To open Power Options, press the Windows key, type 'power options,' and press Enter. You can set the power button to put your system in hibernate or standby mode via Windows' Power Options. Keep in mind that some organizations want you to leave your PC running because updates and backups may be scheduled for the middle of the night.

Windows will prompt you to save any files that require it before closing the host app, just as it does when you press the power button or click 'Shut down' on the Start menu (which is an odd place for a 'Shut down' button, if you ask me).Įqual time for Mac users: open the shutdown dialog by pressing Control-Eject activate sleep mode by pressing Option-Command-Eject close all applications and restart the machine by pressing Control-Command-Eject (you'll be prompted to save changes to open documents) close all applications and shut down by pressing Control Option-Command-Eject (once again, you'll be prompted to save changes to open documents). Finish early: Create a Windows shutdown shortcut.How to get the classic Start menu back in Windows 8 RTM.How to create a shutdown and reboot tile in Windows 8.Alternatively, you can click Start > Shut down.īut there's a way to power off your system without taking your hands off the keyboard: in Windows 7, press the Windows key, then the right-arrow key, and then Enter in Vista, press the Windows key, then the right arrow three times, and then u in XP, press the Windows key and then u twice. There's more than one way to turn off your PCĪt the end of a long workday your last official act may be to press the power button on your PC to turn it off. If you're concerned about having to remember these or other shortcut keys, press the Alt key to show the underline beneath the letter to press to activate each option. When they're all selected, press Alt-E, then Alt-F, and finally x to close Task Manager.įor those of you keeping score at home, that's seven steps that can be accomplished in less than 10 seconds. Press the down arrow, and then Shift-down arrow to select all the programs listed in the window. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and then Alt-T to open Task Manager's Applications tab.

Here are two handy keyboard shortcuts to save you time and mousing.Ī little-known set of keystrokes will shut down all active programs at once in no time. Need to shut down your PC in a hurry? Simple.

Open control panel from task manager