When you first use Windows 8, you will have a hard time figuring out how to shut down or restart your computer. That’s why I decided to share this guide and help you out. You will surely find it useful so read on. You’ll discover a few cool ways to do this.

1. Shut Down Using the Settings Charm in Windows 8

The "traditional" way of shutting down the computer in Windows 8 is via the Settings charm. Press Windows + I on your keyboard and then click or tap Power.

To learn more about Charms in Windows 8 and how to use them, read this detailed tutorial: Introducing Windows 8: What are the Charms?.

2. Shut Down from the Log On Screen in Windows 8

If you find yourself at the log on screen in Windows 8, press the Power button on the bottom right. A menu shows up with the Shut Down and Restart options.

3. Shut Down Using Shortcuts in Windows 8

An alternative is to use the Shut Down and Restart shortcuts we bundled in our huge library of shortcuts for Windows 7.

Most of those shortcuts work also in Windows 8. You can find them here: Download The Biggest Library of Windows 7 Shortcuts.

To learn how to add shortcuts to the Start screen and organize them, I recommend the following tutorials: The Complete Guide to Pinning Everything to the Windows 8 Start Screen and Introducing Windows 8: Group Shortcuts on the Start Screen and Name Them.

4. Shut Down Using the "Shut Down" Menu in Windows 8

If you find yourself on the Desktop and there are no active windows being displayed, you can press Alt+F4 on your keyboard, to bring up the Shut Down menu.

Alternatively, you can use the custom shortcut we created for this menu. You can place it on the Desktop or the Start screen.

The shortcut can be downloaded from here: Download the Shortcut for the "Shut Down Windows" Menu.

5. Shut Down from the Command Line in Windows 8

If you are a Command Line geek, you can use the shutdown /s command.

To learn about all the available parameters for this command simply type shutdown in the Command Prompt.

Conclusion

At first, figuring out how to shut down or restart Windows 8 might be a pain. However, this guide will help you find your way and use the methods that work best for you. If you know other ways to shut down or restart Windows 8, don’t hesitate to share via the comments form below. Also, if you are looking for other useful tips and tricks for Windows 8, don’t hesitate to check our recommendations below.

Related articles:

Download the Desktop Shortcut to the Windows 8 Start Screen
How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8 & Skip the Start Screen
7 Ways to Launch the Task Manager in Windows 8