey and Earlier (Older Macs)

If you are running an older operating system, you can easily set a schedule entirely using the standard graphical user interface without typing any commands.

Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the menu bar and select System Preferences.

Click on Battery (if using a MacBook) or Energy Saver (if using a desktop Mac like an iMac or Mac mini). Select Schedule from the sidebar menu on the left.

Check the box next to the second drop-down list to enable your secondary schedule options. Select Shut Down from the first drop-down menu.

Choose the days of the week (e.g., Everyday, Weekdays, or specific days) and select your preferred time. Click Apply to save your automatic shutdown layout. Alternative: Set a One-Time Countdown Timer

If you do not want a recurring schedule but instead want your Mac to turn off automatically after a set period tonight (for instance, if you are downloading a large file or listening to music while falling asleep), you can configure a quick countdown timer. Open the Terminal app.

To shut down after a specific number of minutes:Type sudo shutdown -h +[minutes]. For example, to shut down in exactly one hour, type sudo shutdown -h +60 and press Return.

To shut down at a exact time tonight:Type sudo shutdown -h [HH:MM] in 24-hour format. For example, to shut down at 11:45 PM, type sudo shutdown -h 23:45 and press Return.

If you change your mind and need to stop a running countdown timer before it executes, simply open Terminal, type sudo killall shutdown, and hit Return. If you run into issues setting this up, let me know: Which macOS version your computer is currently running?

Whether you want a permanent daily routine or just a one-time timer? How to use shutdown timer on your Mac – Setapp