How to add Shutdown desktop shortcut in Windows 11

Shutting down your computer is a routine task, but navigating through the Start menu every time can be a hassle. If you're looking for a quicker method, here's how to add a dedicated Shutdown shortcut to your Windows 11 desktop or Taskbar.

Table of Contents

Add Shutdown button to desktop

Creating a “Shutdown” shortcut on your Windows 11 desktop doesn’t require any third-party software. It’s as simple as adding any other icon to your Windows 11 desktop. Instead of specifying a location, you just type the command for the shortcut.

To create a shortcut for the Shutdown command on Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Right click on any empty space on the desktop.
  2. Click New and select Shortcut from the submenu.
  3. Type shutdown /s /t 0 into the location text box and click Next .
  4. Enter a suitable name for the shortcut, such as Shutdown, in the name text box.
  5. Click Finish to confirm.
How to add Shutdown desktop shortcut in Windows 11
Create Shutdown shortcut for Windows

And that's it! You can now double-click your newly created Shutdown shortcut to quickly shut down your computer. By default, the Shutdown button will look like any other shortcut on your desktop, but you can customize it to reduce the risk of accidentally clicking it.

Here are the steps to follow.

  1. Right-click the Shutdown shortcut and select Properties.
  2. In the Shortcut tab , click the Change Icon button .
  3. In the Change Icon dialog box , select the icon you like and click OK.
  4. Click ApplyOK to save your changes.
How to add Shutdown desktop shortcut in Windows 11
Change shortcut icons on Windows 11

You can also download and apply custom icons from sites like IconArchive if the stock icons don't work for you. However, you'll need to download your preferred icon first. Once done, repeat the steps above and click the Browse option in the "Change Icon" dialog box to select and apply.

Similarly, you can set up Restart and Sleep buttons on your Windows 11 desktop. However, you will need to use different commands for them in the location text box in the Create Shortcut window . Here are the commands you need to enter for the Restart and Sleep functions:

  • Restart : shutdown /r /t 0
  • Sleep : rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

Pin Shutdown shortcut to Taskbar

Do you like having a "Shutdown" button on the Taskbar? If so, you can also pin the Shutdown button to the Taskbar. To do so, right-click on the button, select Show more options > Pin to taskbar .

Once you're done, you can delete the desktop shortcut if you want. To do so, right-click the Shutdown shortcut on your desktop and select Delete (the trash can icon).

How to add Shutdown desktop shortcut in Windows 11
Pin Shutdown shortcut to Taskbar

Create a shortcut for the Shutdown button

If you're a fan of shortcuts, you can also quickly shut down your Windows 11 PC using a hotkey. To do this, you'll need to assign a shortcut to the Shutdown button on your screen. Here's how.

  1. Right-click the Shutdown button on the desktop and select Properties .
  2. Go to the Shortcut tab and select the Shortcut key field .
  3. Press the key combination you want to use.
  4. Select Apply > OK .
How to add Shutdown desktop shortcut in Windows 11
Assign a shortcut key to the Shutdown button on Windows

Once you have completed the above steps, you can simply press the assigned hotkey to shut down your Windows computer. It is best to avoid assigning hotkeys that you might accidentally press. Also, remember that the shortcut must be on the desktop for the hotkey to work, so make sure you do not delete the Shortcut button on the desktop.

While shutting down Windows 11 via the Start menu is straightforward, adding a Shutdown shortcut to your desktop or Taskbar can make the process more convenient. Additionally, for those times when you want to shut down your computer without using your mouse, setting up a shortcut for the Shutdown button can be useful.

Sign up and earn $1000 a day ⋙

Leave a Comment

How to remove Copilot and other AI features in Windows

How to remove Copilot and other AI features in Windows

If you don't care about having extra bloatware on your system, there are ways to remove or disable Windows Copilot on Windows 11.

10 Windows 11 settings to maximize laptop battery life

10 Windows 11 settings to maximize laptop battery life

Laptop batteries degrade over time and lose capacity, resulting in less battery life. But after tweaking some deeper Windows 11 settings, you should see a significant improvement in battery life.

