If you have upgraded to Windows 8 and find yourself mainly using the desktop mode then shutting down, switching user, signing out, restarting and putting the computer to sleep are operations that appear to take longer to get to than in Windows 7.
In Windows 7 you could just open the start menu and right there at the bottom you would find the button to access those functions.
Windows 7 Start Menu
In Windows 8, unless you are using a start menu replacement such as the awesome Start8, you no longer have access to this popup dialog and the shut down button.
However, there’s a quick way to access these functions from desktop mode:
- Make sure the desktop has focus (click it with the mouse)
- Press ALT+F4 on your keyboard (press and hold the ALT key, then press F4)
…and voila! – the Shut Down Windows dialog appears:
The Shut Down Windows Dialog
I have found this to be the fastest way to shut down or restart Windows 8 from desktop mode (and after all, who isn’t using desktop mode?) 🙂
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