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How to Shut Down Windows 10

All the ways to reboot or restart a Windows 10 computer

By Robert Earl Wells III Updated on July 30, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

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Expand Jump to a Section From the Start Menu From the Power User Menu From the Sign-In Screen From Windows Security Menu With Alt+F4 Use the Shutdown Command When you can't shut down Windows the normal way, there are a number of alternative methods for turning off your system. To fully shutdown Windows 10, you must restart your PC, but there are several ways to restart or reboot Windows. Here's what you should know. These instructions apply to Windows 10 PCs and tablets, but some devices may not support every shutdown method.

Shut Down Windows 10 From the Start Menu

The easiest way to shut down your PC is from the Windows 10 Start Menu: Select the Start Menu. Select the Power icon. Select Shut down from the pop-up menu.

Shut Down Windows 10 From the Power User Menu

The Power User Menu contains several advanced options, one of which is to shut down your computer: Right-click the Start Menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Window Key+X to open the Power User Menu. Select Shut down or sign out. Select Shut down in the new menu that appears.

Shut Down Windows 10 From the Sign-In Screen

You can shut down your PC from the log-in screen that appears when you switch users in Windows 10. Select the Power icon in the bottom-right of the screen, then select Shut down from the pop-up menu.

Shut Down Windows 10 From the Windows Security Menu

Another option is to use the Ctrl+Alt+Del shortcut and enter the Windows Security options: Press Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard shortcut to open the Windows Security menu. Select the Power icon in the bottom-right corner. Select Shut down from the pop-up menu. If you're using Windows 10 on a tablet, hold down the Windows button and press the power button to bring up the Windows Security menu.

Shut Down Windows 10 With Alt+ F4

The option to shutdown your computer using the Alt keys is a holdover from previous versions of Windows. Select or tap an empty space on your desktop to make sure nothing is selected, then press Alt+F4. Select Shut down from the drop-down menu. Select OK to confirm you want to shut your system down.

Shut Down Using the Windows 10 Shutdown Command

It's possible to shut down Windows 10 from the Command Prompt using the Windows shutdown command: Right-click the Start Menu. Select Windows PowerShell to open the Windows Command Prompt. Type the following command, then press Enter: shutdown /s
To restart Windows, enter shutdown /r. You can also use the PowerShell commands Stop-Computer and Restart-Computer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Properly Reboot (Restart) a Windows Computer How to Force-Quit a Program (Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP) How to Shut Down Windows 8: Easy, 9 Different Methods How to Access Advanced Startup Options in Windows 11/10/8 How to Fix a Frozen Windows 10 Taskbar How to Fix It When the Cursor Disappears in Windows 10 How to Open Command Prompt (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc.) How to Create a Password in Windows Switch Command Prompt and PowerShell on the Win+X Menu What Is the Windows Terminal & How Does It Work? How to Access the Windows 10 Startup Folder How to Fix It When Windows 11 Is Slow How to Open Disk Management From Command Prompt How to View Windows Uptime in Windows 10 How to Fix It When Windows 11 Won't Shut Down How to Boot in Safe Mode on Windows 10 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies