Perhaps you’re accustomed to turning on your machine with the power button every day and turning it off with a few clicks every evening or maybe you simply keep it on all the time. However, there is a third option: set the machine to turn on and off on a regular basis.
Not only can you save money on your electricity costs, but your PC or Mac will be ready for you when you arrive at the office or work from home in the morning. You may also keep your device running as it completes an operation, such as a large update or a lengthy video encoding process, ensuring that it will shut down automatically when it’s done.
Or maybe you simply want to fall asleep to a streaming video without having to leave your screen on all night. This superpower can be seen in a variety of ways. It’s an excellent platform for Windows and Mac users who want to improve the efficiency of their laptop or desktop computer.
Scheduling switching on and off for Windows computer
To start a PC on a schedule, you’ll need to play around in the Basic Input Output System (BIOS), which runs before Windows. The BIOS has been replaced by the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on computers sold in the last few years, but they perform very similar functions.
You’ll need to click a special key when your device is booting up to get to the BIOS or UEFI. F2, F8, Delete, or Esc are the most common options, but it varies by system. The key you’ll need should appear on-screen during the initialization process, but if you’re really lost, try searching the web for documents for your PC’s make and model.
We can’t give you exact instructions on how to find the scheduling function since each manufacturer’s BIOS or UEFI is set up differently, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to find. Search for any sort of advanced settings or power management menu after pressing the proper key. If you can’t see it, your computer does not have this feature at all, so you should double-check for the manufacturer’s website.
To progress through the task development process, use the Next keys. You will choose the days and times for the planned closure along the way, and whether you wish it to repeat itself or be a one-time event. Choose Start a program from the Action screen and type “shutdown.exe” as the program to boot. You’ll see a rundown and have the option to confirm the schedule by clicking Finish.
Select Task Scheduler Library to see all of the tasks you’ve developed. Using the buttons on the right of the panel, you can edit and erase them. It’s worth noting that if you need to, you should schedule several assignments for different times and days.
Scheduling switching on and off for Mac
On macOS, you don’t need to mess with a BIOS or UEFI screen. Select System Preferences from the Apple menu. On a desktop Mac, choose Energy Saver and Change Settings, or on a MacBook, choose Battery and Schedule to access the scheduling pad.
If you check the Startup or wake box, you can schedule a startup time for any day, just weekdays, only weekends, or only one day. Simply choose your preferences from the drop-down menus. There are three choices for the next check box: Sleep, Restart or Shut Down. Once you’ve made your decision, you’ll be presented with the same options as to when you first boot up the Mac. To validate your selections, click Apply.
