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Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account Browse Articles Quizzes & Games All Quizzes Hot Community Quizzes Personality Quizzes Dating Simulator Learn Something New Support wikiHow Log in / Sign up Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Last Updated: June 30, 2026 Fact Checked Windows 10 & 11 Ctrl + Alt + Delete Windows key + X This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon . Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 245,581 times. Learn more... This wikiHow guide teaches you the safest way to shut down any version of Windows. There are many ways to shut down your PC safely, but the most common is to use the Shut Down option in your Start menu. However, there are many other ways to shut down your PC—including keyboard shortcuts and a Command Prompt command. To avoid data loss, make sure you've saved all of your open files before powering down your PC. Shutting Down Windows To shut down your Windows computer, click the Start menu (or the Windows icon), then click the shut down option, which varies depending on which version of Windows you're using. On any version of Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete , then click the Power icon to find shutdown and restart options. You can also press and hold the power button on most Windows PCs to shut them down. Windows 10 & 11 Start Menu 1 Click the Start menu. It's usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source 2 Click the Power icon . It's at the bottom-left corner of the menu on Windows 10, and at the bottom-right on Windows 11. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Advertisement 3 Click Shut down . Windows will now shut down and power off the PC. [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source If prompted to install updates before shutting down, select the option to do so. [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source If you are not able to shut down your computer with this method, try pressing Alt + F4 and then selecting Shut Down . If prompted to install updates before shutting down, select the option to do so. [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source If you are not able to shut down your computer with this method, try pressing Alt + F4 and then selecting Shut Down . Ctrl + Alt + Delete 1 Press Ctrl + Alt + Del on the keyboard. After a few moments, you'll see a screen with several menu options. The options may vary depending on the version of Windows you're using and which updates you've installed. [5] X Research source 2 Click the Power icon . It's at the bottom-right corner of the screen. 3 Click Shut Down . Windows will now shut down and the PC will turn off. 1 Open the command prompt . You can shut down Windows from the command prompt if you're having issues shutting it down using the Start menu. If you're using Windows 11, 10, or 8, you can do this by typing cmd into the Windows search bar and clicking Command Prompt when it appears. If you're using Windows 7, Vista, or XP, click the Start menu, navigate to the All Programs , Accessories , and then click Command Prompt . If you're using Windows 11, 10, or 8, you can do this by typing cmd into the Windows search bar and clicking Command Prompt when it appears. If you're using Windows 7, Vista, or XP, click the Start menu, navigate to the All Programs , Accessories , and then click Command Prompt . 2 Type shutdown /s at the prompt. You'll see a message that says the computer will shut down in one minute. [6] X Research source 3 Press ↵ Enter . This shuts down your PC. 1 Press and hold the power button for about 3 or 4 seconds. After a few seconds, you should see a shutdown message on the screen. Lift your finger when the message appears. Only use this method if you were unable to shut down your PC using the method for its operating system. Only use this method if you were unable to shut down your PC using the method for its operating system. 2 Select the Shut Down option. This powers down your PC. If the PC is frozen and no shutdown message appears, you can force the machine to power off by holding down the power button until the screen goes dark. This should be an ultimate last resort, as it could cause data corruption. If the PC is frozen and no shutdown message appears, you can force the machine to power off by holding down the power button until the screen goes dark. This should be an ultimate last resort, as it could cause data corruption. 1 Go to your desktop. Make sure that all of your other programs are minimized or closed. If you don't have the desktop in focus, pressing Alt + F4 will close your currently open window. This method will work for all versions of Windows. This method will work for all versions of Windows. 2 Press Alt + F4 . The F4 key is in the top row of keys on your keyboard, known as the function keys. Pressing these buttons will open a power options window. 3 Choose "Shut down" in the dropdown in the window that appears. It may be selected by default. If so, skip this step. 4 Click OK . Your computer will begin the process of shutting down. After a few moments, your computer will turn off. Windows key + X 1 Press ⊞ Win + X on your keyboard. This method will only work for Windows 11, 10, and 8. Pressing ⊞ Win + X will open the Power User menu. Alternatively, you can right-click the Windows icon in your taskbar to open this menu instead. Pressing ⊞ Win + X will open the Power User menu. Alternatively, you can right-click the Windows icon in your taskbar to open this menu instead.

2 Hover over Shut down or sign out . This will cause a new menu to appear. 3 Click Shut down . Your PC will begin shutting down. After a few moments, it will turn off, once it closes all of your open programs. Windows 8 Start Menu 1 Hover the mouse over the bottom-right corner of the screen. This will display a link to the Start menu in that corner. 2 Right-click the Start menu. A menu will expand. 3 Click Shut down or sign out . Another menu will expand. 4 Click Shut down . Windows will now shut down and the PC will turn off. If prompted to install updates before shutting down, select the option to do so. If prompted to install updates before shutting down, select the option to do so. Windows 7 Start Menu 1 Click the Start menu. It's the circle with a Windows logo, and it's usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen. 2 Click Shut down . It's at the bottom-right corner of the menu. A window with some options will appear. If you don't see this option, click the small sideways triangle at the bottom-right corner to expand additional options. If you don't see this option, click the small sideways triangle at the bottom-right corner to expand additional options. 3 Select Shut down from the menu. 4 Click OK . Windows will shut down and the PC will turn off. Windows Vista Start Menu 1 Click the Start menu. It's the circle with a Windows logo, and it's usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen. 2 Click the sideways triangle. It's at the bottom-right corner of the menu to the right of the padlock button. A menu will expand. 3 Click Shut Down . Windows will shut down, and the PC will turn off. Windows XP Start Menu 1 Click the Start menu. It's the rectangle with a Windows logo, and it's usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen. 2 Click Turn Off Computer . It's next to the red icon at the bottom-right corner of the Start menu. A pop-up screen will appear. 3 Click Turn Off . It's the red icon at the center of the window. If the menu says that Windows needs to install updates, it is recommended to do the installation. If you don't want to install updates, click Click here to turn off without installing updates instead. If the menu says that Windows needs to install updates, it is recommended to do the installation. If you don't want to install updates, click Click here to turn off without installing updates instead. If your computer has to install an update during a restart, it will take longer (usually several minutes). Be patient . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 For a faster shutdown, close all running program(s) first. You can do that by right-clicking each program on your taskbar, then clicking Close window . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 Make sure you save all of your work before shutting down your computer. If you don't, you'll lose data. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 You Might Also Like ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/shut-down-turn-off-your-pc-893fd089-c851-71c7-af3e-63e159681b21 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/shut-down-turn-off-your-pc-893fd089-c851-71c7-af3e-63e159681b21 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/shut-down-turn-off-your-pc-893fd089-c851-71c7-af3e-63e159681b21 ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/shut-down-sleep-or-hibernate-your-pc-2941d165-7d0a-a5e8-c5ad-8c972e8e6eff ↑ https://help.hawken.edu/portal/en/kb/articles/shut-down-or-restart-windows-10-devices ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/shutdown About This Article 1. Click the Start menu. 2. Click the Power icon. 3. Click Shut Down . Did this summary help you? Yes No Send fan mail to authors Is this article up to date? Quizzes & Games You Might Also Like Trending Articles Trending Articles Take the Quiz. Face the Truth. 🔥 Decode Yourself 🧩 Featured Videos Hot Takes Only 🔥 Your Daily Dose of Fun 🎉 Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Do Not Sell or Share My Info Not Selling Info wikiHow Tech Help Pro: Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve