How To Shut Down a Windows PC With the Keyboard

Powering off your Windows computer can be accomplished with a few clicks of the mouse. However, you may be looking for other options to turn off your device. It could be because your mouse is no longer working, or you want a faster way to get things done. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to turn off your PC, there are several shutdown options available in Windows. Some of these shortcuts don’t require setup, and you can even create a customized shutdown process. Check out how to power down your Windows PC with a keyboard.

How to Shut Down a Windows 11 PC With a Keyboard

Windows allows users to use a series of keys to perform specific tasks on their computers. You can use these shortcuts to shut down your PC without using a mouse. Let’s take a look at them here.

Alt + F4 Method

One of the quickest ways to power off your computer is using the Alt + F4 method. The steps demonstrated here will show you how to use this method.

1. Close all the open programs on your device.
2. Tap “Alt + F4” to display the shutdown window.
   
3. Press the dropdown menu arrow and select “Shut Down.”
   
4. Hit “OK” to turn off the computer.
   

Ctrl + Alt + Del Method

Turning off your PC can be accomplished using the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys. The method shown here will walk you through how to do that.

1. Close all the tabs that are open on your computer.
2. Click “Ctrl + Alt + Del” on the keyboard.
   
3. On the Black screen that appears, select “Sign Out” and then hit “Enter.”
   

Your PC will begin shutting down.

Win + X Method

You can use the quick access menu to turn off your Windows PC. Here’s how to do that.

1. Click “Win + X” to open the Windows quick access menu.
   
2. Choose the “Shut Down or Sign Out” option in the menu displayed.
   
3. From the pop-up menu that appears, press “Shut Down,” then “Enter.”
   

The PC will now shut down.

The Run Method

You can use the Windows Run dialogue box to turn off your device. Follow the steps below to use it.

1. Press “Win + R” to open the Run dialogue box.
   
2. Input “Shutdown –s” in the box and then hit “Enter.”
   

An alert will appear, letting you know that your computer is about to shut down.

The Command Prompt Method

The Command Prompt function can come in handy when shutting down your PC. Here’s how to use it.

1. Press “Win + R” to open the Run dialogue box.
   
2. Type “cmd” in the Run box, then hit “Enter.”
   
3. In the Command Prompt box that appears, input “shutdown/s” and tap “Enter.”
   

The device will now shut down.

Create a Keyboard Shortcut

Windows allows you to create your own shortcuts to perform certain functions on your PC. You can create a shortcut using this method.

1. Right-click on an empty section of your screen.
   
2. Select “New” then “Shortcut” in the menu that appears.
   
3. In the box that opens, enter the command below.
   shutdown.exe -s -t 00 –f
   
4. Tap “Next” to finish the process.
   

Once you have created your shortcut, you will need to assign it a key combination using the steps outlined here.

1. Right-click on your shortcut and select “Properties.”
   
2. Go to the “Shortcut” tab and enter a key combination in the Shortcut field.
   

You have successfully created your own keyboard shortcut to shut down your device.

How to Shut Down a Windows 10 PC With a Keyboard

With Windows, you can use shortcuts to carry out specific tasks on your computer. These key combinations can also be used to shut down your device. Check out how to use them.

The Alt + F4 Method

This is a quick method you can use to power down your machine. It can be accomplished using the steps shown here.

1. Close any programs that may be open on your desktop.
2. Press “Alt + F4” on the keyboard.
   
3. In the window that opens, click the arrow and pick “Shut down.”
   
4. Tap “OK” to Shut down the device.
   

The Ctrl + Alt + Del Method

The Ctrl + Alt + Del method can be used to turn off your device. These steps will demonstrate how to use it.

1. Close the open tabs on your screen.
2. Hit “Ctrl + Alt + Del” on your keyboard.
   
3. Press “Sign Out” on the blue screen that appears and then click “Enter.”
   

The computer will now shut down.

The Win + X Method

You can utilize the Windows quick access menu to turn your device off. These steps will walk you through the process.

1. Press “Win + X” to access the menu.
   
2. Select “Shut Down or Sign Out” in the pop-up menu.
   
3. Tap “Shut Down” and then hit “Enter.”
   

The Run Method

The Run dialogue box can be used to turn off your Windows PC. Check out how that works.

1. Click “Win + R” to open the Run box.
   
2. Type in “Shutdown –s” in the dialogue box and tap “Enter.”
   

A message will appear letting you know that your PC is shutting down.

The Command Prompt Method

You may be surprised to know that the Command Prompt function can be used to turn off your computer. Let’s look at this method here.

1. Hit “Win + R” to access the Run dialogue box.
   
2. Input “cmd” in the box and press “Enter.”
   
3. Type “shutdown/s” in the Command prompt box and click “Enter.”
   

Your computer will begin the shutdown process.

Create a Keyboard Shortcut

You can make your own keyboard shortcut that will allow you to turn off your device. Here’s how to do that.

1. Right-click on an empty section of your desktop.
   
2. Press “New” and then “Shortcut” in the pop-up menu.
   
3. Enter the command below in the box that appears.
   shutdown.exe -s -t 00 –f
   
4. Click “Next” to complete the process.
   

Now that the shortcut has been created, it’s time to assign a key combination that you can use for shutdown.

1. Right-click on the shortcut and hit “Properties.”
   
2. Navigate to the “Shortcut” tab and input your preferred key combination in the field provided.
   

Your shutdown keyboard shortcut is now up and running.

How to Shut Down a Windows 7 PC With a Keyboard

You can use several methods to shut down your Windows 7 PC without using a mouse. Check them out here.

The Alt + F4 Method

Ensure that any programs running on your computer are closed.

1. Click “Alt + F4” on your keypad.
   
2. Select “Shut Down” in the window that opens.
   
3. Press “OK” to turn off the computer.

The Ctrl + Alt + Del Method

A quick tap of the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys can power off your PC. Here’s how to use them.

1. Close any programs that may still be open on your device.
2. Click “Ctrl + Alt + Del” on your keypad.
   
3. Tap “Enter” on the blue screen presented and then hit “Enter.”
   

Your PC will shut down.

Take Your Pick

Most Windows users utilize the Start menu to power off their devices. While this is an easy enough method to use, there are other ways to power off your machine. These methods use keyboard shortcuts that don’t require a mouse or to be set up in advance, with the exception of the shortcut method. This guide will expand your Windows shutdown options, giving you the ability to turn off your computer quickly.

Have you shut down your Windows PC using a shortcut? How did you do it? Let us know in the comments below.