If you frequently leave your computer running for long periods of time without actively using it, leaving it on can be both a waste of energy and a security risk. Fortunately, you can set your Windows 10 and 11 PC to automatically shut down when it’s idle, saving both power and improving your data privacy. Here’s how to do it.

1. Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start button and selecting the gear icon in the left sidebar.
2. In the Settings app, select the “System” option.
3. In the System menu, click on “Power & Sleep” in the left sidebar.
4. Under the “Sleep” section, click on the drop-down menu next to “When plugged in, PC goes to sleep after:” and select “Never”.
5. Scroll down to the “Related settings” section and click on “Additional power settings”.
6. In the Power Options window, click on “Change plan settings” next to your selected power plan (most computers use the “Balanced” power plan).
7. In the next window, click on “Change advanced power settings”.
8. In the Advanced Settings window, scroll down until you see the “Sleep” option and click on the plus (+) sign next to it to expand the menu.
9. Click on the plus (+) sign next to “Hibernate after”.
10. Click on the “On battery” and “Plugged in” options and select “Never”. This will prevent your computer from entering hibernate mode, which could interrupt your work.
11. Scroll down to the “System unattended sleep timeout” option and enter a time limit for the computer to remain idle before automatically shutting down. This can be set anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
12. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes to your power plan.