Lock, Log off, Restart, Shut Down, Switch User - Windows 8

How to Lock, Hibernate, Restart, Shut Down, Sign out, Sleep, and Switch User in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you the different ways to Hibernate, Lock, Restart, Sign out (Log off), Shut Down, and Switch User in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

   Note

The Windows 8.1 Update released on April 8th 2014 via Windows Update, adds a Power button on the Start screen, and to "Shut down or Sign out" in the WIN+X power user tasks menu.

OPTION ONE

From User Details on Your Start Screen

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1. While on your Start screen, click/tap on either your user name or picture tile to select the Lock, Sign out (Log off), or switch user option. (see screenshot below)​

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NOTE:If you are not in the Start screen as below, you can press the Windows key CTRL+ESC keys or to go to it. A user to switch to will not be available unless you have already added the user account.​

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OR​

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2. While on your Start screen in Windows 8.1 Update, click/tap on the Power button at the top right to select to Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart. (see screenshot below)​

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NOTE: To add or remove Sleep and/or Hibernate, see: How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from the Power Options Menu in Windows 8​

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OPTION TWO

From CTRL+ALT+DEL Screen

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1. Press the CTRL+ALT+DEL keys. From here you can select to Lock, Switch user, Sign out (Log off), or you could click/tap on the power button at the bottom right corner to select to Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart.​

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NOTE: To add or remove Sleep and/or Hibernate, see: How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from the Power Options Menu in Windows 8​

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OPTION THREE

From "Shut Down Windows" Dialog Box

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1. While on the Desktop (Windows+D), press the ALT+F4 keys. From here, you can select to Switch user, Sign out (Log off), Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down, or Restart.​

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NOTE: This can only be done from on the desktop. It will not work on the Start screen. To add or remove Sleep and/or Hibernate, see: How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from the Power Options Menu in Windows 8​

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OPTION FOUR

From "Power" Menu in Settings Charm

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1. Open the Charms bar, and click/tap on Settings.​

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NOTE: You could also just press the Windows+I keys to open Settings in step 2 below.​

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2. Click/tap on the Power button at the bottom right corner in the Settings slide out menu. From here, you can select to Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart.​

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NOTE: To add or remove Sleep and/or Hibernate, see: How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from the Power Options Menu in Windows 8​

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OPTION FIVE

From Sign in Screen

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1. Click/tap on the Power button at the bottom right corner in the Settings slide out menu. From here, you can select to Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart.​

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NOTE: To add or remove Sleep and/or Hibernate, see: How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from the Power Options Menu in Windows 8​

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OPTION SIX

From Task Manager

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1. Open Task Manager, and click/tap on More details.​

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2. Click/tap on the Users tab. From here, you can select a signed in user to Sign out or Switch user. (see screenshot below)​

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NOTE: You must have more than one user signed in for Switch user to be available.​

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3. When finished, you can close Task Manager.​

OPTION SEVEN

From Win+X Power Users Tasks Menu in Windows 8.1

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1. Open the Win+X Power Users Tasks menu, and click on Shut down or press the U key to expand Shut down. (see screenshot below)​

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2. From here, you can select to Sign out, Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart Windows 8.1.​

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   Note

To add or remove Sleep and/or Hibernate, see: How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from the Power Options Menu in Windows 8

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   Note

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If you shut down from the WIN+X menu in Windows 8.1, it will perform a full shut down even if you have Fast Startup turned on.​

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(Windows 8.1)​

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(Windows 8.1 Update)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from Power Options Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Power Button on Start Screen in Windows 8.1 Update
• How to Add a "Power" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Restart" Computer to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Restart" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Perform an Emergency Restart in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add "Shut Down" Computer to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Shut Down" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Slide to Shut down" Shortcut in Windows 8.1
• How to Create a "Hybrid Shut Down" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Switch User" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Switch User" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Lock Computer" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Lock Computer and Turn Off Monitor" to the Context Menu in Windows
• How to Create a Lock Computer Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change the Lock Screen Timeout Period in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Sign out" to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn Fast Startup On or Off for a Hybrid Boot in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Allow or Prevent Users and Groups to Shut Down the Computer
• How to Speed Up the Shut Down Time in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change Default Action of Alt+F4 "Shut Down Windows" Dialog in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable to Display Highly Detailed Status Messages in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Hide or Show "Sign out" in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[rowal5555]

Thank you for that, Brink. Can I add another couple?
In Control Panel/Power Options, you can set what the Power Buttons do, Sleep/Hibernate/Shutdown (as you always could). What I have only recently learned is that a quick tap on a modern soft touch power button will start the process just the same as all the other ways.
I also use a desktop gadget for Restarting. There are a few that look the same as this but do not have a protective screen over the buttons to prevent accidental use.

