Managing gaming time with computer auto-shutdown settings: How to easily implement on Mac, Windows, and Linux

Have you ever worried that your kids are spending too much time playing games on the computer, especially when it can affect their learning and relaxation? Set your computer to auto-shutdown to better manage gaming timeYou can. On Mac (macOS) and Windows, you can set your computer to automatically turn off after 10 minutes with a few simple settings, and even create an icon to make it easier to launch.

In this post, you'll learn how to implement an automatic computer shutdown to manage your gaming time. Explain how you can implement this feature on Mac and Windows respectivelyand even how to create an icon to launch this function with just a double-click. No need for a computer auto-shutdown program, just follow along step by step!

The need for computer auto-shutdown settings

Setting your computer to shut down automatically is a useful tool, especially for parents. They can automatically manage computer time so that kids don't spend too much time playing games. And sometimes, when we leave the room after work, setting the computer to shut down automatically can reduce unnecessary power waste.

How to automatically shut down your computer after 10 minutes on Mac

Run simple commands using the Terminal

On Mac (macOS), you can easily use the Terminal to run the Automatically shut down the computer after 10 minutesfor your organization. Follow the steps below to complete the setup.

1. launch Terminal

• Applications > Utilities > Terminalon the server.

2. enter a command

In the terminal, enter the following command

sudo shutdown -h +10

where +10means 10 minutes. This command sets the computer to shut down after 10 minutes. sudo means super user do, which means to run the command with superuser privileges

3. enter your password

After running the command, enter the admin password to complete the setup.

4. Turn off computer auto-shutdown

To turn off auto-shutdown, you can enter the following command in the terminal

sudo killall shutdown

Set your computer to shut down automatically using icons

Automatorto create an icon that automatically turns off the computer.

1. run the automator

Applications > Automatorand then select "Applications" under "New Document".

2. add a shell script

• On the left, select "Utilities" and add "Run shell script".
• Enter the command below:

sudo shutdown -h +10

3. save as app

Save the app with a name of your choice, double-click it, and your computer will automatically shut down after 10 minutes.

Set your computer to automatically shut down after 10 minutes in Windows

Automatically shut down your computer using commands

On Windows, you can also use the simple command Shut down your computer automaticallyin your application. Here's how

1. open the Run window

Win + R key to open the Run window.

2. enter a command

Enter the following command

shutdown -s -t 600

where the -s option is to shut down the computer and -t is for seconds, 600means 10 minutes (600 seconds).

3. execute the command

When you run the above command (hit enter on your keyboard), your computer will automatically shut down after 10 minutes.

4. Turn off computer auto-shutdown

To turn off computer auto-shutdown, run the following command

shutdown -a

Set your computer to shut down automatically using icons

Windowsto create a shortcut icon to automatically shut down your computer with a double-click.

1. create a shortcut

Right-click on the desktop and select "New > Shortcut".

2. enter a command

Enter the following command

shutdown -s -t 600

3. name the shortcut

Save the shortcut with a name of your choice. For example, name it "End in 10 minutes".

4. click the icon to launch

Now, when you double-click the icon, your computer will automatically shut down after 10 minutes.

Setting up Linux (Ubuntu) auto-shutdown

On Linux systems, you can easily set up your computer to automatically shut down. This feature is very useful for managing gaming time or reducing unnecessary power consumption. Let's take a look at how to set up automatic shutdown in Ubuntu.

Setting up automatic shutdown using Terminal

1. open Terminal

• Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open Terminal.

2. enter the shutdown command

• Enter the following command to shut down after 10 minutes.
  bash sudo shutdown -h +10
  • where -his a system shutdown, +10means after 10 minutes.

3. enter the admin password

• After running the command, enter the admin password to complete the setup.

4. Cancel automatic shutdown

• To cancel the setting, use the following command
  bash sudo shutdown -c

Schedule a shutdown at a specific time

If you want to shut down your computer at a specific time, you can set it up like this

sudo shutdown -h 20:00

This command schedules the computer to shut down at 8:00 PM.

Create an auto-shutdown icon

1. open a text editor

• In a terminal, type the following command
  bash gedit ~/Desktop/auto-shutdown.desktop

2. Write the contents of the shortcut file

• Enter the following and save it
  [Desktop Entry] Type=Application Name=Shut down after 10 minutes Exec=gksudo "shutdown -h +10" Icon=system-shutdown Terminal=false

3. grant execution permissions

• In a terminal, run the following command
  bash chmod +x ~/Desktop/auto-shutdown.desktop

You now have a "Shut down in 10 minutes" icon on your desktop, which you can double-click to automatically shut down your computer after 10 minutes.

Caveats

• When using the auto-shutdown feature, we recommend saving open documents and closing running programs.
• This is a command that requires administrator privileges, so be careful about entering your password.
• If you need a regular shutdown, setting up a cron job is a good way to go.

Organize

You don't need to buy a computer auto-shutdown program, but the above settings are a great way to manage your gaming time and computer time. Of course, you also need to know how to turn off auto-shutdown. If you don't want to type the command every time, you can also create an icon for the Auto Shutdown feature and run it easily with a double-click.

By following the tips in this post, you can manage your kids' gaming time and make sure your computer shuts down automatically when they're done. For more computer tips, check out our Treasure Roomfor more information.