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To shut down a Windows 10 or 11 PC with the keyboard, press Windows+D, then Alt+F4, choose Shut down and press Enter. To put it to sleep instead, choose Sleep in the same dialog, if that option is available.
Save your work first. The important step is giving the desktop focus: Alt+F4 inside an app closes that app rather than opening the Windows power dialog.
Quick keyboard methods
| What you want | Keys and next step |
|---|---|
| Shut down | Windows+D, Alt+F4, choose Shut down, then Enter. |
| Sleep | Windows+D, Alt+F4, choose Sleep, then Enter. |
| Restart | Windows+D, Alt+F4, choose Restart, then Enter. |
| Open another power menu | Windows+X, then use the arrow keys to open Shut down or sign out. |
| Lock your PC | Windows+L. Your apps keep running; this does not put the PC to sleep. |
Use Windows+D, then Alt+F4
- Save anything you are editing.
- Press Windows+D to show the desktop.
- Press Alt+F4 to open the Shut Down Windows dialog.
- Use the arrow keys to choose Shut down, Sleep or Restart. Check the selected action each time.
- Press Enter to confirm. Press Esc if you want to cancel before confirming.
On a laptop where F4 controls brightness or another hardware feature, you may need Alt+Fn+F4. The Fn behaviour depends on the keyboard.
Microsoft’s Windows keyboard shortcut reference explains desktop shortcuts and how Alt+F4 affects the active window.
Use Windows+X to choose Sleep or Shut down
Press Windows+X. Use the arrow keys to select Shut down or sign out, open its submenu, then choose the action you want and press Enter. If needed, use the right arrow to open the submenu.
This works without a mouse. Letter shortcuts in that menu depend on the Windows display language, so follow the visible labels rather than assuming a sequence of letters works on every PC.
Can Ctrl+Alt+Del shut down the PC?
Yes. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, then use Tab or Shift+Tab until the power icon at the lower right is selected. Press Enter, choose an available power action and confirm.
That screen offers more than locking or signing out. Microsoft also documents its power menu in its power-state guide. If Windows is completely unresponsive, a keyboard shortcut may not work either.
Sleep, hibernate, lock and screen off: choose the right action
| Action | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sleep | Uses little power and normally lets you return quickly to your open apps. |
| Hibernate | Saves the session to storage and uses less power than sleep. It may not be available on every PC. |
| Lock | Protects access to your session while the PC and apps continue running. |
| Turn off the display | The screen goes dark; the PC can still be running. |
| Shut down | Ends the current session and turns the PC off. |
A screen saver is different again: it changes what the screen displays, rather than acting as a sleep command. Read Microsoft’s sleep and hibernation guide if you want to compare those power options.
Use a sleep key or change the power-button action
Some keyboards have a moon or sleep symbol. Check the keyboard’s instructions to see whether you need Fn. There is no dedicated sleep key on every keyboard.
You can also choose what a normal press of the PC’s power button does. Our guide to power-button settings in Windows 11 and 10 explains the options. A normal press and holding the button down are different actions.
Optional: create a shutdown shortcut
After saving your work, you can create a desktop shortcut that starts shutdown immediately:
- Right-click the desktop and select New → Shortcut.
- Enter
shutdown.exe /s /t 0as the location. - Name it clearly, such as Shut down PC.
- If you want a keyboard combination, open the shortcut’s Properties → Shortcut tab and set an unused Shortcut key.
Opening it starts shutdown without a countdown or a confirmation dialog. It does not include /f, the option that forces apps to close. Save first: this is not a guarantee that every app will protect unsaved work.
Microsoft’s shutdown command reference also notes that a timeout greater than zero implies forced app closure. Use the normal power menu if you want to choose and confirm the action yourself.
If the shortcut does not work
- Alt+F4 closes an app: press Windows+D first and make sure the desktop has focus.
- F4 changes a hardware setting: check whether your keyboard needs Fn.
- Sleep is missing: check the PC’s power settings and manufacturer guidance. A managed work PC may also have restrictions.
- You want to check available sleep states: open Command Prompt and run
powercfg /a. This reports supported states and reasons some are unavailable; it does not enable them. - Windows asks you to close an app: return to it, save your work and try again.
Microsoft explains the diagnostic command in its Powercfg reference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to shut down Windows 11?
Press Windows+D, then Alt+F4. Select Shut down and press Enter. The same desktop method works in Windows 10.
What is the shortcut to put a PC to sleep?
Use Windows+D, Alt+F4, then choose Sleep. You can also open Windows+X and choose Sleep from the power submenu, when available.
Why does Alt+F4 close my browser?
It acts on the focused window. Show and focus the desktop first to open the Windows power dialog.
Why do I need Fn on my laptop?
Some laptops give the function keys hardware controls by default. Fn lets you send F4 instead. Check your keyboard’s Fn or Fn Lock setting.
Does Windows+L put the PC to sleep?
No. It locks the session. The screen may turn off or the PC may sleep later according to its power timers.
Can I turn off just the screen?
Use the monitor’s power control or the screen-off timer in Windows power settings. That is different from putting the whole PC to sleep.
Does shutdown.exe /h mean Sleep?
It requests hibernation, when enabled. For Sleep, use the power-menu methods above.
Why should I avoid adding /f to a shutdown shortcut?
It forces apps to close and can lose unsaved work. Use the menu for ordinary shutdown and save your files before starting any shutdown command.