Cheers

 

[Brink]

Hello Rob,

Sure you can. The more ways shown that are included in Windows 8 the better.

 

[derekimo]

I'm using your context menu tweaks Shawn.


How to Add "Shut Down" Computer to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7

How to Add "Restart" Computer to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7

How to Add "Log Off" Computer to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7

How to Add "Lock Computer" to the Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7

 

[Brink]

Thank you Derek.

 

[derekimo]

Thank you Derek.

You're welcome, Thanks for adding the links. :thumb:

 

[sangbuiduc]

How to standby?

 

[rowal5555]

Check in your Control Panel/Power Options, press the keyboard SLEEP button (if available), I use a handy little desktop gadget -
Windows Live Gallery

 

[sangbuiduc]

Check in your Control Panel/Power Options, press the keyboard SLEEP button (if available), I use a handy little desktop gadget -
Windows Live Gallery

Thanks for your answer.

 

[onlytanmoy]

very helpful tutorial..thanks.

 

[Brink]

very helpful tutorial..thanks.

You're most welcome onlytnamoy, and thank you.

 

[pwstegman]

Batch files on the desktop/folder also work. If a folder was made somewhere with batch files, you could point a toolbar to that folder. Then you could create your own custom log off, restart, etc. toolbar. Now that I think about it, you could add any batch file to the toolbar for that matter.

Some batch (.bat) file or cmd commands:

for a list of different shutdown options type "shutdown" into command prompt (without quotes). Here are some examples for a batch file (.bat):

shutdown -l = logoff (note "l​" is a lowercase "L")
shutdown -s = shutdown
shutdown -r = restart
shutdown -a = aborts running shutdown
shutdown -t 10 = shuts down in 10 seconds (10 can be changed to any number)
shutdown -f = force close all applications and shut down
shutdown -c "text" = shutdown with comment where text is the comment (with quotes)

Note: command prompt might list a backslash instead of a hyphen then a letter as an option (when "shutdown" is typed) but the hyphen works.

 

[Brink]

Hello PW,

Yep, that or you could even create or download shortcuts with those commands instead of a .bat file like in the ones below if you like.

• How to Create a "Restart" Computer Shortcut in Windows
• How to Create a "Lock" Computer Shortcut on Your Windows 7 Desktop
• How to Create a "Log Off" Shortcut in Windows
• How to Create a "Shut Down Windows" Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a "Abort" Shortcut in Windows
• How to Create a "Switch User" Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Hibernate Shortcut in Windows How to Create a Sleep Shortcut in Windows
• How to Create a Shut Down Windows Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Shut Down Computer Shortcut in Windows

 

[abhijitrucks]

thanks derek for links... preety useful

 

[Windunce]

Pinning to Start Screen is an option

I've chosen to Pin them onto the Metro Start Screen.

I created the shortcuts per the links in this thread [THANKS!] and then
moved them from my Desktop into my Start Menu folder and they appeared
on the Metro Start Screen.

c:\Users\Windunce\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Shutdown.lnk
etc etc etc

 

[Brink]

Looks great.

 

[Windunce]

Thanks!

I'm not sure that will be their final resting place.
Tomorrow we all start with a clean slate anyway.
The assumption is that we're all ready for consumption.

Consumer Preview here we come.

I'm loading up my thumb drive with most all the tweaks, files
and folders that I've customized over the last months.

Getting ready to plop them into the new install.

Fun Fun Fun
Windunce

 

[Brink]

Updated for Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

 

[derekimo]

Updated for Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

FYI...

The context menu items posted earlier still work.

 

[whs]

Derek, from where do these last 2 items in the context menu come from. I don't have those.

I use the easy method. When I want to shut down, I shut the vBox down. I find it terrible that we need a tutorial (thank you Shawn) to shut the system down. Where is the progress.