Schedule Automatic Shutdown in Ubuntu with Cron

Scheduling an automatic shutdown in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS turns off your computer on a set schedule using a built-in time-based job scheduler called Cron. Cron runs background commands at specific times so you do not need to turn off your PC by hand every night.

You can set up a simple shutdown rule that runs every day at 11 PM to save power or stop downloads overnight. This method takes just a few terminal commands to set up and works reliably in the background.

How to automatically turn off Ubuntu Linux

You can set up an automatic shutdown for your Ubuntu computer using a built-in tool called Cron. This lets you schedule a specific time for your computer to turn off by itself, which is handy for saving power or ensuring it’s off when you leave it.

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

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.