Schedule Automatic Shutdown in Ubuntu with Cron

You can schedule an automatic shutdown in Ubuntu Linux using Cron, a powerful time-based job scheduler. Cron lets you run commands or scripts automatically at exact times and dates, perfect for saving energy when you forget to power down your PC.

Unlike Windows, Ubuntu relies on Cron for these automated tasks. You’ll use simple command-line instructions to configure this. For instance, you can set your Ubuntu 22.04 LTS system to shut down every night at 11 PM.

How to automatically turn off Ubuntu Linux

As mentioned above, keeping your computer on forever may not be suitable for your energy bills. In Ubuntu Linux, you can schedule a job to shut down your computer daily at a specific time.

To do that, you’ll need to read two posts:

• How to use Cron in Ubuntu Linux
• How to shutdown Ubuntu Linux

After reading the post above, you should know how Cron works and how to shut down Ubuntu Linux.

For example, if you want to shut down your Ubuntu Linux computer every 6:30 PM, you’ll edit crontab, add the shutdown command, and specify the date and time.

Run the commands below to edit the crontab.

sudo crontab -e

When you run crontab -e for the first time, you may get a prompt screen to choose an editor.

no crontab for root - using an empty one
Select an editor.  To change later, run 'select-editor'.

  1. /bin/nano        <---- easiest
  2. /usr/bin/vim.tiny
  3. /bin/ed

Choose 1-3 [1]: 1

Then add the command on a new line below to shutdown daily at 6:30 PM.

30 18 * * * shutdown now

Press Ctrl+X to exit, then press Enter to save your changes, and you’re done.

If you want to restart Ubuntu Linux instead, you’ll use -r.

shutdown -r now

Again, using the post above about Cron, you can specify different days, dates, times, and other variables in Cron.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Regularly shutting down your Ubuntu Linux system using Cron can help save energy and reduce electricity costs.
• Familiarizing yourself with the command line console and understanding how Cron works is crucial for scheduling automated tasks.
• Be sure to refer to the recommended tutorials for detailed guidance on using Cron and efficiently managing shutdown and restart processes in Ubuntu Linux.