Shut Down Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

How to Create a Forced Full "Shut Down" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This will show you how to create or download a forced full Shut down computer shortcut with or without a time delay and custom message before the Windows 8 computer is shut down and powered off.

This shortcut does not perform a hybrid shut down.

   Note

A time-out period can also be for how many seconds you have to use the Abort shortcut to quickly abort the computer from shutting down after using this Shut down shortcut.

EXAMPLE: Shut Down Message
NOTE: This is a comparison between the default and a custom message. You will only see a shut down message if you have a time delay included in the shortcut.

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OPTION ONE

To Download an Instant "Shut down" Shortcut

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1. Click on the Download button below to download the ZIP file below.​

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Instant_Shut-down_Shortcut.zip​

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2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.​

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3. Open the .zip file and extract (drag and drop) the Shut down shortcut to the desktop.​

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4. Unblock the shortcut.​

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5. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​

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6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.​

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OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a Custom "Shut down" Shortcut

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1. Right click or press and hold on a empty area of the desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.​

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2. Type in the command below into the location area, and click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)​

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shutdown -S -F -T ## -C "Your message here"​

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FOR EXAMPLE: I would type this below exactly to have a 30 second time delay with a Don't forget to close everything now. message.​

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shutdown -s -f -t 30 -c "Don't forget to close everything now."​

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   Note

Substitute ## in the command above with a number between 0-315360000 for how many seconds you want the time delay to be before shutdown.

   Note

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Substitute Your message here in the command above with a custom message up to 512 characters within quotes that you would like to see in the pop-up dialog when using the shutdown shortcut. The message will only be seen for however long you set the time delay set to be.​

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3. Type Shut down for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.​

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4. Right click on the new Shut down shortcut on the Desktop and click/tap on Properties.​

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5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)​

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6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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7. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 8)​

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%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll​

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8. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)​

NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.​

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9. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 5)​

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10. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a "Slide to Shut down" Shortcut in Windows 8.1
• How to Create a "Hybrid Shut Down" Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Lock, Log off, Restart, Shut Down, and Switch User in Windows 8
• How to Add "Shut Down" Computer to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8
• How to Add a "Power" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8
• How to Create an "Abort" Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Restart" Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Lock Computer" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• 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

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks, Shawn! Great tool! A lot quicker than navigating to the power button. And if you will allow me to add that I created mine manually, set it to 10 seconds, and pinned it to Metro start as one of my beginning tiles since I use that a lot. I also made a "Stop Shut Down" shortcut as follows:

1) Right-click desktop -> New -> Shortcut
2) Location: shutdown -a -> Next
3) Name: Cancel Shutdown -> Finish
4) Change icon if desired

Then I put that shortcut next to the Shut Down shortcut on the desktop. Wherever I push the Shut Down shortcut it takes me to the desktop. The system shut down popup appears. If I forget something and want to stop, I push esc to escape the popup and then push the Stop Shut Down shortcut. A balloon drops from my desktop menu that I optioned in the taskbar menu. Walla! I'm saved from an unwanted shutdown!

Thanks again!

 

[Brink]

Thank you HippsieGypsie.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

You're welcome though I really didn't add anything new. I got so excited about your tutorial that I didn't notice the links to your other keyboard shortcut tutorials until after the fact. I enjoyed them all, for I'm a Keyboard Shortkut kinda' Kid

Keep up the good work!

 

[ei8htmad]

Let me be frank... i always made fun of people who didnt know how to turn off a computer (as a joke) but... i never thought a day would come when i would have to search how to shut down on the internet! oh.my.god! lol thanks Shawn

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome ei8htmad, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It does take a bit to get used to the differences in Windows 8, but once you do, it's not bad at all.

 

[sense1707]

Thanks for the tip on this, just added this as well as a restart and log off shortcut.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Welcome to EightForums, sense1707.

Shawn's shortcuts are great indeed being that I'm a shortcut keys user. Another thing I found that when on the desktop using Alt/F4 brings up Shutdown/Restart/Sleep/Switch User/Sign Out options menu.

 

[Brink]

Thanks for the tip on this, just added this as well as a restart and log off shortcut.

You're most welcome Sense. You might also like this one.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5215-power-add-cascading-desktop-context-menu-windows-8-a.html

 

[sense1707]

Thanks for the tip on this, just added this as well as a restart and log off shortcut.

You're most welcome Sense. You might also like this one.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5215-power-add-cascading-desktop-context-menu-windows-8-a.html

Awesome. Exactly what I was looking for. Love adding little tweaks like this. You're the man Brink!

 

[bryan65]

I tried your option 2, Brink, creating a shortcut within Windows. I get the message that the file "shutdown-S-F-T30-C "Don't forget to close everything now!" cannot be found.

Bryan

 

[Brink]

Hello Bryan, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It may be just a simple type in the target location command used. Please post back with exactly what you used at step 2 in Option Two to see if anything may stand out.

 

[bryan65]

Thanks for the quick response, Brink. I typed "shutdown-s-f-t30-c"Don't forget to shut everything down, NOW!""
Also, in case it is relevant, when booting, the process stops at the black screen before the rotating dots. I can fix this by turning off the power or holding down the power button on the case, then re-booting.

Bryan

 

[Brink]

Bryan,

Yep, just a simple mistake with the spacing. It should be this below exactly with the spaces instead.

shutdown -s -f -t 30 -c "Don't forget to shut everything down, NOW!"

 

[GingerWeasel]

Hey Brink, thanks again for the tutorials.
When I click on the shortcut, it always prompts me to allow this to make changes to the computer. I don't remember it being different the first time I opened it, but I don't have the option to uncheck any box that asks if I want it to "ask me every time". It isn't even there.
Did I miss something? Was that only an option the first time running it?

 

[Brink]

Hello Ginger,

It sounds like you just missed unblocking the downloaded shortcut.

 

[GingerWeasel]

Thank you Brink, I did not have any of those options when I created the shortcut on the desktop, but I tried downloading your pre-packaged version and ran it from the download folder and it gave me the option to uncheck the ask me every time box. So I decided to try making one in the same folder with my own personal message and time delay. When I ran it, it never even asked me, and I suppose that is because I had unchecked the box in your shortcut(?).
Any-hoo, it's working. Thanks again!

 

[Brink]

Great news Ginger.

 

[ppm]

Hello,
Do you know what the correct syntax is for the switches/options ? Some web sites show -s -t etc, while other web sites show /s /t
I believe the " - " version is from XP/7 days, while 8/10 added the " / ". I realise they both work, but is there a "correct" one for win 8/10 ?
When I try to reference MS documentation online, it only shows the " / " versions - but it doesn't say that the " - " format isn't valid.
Cheers !

 

[Brink]

Hello,
Do you know what the correct syntax is for the switches/options ? Some web sites show -s -t etc, while other web sites show /s /t
I believe the " - " version is from XP/7 days, while 8/10 added the " / ". I realise they both work, but is there a "correct" one for win 8/10 ?
When I try to reference MS documentation online, it only shows the " / " versions - but it doesn't say that the " - " format isn't valid.
Cheers !

Hello ppm, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You can use both. It doesn't matter.