To make your phone turn off after a certain time, you must first understand that most phones do not offer a built-in feature to schedule a full, complete power-off. What you can schedule is the screen turning off and the device locking, which saves significant battery and prevents disturbances, but the phone itself remains technically on in a low-power state.
What 'make phone turn off after a certain time' really means
Many users want their phone to completely shut down, no power to the processor, no background activity, at a set time. However, the standard, documented method on both iPhone and Android is to control when the display turns off and the device locks, not to perform a full system shutdown. This distinction is important because a screen-off state still allows alarms to ring, notifications to arrive, and background tasks to run. Leaving your phone on overnight can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on the battery, decreasing its overall lifespan. If your goal is to stop all activity and save maximum battery, a screen-off timer is a partial solution. A true scheduled power-off is not a standard feature on most current phones, though third-party tools exist.
iPhone: use Auto-Lock to turn off the screen on a timer
On an iPhone, the only built-in way to make the phone turn off its display after a certain time is through the Auto-Lock setting. This does not power the phone completely off; it locks the device and turns off the screen. The auto-sleep feature only turns off the screen and puts your phone into a low-power mode. It does not completely shut down the device.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Display & Brightness.
- Tap Auto-Lock.
- Choose a time interval (for example, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 5 minutes).
Apple's documentation states that iPhone "automatically locks" after you stop using it, and the display turns off when it locks. The display can also turn off automatically in several other situations: when the phone is face down or obstructed from view, when it is not near a paired Apple Watch, when a CarPlay session begins, while Continuity Camera is in use, while Low Power Mode is on, while Sleep Focus is on, or at your usual bedtime. None of these methods perform a full device power-off.
Android: understanding Doze and the lack of a built-in shutdown timer
Official Android documentation from the Android Open Source Project describes Doze, a power-saving feature that puts the device into a deep sleep state when it is idle. Doze reduces background activity and saves battery, but it is not a user-facing scheduled shutdown feature. There is no built-in Android setting that allows you to set a timer for the phone to completely power off. On Android, look for 'Scheduled Power On & Off' or similar option under System or General settings. Some phones may offer a range of options for scheduled power off, such as every day, weekdays only, or custom days. While some manufacturers may add their own scheduling options, no official, universal Android support page documents a "shut down after certain time" setting.
Third-party apps for scheduled power-off
For users who want a true scheduled full power-off, a third-party app is the most direct option. The only app retrieved from Google Play for this purpose is Nightcap: Scheduled Power-Off. The app's listing states it can power off the phone automatically at any scheduled time without requiring root access. However, the listing does not provide a list of supported phone models or Android version limits. Before installing, you should check recent user reviews and the app's description for any compatibility notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does iPhone have a true auto power-off timer?
No. Apple's support pages document Auto-Lock and display sleep, but not a scheduled full shutdown. The phone remains powered on, just locked and with the screen off.
Can Android phones shut down automatically by default?
No. The official Android source documents Doze, a power-saving sleep mode, but not a user-facing scheduled shutdown feature. Some manufacturers may add their own scheduling tools, but there is no universal Android setting for this.
What exact path should readers use on iPhone?
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock. This is the only documented method to control when the screen turns off.
What about a third-party app?
You should verify compatibility before relying on it.
Can I choose a different time for my phone to turn off each day?
Some smartphones offer the flexibility to set different power-off times for different days of the week.
Will my alarms still work if my phone is set to turn off?
In most cases, setting your phone to automatically turn off will not affect your alarms.
For the wider topic, see powering your phone on and off.
