Turning off a Windows computer is not something most people need to be taught these days. We've been doing it for a while, after all. However, what most people aren’t aware of is that there’s more than one way to turn off a PC; we just usually stick with the one method we're familiar with.
As such, let’s go over all the ways to shut down Windows 11, from the familiar to the new.
1. Shut Down Windows 11 via the Start Menu
Let’s get the easiest method out of the way. If you’ve been a Windows user for a while now, this is probably the first method that springs up in your memory.
The Start menu search bar is a graphical user interface built into Windows since the time of Windows 95, acting as a central hub to all the important Windows programs and applications. Among other things, it also lets you turn off your computer.
Here's how you can get started:
- Click on the Start menu icon from the taskbar below, or press the Win key.
- From there, select the Power button in the bottom-left corner.
- Click on Shut down from the available list of options.
Related: Different Ways to Hack & Customize the Windows 10 Start Menu
2. How to Shut Down Windows 11 With Your PC's Power Button
You can easily shut down your PC by hitting the power button, too. No need to hold it down, as doing that will trigger a forced shutdown; a single press should do.
Before you go ahead, though, make sure you've saved and closed all your current files and programs. After you’ve done that, simply press the power button once, and the shutdown procedure will begin.
On the off chance that your Windows 11 goes to sleep instead of a shutdown, it means that your power settings have overridden this feature.
To fix this, open the Start menu and search for "control panel." Click on the result, then ensure your Control Panel is set to Large Icon or Small Icon view.
Once done, go to Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > When I press the power button and ensure this is set to "Shut down."
3. Use the Alt + F4 Shortcut to Shut Down Windows 11
Don’t like to follow the long-winded method and procedures? We don’t either. Thankfully, someone at Microsoft understood this as well.
Press the Alt + F4 keys together, and the shutdown menu will pop up in front of your screen. Then select the shutdown option from the dropdown menu and hit Enter. Your Windows will be turned off in a regular fashion.
4. Use Windows 11's Power Menu
Another straightforward method, apart from the ones we’ve already covered above, is to use the Power Menu.
The Power Menu, also called the power user menu, is the central hub for all important features of Windows computers. To shut down your Windows 11 with Power Menu, right-click on the Start menu and select the “Shut down or sign out” option, and then click on Shutdown.
As soon as you select shut down, your computer will be turned off.
5. Shut Down Windows 11 via the Command Line
Not a fan of GUI? No problem, we understand. Plenty of people like to get their hands dirty with the command line for the control it gives to the users.
To get started, go to the Start menu search bar, type in "command line," and choose the Best match.
On the command line, type shutdown /s and hit Enter. A dialog box will appear on your screen which will say, “You're about to be signed out.”.
Your Windows 11 will shut down a few seconds after this.
6. Use CTRL + Alt + Delete to Shut Down a Windows 11 PC
Another shortcut on our list, you can also use the Ctrl + Alt + Delete shortcut to close your PC.
Press the keys together to open the options screen. From there, click on the Power button in the lower-right corner, and then click on the Shut down option. Your PC will shut down normally, just as in other methods.
The Many Ways to Shut Down Windows 11
As shown above, there's more than a single way to shut down your PC. Whether you prefer a keyboard shortcut or decide to go with the command line method, your Windows will be turned off smoothly if you follow one of the methods from above.