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 10 and Windows 11 give you several keyboard-based ways to do it. This can be useful if your cursor is not responding or if you simply prefer keyboard shortcuts.

In this guide, you will see the most practical ways to shut down your PC step by step, along with a couple of easy methods to restart it when needed.

Prefer this guide in Spanish? You can also read the Spanish version of this tutorial.

Quick answer

The fastest way to shut down your computer with the keyboard in Windows is:

1. Press Win + D to show the desktop
2. Press Alt + F4
3. In the window that appears, make sure Shut down is selected
4. Press Enter

Your PC will shut down without using the mouse.

Ways to shut down a computer with the keyboard

Below are several methods you can use to shut down a PC or laptop with the keyboard in Windows.

Method 1: Shut down a PC with Alt + F4

This is the best-known method and usually the fastest way to shut down a computer with the keyboard.

1. Press Win + D to go to the desktop.
   This matters because if a window is active, Alt + F4 will close that window instead of opening the shutdown dialog.
2. Once you are on the desktop, press Alt + F4.
3. The Shut Down Windows dialog box will appear.
4. If Shut down is already selected, just press Enter.
   If not, use the arrow keys to choose Shut down, then press Enter.

This method works well in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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 access menu.

1. Press Win + X
2. Use the arrow keys to find Shut down or sign out
3. Open that submenu with Enter or the right arrow key
4. Select Shut down
5. Press Enter

This method is useful if you do not want to rely on Alt + F4 or if the desktop is not visible at the moment.

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

If Windows is still running but not responding normally, or if you cannot get to the desktop, you can also shut down the computer from the security screen.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete
2. Wait for the options screen to appear
3. Use Tab to move to the power icon
4. Press Enter
5. Select Shut down with the arrow keys
6. Press Enter again

This method is useful when other keyboard shortcuts are not working properly.

Method 4: Shut down a computer with a command

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

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type this command: shutdown /s /t 0
3. Press Enter

Your computer will shut down immediately. This method is also useful if you want a more direct way to shut down Windows with the keyboard.

If you want to explore more command-based options, you can also read this guide on how to use the shutdown command in Windows from Command Prompt.

For a broader look at command-line tools, this tutorial shows different ways to open Command Prompt in Windows.

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.

• With Alt + F4: Press Win + D, then Alt + F4, choose Restart, and press Enter.
• 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.

Frequently asked questions