How to Automatically Turn On a Computer at a Specified Time

This wikiHow teaches you how to set your Windows 7 or Mac computer to start itself at a specific time. You cannot set a completely powered-down Windows computer to turn on at a scheduled time, nor can you schedule a Windows 10 computer to automatically turn on.

Method1

On Windows 7

1. 
   1
   Open the Start menu. To do so, either click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press ⊞ Win.
2. 
   2
   Type task scheduler into Start. Doing so will display the Task Scheduler app at the top of the search results.
3. 
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   Click Task Scheduler. It's the clock-shaped icon at the top of the Start search results. This will open the Task Scheduler app.
4. 
   4
   Click Create Task. This tab is on the right side of the Task Scheduler app window.
5. 
   5
   Enter a name and description for your task. For example, you might call it "Wake Up" and provide a brief description of the process itself.
6. 
   6
   Check the "Run whether user is logged on or not" box. It's near the bottom of the page.
7. 7
   Check the "Run with highest privileges" box. This is near the bottom of the page.

   • If you don't have administrator access on the computer you're using, you won't be able to use this option.
8. 8
   Click the Triggers tab. It's at the top of the Task Scheduler window.
9. 
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   Click New. This button is in the bottom-left corner of the window.
10. 
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    Set up your task. You'll need to change the following aspects of the task:

    • Frequency - In the top-left corner of the task window, check Daily.
    • Start time - Near the top of the window, change the time to match your preferred start-up time by clicking the hour or minute and then clicking the up or down arrows.
11. 
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    Check the "Enabled" box. It's near the bottom-left corner of the window.
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    Click OK.
13. 
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    Click the Actions tab. It's at the top of the window.
14. 
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    Type cmd.exe into the "Program/script" field. This field is in the middle of the window.

    • Make sure the drop-down menu at the top of this window says "Start a program".
15. 
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    Type /c "exit" into the "Add arguments" field. This field is below the "Program/script" field.
16. 16
    Click OK.
17. 17
    Click the Conditions tab. It's at the top of the window.
18. 18
    Check the "Wake the computer to run this task" box. It's near the bottom of the page.

    • You can also uncheck the "Start the task only if the computer is on AC power" and "Stop if the computer switches to battery power" boxes in the middle of the page.
19. 
    19
    Click OK, then enter your Administrator password. This is the password you use to sign into your email account that's associated with the computer, but not necessarily the same password you use to log into the computer.

    • If you don't have access to this password, you won't be able to set up this task.
20. 
    20
    Click OK. Doing so will save your task and apply it to your specified time. Keep in mind that your computer must be sleeping--not powered off entirely--for the task to wake it up.

21. Method2

    On a Mac

1. 
   1
   Open the Apple menu. To do so, click the apple-shaped icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. 
   2
   Click System Preferences. It's near the middle of the drop-down menu.
3. 
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   Click Energy Saver. This is a light bulb-shaped icon near the top of the System Preferences window.
4. 
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   Click Schedule. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window.
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   Make sure "Start up or wake" is checked. This option is at the top of the Schedule window.
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   Select a schedule frequency. To do so, click the drop-down box to the right of "Start up or wake", then select a frequency (e.g., Every Day, Weekends, etc.).
7. 
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   Set the start-up time. You'll do this by adjusting the time in the box in the top-right side of the Schedule window.
8. 
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   Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. Your Mac will now start itself at your specified time.

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