How to Shut Down a Computer with the Keyboard in Windows 10 and 11

If you need to shut down your computer without using a mouse, Windows provides several keyboard shortcuts and commands that work on both desktops and laptops.

In this guide, you will see four practical ways to shut down Windows 10 or 11 with the keyboard, plus two quick methods for restarting your PC. These methods can be especially useful if your mouse or touchpad is not responding.

Method 1: Shut down computer with shortcut keys Alt + F4

If you need to shut down your computer with a keyboard, the quickest way to do it is this:

1. First, press Win + D to show the desktop, then press Alt + F4.
2. When the shutdown window appears, make sure Shut down is selected and press Enter.

This is the fastest shortcut to shut down a Windows laptop or computer with the keyboard.This method works well in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Remember: If Alt + F4 closes an app instead of showing the shutdown dialog, press Win + D first to display the desktop, then press Alt + F4 again.

Microsoft also lists Alt + F4, Win + D, and other combinations in its official guide to keyboard shortcuts in Windows.

Method 2: Shut down a PC from the Win + X menu

Another way to shut down your computer with the keyboard is by using the Windows Quick Link menu:

1. Use the Win + X shortcut to launch the Quick Link menu.
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight Shut down or sign out, then press Enter or the right arrow key to open the submenu.
3. Now, select Shut down and press Enter.

Unlike Alt + F4, this method does not require you to return to the desktop first.

Method 3: Shut down a computer with Ctrl + Alt + Delete

If an app or the Windows desktop is not responding normally but Ctrl + Alt + Delete still works, you can shut down the computer from the security screen with these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and wait for the options screen to appear.
2. Next, use Tab to move to the power icon in the lower right corner and press Enter.
3. Now select Shut down with the arrow keys and press Enter again.

This can be useful when you cannot access the desktop or when Alt + F4 is not practical.

Method 4: Shut down command

If you prefer using a command, Windows also lets you shut down your PC without touching the mouse.

1. Save any open work before running the command.
2. Next, press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Then, type this command: shutdown /s /t 0 and press Enter.

Windows will begin shutting down with no countdown. This method is also useful if you want a more direct way to shut down Windows with the keyboard.

If you want to explore additional options, see how to use the shutdown command from Command Prompt.

And if you want Windows to turn off after a certain amount of time or at a specific hour instead, you can schedule automatic shutdown.

How to restart a computer with the keyboard

If you want to restart your PC instead of shutting it down, you can do that with almost the same methods.

1. With Alt + F4: Press Win + D, then Alt + F4, choose Restart, and press Enter.
2. With Win + X: press Win + X, open Shut down or sign out, select Restart, and press Enter.
3. With a command: Press Win + R, type shutdown /r /t 0, and press Enter.

These options let you restart your computer with the keyboard without using the mouse.

Conclusion

Windows 10 and Windows 11 give you several ways to shut down or restart your computer with the keyboard, whether you use Alt + F4, the Win + X menu, Ctrl + Alt + Delete, or a shutdown command. These methods are especially useful when you cannot or do not want to use the mouse.

Shutting down or restarting your PC from the keyboard can also save time. If Windows takes too long to boot afterward, you can make Windows start faster by checking startup apps, Fast Startup, storage, and drive performance.