6 Easy Ways to Use Shortcut Keys to Shut Down a Windows PC

Do you need to shut down or restart your computer? As long as you have a working keyboardyou can perform these shortcuts to quickly turn off your Windows computer. It's important to note that powering off your computer with apps or programs running in the background may corrupt those files. If you canyou should close all applications before proceeding. This wikiHow will show you how to quickly shut down your Windows 710or 11 computer or laptop with keyboard shortcuts.

Things You Should Know

Press "Alt + F4" → "Shut down" → "OK".
Press "Ctrl + Alt + Del" → Power button → "Shut down".
Press the "Windows key + X" → "Shut down or sign out" → "Shut down".

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

Using Alt + F4

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1
Press Alt+F4 on your desktop. If you aren't on your desktopyou can use Alt + F4 to close any active windows in your path.^{[1]
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- A dialogue box will open. You'll see: What do you want the computer to do?
- In newer versions of Windowspressing Alt + F4 for the first time may open the dialogue box first.
2
Click Shut down. You'll need to click the drop-down menu to find the option if it isn't selected already.^{[2]
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- If you don't have access to the mouseuse the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard to cycle through the options until you reach Shut down.
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Click OK. This will immediately shut down your computer or laptop.
- To do this without a mousepress Tab on your keyboard to switch the selection to the OK button. Press Enter to confirm.

Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

Using Control + Alt + Delete

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Press Ctrl+Alt+Del. This keyboard shortcut will work regardless of what programs you have open. This will open a new screen with options to lockswitch usersign outchange a passwordopen the Task Managerand more.
- This method will shut down your computer or laptop without safely closing programs. This could cause corrupted filesso be sure to turn off your PC correctly if you can.
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Click the Power button in the bottom-right corner. This will open a pop-up menu.
- If you don't have a mousepress Tab until the Power button is highlightedthen press Enter.
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Click Shut down. This will immediately shut down your computer.
- You may receive a warning about closing unsaved programs. Click OK to proceed.
- If you don't have a mousepress Tab until Shut down is highlightedthen press Enter.

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

Using Windows Key + X

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This will open a menu on the left side of your screen.^{[3]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
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Click Shut down or sign out. This will expand the section.^{[4]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- You can also press U on your keyboard to expand the section.
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Click Shut down. Your computer or laptop will shut down immediately.^{[5]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- If you don't have a mouseyou can press U again to shut down your device.

Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

Using the Power Menu

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You can also click the Start menu in the bottom-left corner.^{[6]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
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Click the Power button. This will open a pop-up menu.^{[7]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- If you don't have a mousepress Tabthen use the down arrow to select the Power button. Press Enter.
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Click Shut down. Your computer or laptop will shut down immediately.^{[8]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- If you don't have a mousepress the down arrow to select Shut downthen press Enter.

Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

Using Hard Shut Down

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Press and hold the Power button. Do this until the screen turns black and you can no longer hear your fans spinning.
- Use this method if your computer or laptop is frozen and you're unable to use the screen or keyboard shortcuts.

Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

Creating a Shortcut for Shut Down

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1
Right-click your desktop. A pop-up menu will open.
- Use this method if you want to create a shortcut icon to shut down your computer or laptop.
This will open a new window.^{[9]
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In the location fieldenter the shutdown code. Copy and paste the following code into the location field:^{[10]
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- %windir%\System32\shutdown.exe /s /t 0
This can be something simplesuch as Shut down.
Your shut down shortcut will be created.
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Right-click the shortcut and click Properties. This will open the Properties window.
- If you aren't already on the Shortcut tabclick it to navigate there now.
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Enter a Shortcut key. By defaultyou'll see None assigned to the Shortcut key field.
- To change the keyclick the Shortcut key field.
  - The shortcut will be CTRL + ALT + a key of your choice. On your keyboardpress the key you want to use as the shortcut.
  - This can't be a key that requires you to press and hold "Shift" to enter. Use a letter from A-Z or number from 0-9.
- If you want to change the shortcut iconclick Change Icon….
You can find this at the bottom-right corner of the window. This will save your changes.
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Use the Shortcut key to shut down your computer. For exampleif you used the letter Kthe shortcut would be be CTRL + ALT + K.
- Your computer will shut down.
- You can also use Notepad or the Command Prompt to turn off your PC. If you have Remote Registry Service enabledyou could even shut it down remotely.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I shut down my computer?

Community Answer

If you are using a Macgo to the top left cornerclick the Apple icon and then click "Shut Down." If you are using Windowsgo to the bottom left cornerclick the Windows iconand depending on what version of Windows you haveeither click Shut Down or click the Power icon and click Shut Down.

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Question

What is the command that is mentioned as T10?

Community Answer

It tells Windows to shutdown after 10 seconds. If you want to shut down immediatelychange the command to -t 0. Add the -f command to force close all open applications.

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Question

What is the computer shutdown shortcut key?

Community Answer

Close all open apps and folders. Once on your desktoppress Alt+F4then press ENTER. You also may set the power button to "Shut Down PC" when pressed once; this can be done in the power button settings.

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