Pointless Computer Tricks: Shutdown Windows Quickly

Windows 10 or 8.1: Win+X, U, U
Windows 7 or Vista: Win, Left, Enter
Windows XP: Win, Up, Enter, Enter (if shutdown is shown)

Some conditions may apply

      This will work if there is nothing that generates a question (dialog box) needing your input. If anything does ask a question, windows will wait for you to answer it first. In general those questions involve saving documents, but there are a few other causes.

      Generally, web browsers, folders, pictures, and most other programs don’t ask you questions when they close. So they can be left open when you tell the computer to shutdown. Only things that you need to close before shutdown are those that would ask you a question when you tried to close them. Some trial and error will be needed to get a sense of which programs will need your input and which won’t.

Why would you ever want to do this?

      Having watched many people shutdown their computers, they generally do this by using the mouse to click on buttons. Clicks to close each and every open program. More clicks to bring up the shutdown option, and a last click to start shutting down. All of that after they find the mouse pointer, from wherever it was hiding.

      Finding a few keys on the keyboard is usually quicker then finding the mouse, especially if not seated at the computer in question.

When not to do this…

      I can think of three general situations where you wouldn’t want to use this method.

1      You’ve already got your hand on the mouse and the cursor is sitting over the button you will be clicking on. In that case, it’s faster to just click.

2      You haven’t saved that last document (or whatever) and the question about ‘Do you want to save changes’ is about to pop up. In that case, save changes first. If you can do that with the keyboard, then keep shutting down with the keyboard. If not, the mouse works fine too.

3      You have not yet learned a faster method. Hopefully, you’ve read far enough, that is no longer true.

Detailed explanation of keystrokes listed at top

      ‘Win’ key is the windows logo key in the bottom left area of the keyboard, usually between Ctrl and Alt (but there may be a Fn there as well). ‘Left’ and ‘Up’ refer to arrow keys. U and X are the respective letter keys, capitol or lower case work fine. ‘Enter’ (aka Return) may be in two places: bottom right corner of the number pad, and/or between the right ‘Shift’ and the ‘Backspace’.

For Windows 10 or 8.1: While holding down the Win key, press the letter “x”. Let go of Win key. Press the letter “u”, twice. Your computer should now be shutting down.

For Windows 7 or Vista: Press Win key. Press Left arrow. Press Enter. Your computer should now be shutting down.

For Windows XP: Press Win key. Press Up arrow. Press Enter. If box contains ‘Shutdown’, press Enter. If box contains something else, use Up or Down arrow to make ‘Shutdown’ show, then press enter. Your computer should now be shutting down.

For Windows older then XP: Congratulations, your computer is old enough it no longer needs to run. It can drive itself now. (Joke about age needed to get a driver’s license/permit. As I am explaining it, it’s probably not funny.)

      Or you could just close your laptop and let it go to sleep instead. As time goes by, the need to shutdown becomes less and less important. Restarting, on the other hand, should be done every month or so. Although, at some point that too may not be needed.