Sigh. How do I restart or shut down the PC in Windows 8?

[Elliot B.]

Without resorting to this, how do I restart or shut down my PC in Windows 8?

Searching the full screen Start menu for "restart", for example, displays no results.

(P.S. things like this make me feel sorry for 99% of Windows 8 users in the future who aren't using Wndows 8 on a tablet and instead got it when they bought their shiny new PC, because if I'm struggling to find it easily, God knows what they'll do...)

[Vice]

Just pull the power cord out the back.

[Elliot B.]

Just pull the power cord out the back.

:rofl:

[Tekkerson]

2 Clicks.

When you install Windows 8 at least in the RTM it tells you about the menu that you can bring up when you put your mouse on the top right corner. So this is no mystery.

Hover mouse top right corner > click settings > click power for whatever option you want (restarting, shutting down ,etc)

Easy ;)

You can also find it by searching. Win Key + W > Search for "Turn off"

[Brandon H Supervisor]

charms menu > settings

[BajiRav]

never mind :blush:

[Brandon H Supervisor]

I take it that you are looking for a faster way to restart/shutdown than going through the settings charm?

Make two shortcuts to shutdown.exe on your desktop (or some other place) and pin them to start

restart -> shutdown /r /t 00

shutdown -> shutdown /s /t 00

I am not sure if /t is necessary in Windows 8.

that would be the "this" he is refering to in the OP

[briangw]

Keyboard shortcut to Settings is Windows key + I

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

Or just press the power button on your PC which has been a "soft" button for several years and will shutdown the PC cleanly.

For restart, just hit Win + i on the keyboard and the power button is right there.

[Routerbad]

You can also Ctrl+Alt+Del and click on the power menu in the bottom right corner. I only turn the machine off rarely and only use this to restart, because I let the computer sleep after 30 minutes.

[Elliot B.]

So:

Windows 7: Start button, Shut down

Windows 8: Start screen, hover top right, Settings, Power, Shut down

Jesus H. Christ.

You can also Ctrl+Alt+Del and click on the power menu in the bottom right corner. I only turn the machine off rarely and only use this to restart, because I let the computer sleep after 30 minutes.

That's quite quick - nice :)

[Julius Caro]

charms menu > settings

that makes NO sense, let's be real here.

And it was definitely my main perk when I tested the previews. To the point where I ended up going to the switch user screen from the lock screen and randomly find the shut down menu there. You can also do it from the control+alt+del menu. Shutting down a damn PC is not a "setting".

Although, by the way, PRESSING the power button on windows should bring up the shut down menu too.

[+Chsoriano Subscriber²]

Looks like everyone has you covered already. My next question would be, why are you installing Windows 8 already if you can't even figure this ou?

[Brandon H Supervisor]

So:

Windows 7: Start button, Shut down

Windows 8: Start screen, hover top right, Settings, Power, Shut down

Jesus H. Christ.

you don't have to go the start screen in order to access the charms menu, just move your mouse to the top/bottom right and move towards center

[ozgeek]

Yep just press the power button on the actual PC tower. It performs the same way. You can even program it so it only sleeps and not shut right down when you press it ( in Power Options ) even since win 98, pressing the power button has the same effect as Start > Shutdown. They perhaps buried the software switch because it is pointless to have 2 power switches. And besides they want to have the screen for actual computing use.

[Phebson]

He had to jump on the hate bandwagon.

that makes NO sense, let's be real here.

And it was definitely my main perk when I tested the previews. To the point where I ended up going to the switch user screen from the lock screen and randomly find the shut down menu there. You can also do it from the control+alt+del menu. Shutting down a damn PC is not a "setting".

Although, by the way, PRESSING the power button on windows should bring up the shut down menu too.

Sure it is, your 'setting' it to be off. :rofl:

[Elliot B.]

you don't have to go the start screen in order to access the charms menu, just move your mouse to the top/bottom right and move towards center

Ah yes, true.

Windows 7: Start button, Shut down

Windows 8: Hover top right, Settings, Power, Shut down

Still a chore.

I understand tablets (which is what Windows 8 is purely designed for) don't need to Shut down or Restart very often (so the options don't need to be in your face), but I (and most users) are/will be using a PC, so the above is effort compared to how it used to be.

[ozgeek]

Although, by the way, PRESSING the power button on windows should bring up the shut down menu too.

Go into Power Options in windows and you can change that so it shut right down or just sleep or even hibernate whenever you press the power button.

[Detection]

Win Key + C > Settings > Power > Shutdown/Reboot

or Click normal desktop > Alt+F4

It's a pain having to use the charms bar when you have an extended display activated to the right of your main LCD

[Max Norris]

If its a that big chore just make a shortcut to the shutdown program or psshutdown from SysInternals. Click done bye.

[Elliot B.]

Go into Power Options in windows and you can change that so it shut right down or just sleep or even hibernate whenever you press the power button.

Win Key + C > Settings > Power > Shutdown/Reboot

or Click normal desktop > Alt+F4

Both are just too complicated for non-tech. savvy users (or they simply won't know about Power Options etc. in order to do that).

They could do it in Windows 7, they'll struggle in Windows 8...

[ozgeek]

Ah yes, true.

Windows 7: Start button, Shut down

Windows 8: Hover top right, Settings, Power, Shut down

Still a chore.

I understand tablets (which is what Windows 8 is purely designed for) don't need to Shut down or Restart very often (so the options don't need to be in your face), but I (and most users) are/will be using a PC, so the above is effort compared to how it used to be.

Not a chore and even not comparable. Most tablets dont have a software side power switch option, only a hardware way. I mean there is no shutdown option in iOS. You have to use the buttons to do an actual shutdown. Therefore they try to imiate that in desktops by dropping the software swtich and having you use the actual hardware power switch. Besides most people have their computers on 24/7.

Both are just too complicated for non-tech. savvy users (or they simply won't know about Power Options etc. in order to do that).

By default, windows automatically shuts down the computer if the power switch is pressed. My win7 does if I press the power button, it runs the shutdown sequence and in time, the system is off.

[Elliot B.]

<snip> Besides most people have their computers on 24/7.

If you're talking about PCs, that is absolute bull crap. I know at least a dozen people with PCs in real life and non of them leave their PCs on 24/7, mainly due to 1) electricity bills 2) they simply don't need to.

I understand why they're "hidden" options for a tablet, but I'm using a PC - and so will 99% of Windows 8 users.

By default, windows automatically shuts down the computer if the power switch is pressed. My win7 does if I press the power button, it runs the shutdown sequence and in time, the system is off.

ok that's fine, but what if they want to Restart their PC?

[ozgeek]

have you forgotten laptops? Laptops are overtaking desktops and because power switches are usually right in front of the screen, it's pointless to have one on the screen. I understand it is frustrating for some desktop users but that's goes to show that microsoft is known to change things and I despise this yet, people complain they want change and microsoft change and now people complain. I'm sure they have good reason why they buried the software switch.

[Elliot B.]

have you forgotten laptops? Laptops are overtaking desktops and because power switches are usually right in front of the screen, it's pointless to have one on the screen. I understand it is frustrating for some desktop users but that's goes to show that microsoft is known to change things and I despise this yet, people complain they want change and microsoft change and now people complain. I'm sure they have good reason why they buried the software switch.

Because they're trying to force people towards tablets or something, I'm not quite sure.

There is no benefit for PC/desktop users.