Schedule Downloads in Free Download Manager for Night Downloads
Big game updates and ISOs compete with your daytime work and video calls — and lose. Free Download Manager has a built-in scheduler that starts downloads while you sleep and can even switch the PC off when the queue is done.
✍️ Technical Anshu🪟 Windows 10 / 11⏱️ 6 minute guide
🎥 Watch the video — scheduling is one of the FDM features shown in the full setup
Scheduling solves three problems at once: your connection is free and fast at night, daytime browsing stays smooth, and the downloads simply happen without you babysitting them. FDM's scheduler can start and stop downloads at set times and run a queue in order. Here is how to set up a proper night-download routine.
A Sensible Night Download Plan
11:30 PMScheduler starts the queue
OvernightTraffic mode — High
Queue finishedPC SHUTS DOWN
MorningFiles ready, PC off, bill saved
Set it once and every big download quietly moves itself to the night shift.
1
Add the Big Files to the Queue First
The scheduler works on downloads that exist in the list, so build the queue during the day.
Collect your big downloads — ISOs, driver packs, game files from official sources — and add them to FDM
Pause them immediately so they do not start on your daytime connection
Order the list by importance; the scheduler works through the queue in order
Check the total size against your disk space before the night run
2
Set the Start and Stop Times in the Scheduler
Now tell FDM when the night shift begins and ends.
Open the scheduler options inside FDM Settings
Set a start time for downloads, for example late evening when the house goes quiet
Set a stop time before your morning work begins, so nothing is still running
Leave FDM running in the tray — the scheduler cannot fire if the app is fully closed
3
Shut Down the PC Automatically When Done
This is the feature people love most once they find it.
In FDM settings, enable the option to shut down the computer when downloads complete
Close any unsaved documents in other programs before the night run — the shutdown will not ask them politely
On laptops, keep the charger connected and set the lid and sleep behaviour so closing the lid does not suspend the queue
4
Keep Speed High at Night but Gentle by Day
Combine the scheduler with traffic modes for a complete routine.
Let scheduled night downloads run in High traffic mode for full speed
For anything you must download during the day, switch that download to a lower mode or snail mode so calls and browsing stay smooth
If your internet plan has cheaper or unmetered night hours, align the schedule with them
5
Check the Results in the Morning
A quick morning routine confirms the system is working.
Open FDM and check that last night's queue shows completed status for each file
For anything marked failed, read the error, refresh the link from the source site if it expired, and re-queue it for the next night
Verify one downloaded file by opening or installing it before deleting anything else
✅ Power-saving bonus: automatic shutdown after the queue means the PC is not idling all night for a download that finished at 2 AM — good for the electricity bill and the hardware.
🎥 Watch the Full Video for Complete Knowledge and Installation
Scheduling sits inside the complete FDM setup in the video — watch it to see the exact menus and options in the real program.
Does FDM need to stay open for the scheduler to work
Yes, FDM must be running, normally minimised in the system tray. If the app is fully closed, the schedule cannot start.
Can FDM turn the PC on by itself to start downloads
No, FDM cannot power on a switched-off PC. Leave the PC on with FDM running in the tray, and use the automatic shutdown option to turn it off when the queue finishes.
What happens if a scheduled download fails overnight
It stays in the list marked as failed with its error. In the morning, refresh the link if it expired and resume or re-queue it — completed parts are kept where the server supports resume.
This guide is based on the Technical Anshu video on Free Download Manager • Stuck on any step, ask in the video comments and you will get a reply 🙏