Microsoft spams Copilot QR codes on Windows 11 lock screen to lure users

Microsoft spams Copilot QR codes on Windows 11 lock screen to lure users

The year 2023 saw Microsoft betting heavily on artificial intelligence and its partnership with OpenAI to make Copilot a reality.

Microsoft details Bluetooth LE Audio requirements and support for Windows 11, 10

Microsoft details Bluetooth LE Audio requirements and support for Windows 11, 10

Microsoft introduced Bluetooth LE (low energy) Audio support with Windows 11 22H2 KB5026446 (build 22621.1778), also known as Moment 3, in May 2023.

Compare Windows 10 and Windows 11

Compare Windows 10 and Windows 11

Windows 11 has officially launched, compared to Windows 10 Windows 11 also has many changes, from the interface to new features. Please follow the details in the article below.

What a Classic 90s-Style Windows 11 Interface Would Look Like

What a Classic 90s-Style Windows 11 Interface Would Look Like

There's always something incredibly cool about the nostalgic user interface of 90s versions of Windows.

Microsoft: TPM 2.0 in Windows 11 is mandatory and non-negotiable

Microsoft: TPM 2.0 in Windows 11 is mandatory and non-negotiable

More than three years ago, when Microsoft announced Windows 11, the operating system immediately caused a lot of controversy.

2 ways to create Windows 11 bootable USB using Mac

2 ways to create Windows 11 bootable USB using Mac

Creating a Windows 11 bootable USB on a Mac is definitely more difficult than on a Windows PC, but it's not impossible.

Should I update Windows 11 now?

Should I update Windows 11 now?

Windows 11 officially launched on October 5, 2021. Unlike previous major Windows 10 upgrades, Microsoft is not encouraging people to upgrade this time.

Super slimmed down Windows 11 version is just over 100MB in size

Super slimmed down Windows 11 version is just over 100MB in size

Developer NTDEV has created a stripped down version of Windows 11 that's just 100MB.

More Windows 11 PCs Will Soon Get AI Copilot+

More Windows 11 PCs Will Soon Get AI Copilot+

Microsoft debuted most of its more advanced AI features with the Snapdragon X-powered Copilot+ PC, leaving many Intel and AMD-powered Copilot+ PCs out of the picture.

Windows 11 Market Share Is Quickly Catching Up to Windows 10

Windows 11 Market Share Is Quickly Catching Up to Windows 10

The October 2024 report provides an overview of Windows 11's market share compared to other versions of Windows.

Windows 11 will make a much-needed change to the Start menu

Windows 11 will make a much-needed change to the Start menu

The latest change being tested solves one of the most annoying things with Windows 11's Start menu, and hopefully it will actually make it to release.

How to hide/unhide the Taskbar on Windows 11

How to hide/unhide the Taskbar on Windows 11

In Windows 11, the taskbar takes up only a small portion of the display space at the bottom of the screen.

How to Restore WordPad in Windows 11

How to Restore WordPad in Windows 11

Microsoft is killing off its free rich text editor WordPad at the end of 2023 in an effort to transition users to premium Office apps.

Fix error of not being able to install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows

Fix error of not being able to install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows

Microsoft's .NET Framework is a programming platform that includes programming libraries that can be installed or are already included in Windows operating systems. In some cases, your computer cannot install this software. So follow the solution in the article below.

How to fix Kernel Data Inpage Error on Windows

How to fix Kernel Data Inpage Error on Windows

Kernel Data Inpage Error (stop code 0x0000007a) is caused by bad sectors, viruses, hard drives or faulty RAM.

6 Best Free Dynamic DNS Providers

6 Best Free Dynamic DNS Providers

Dynamic DNS (also known as DDNS or DynDNS) is a service for mapping an Internet domain name to a computer with a dynamic IP address. Most computers connect to a router via DHCP, which means the router randomly assigns an IP address to the computer.

7 Essential Windows File Explorer Shortcuts Every Day

7 Essential Windows File Explorer Shortcuts Every Day

Using Windows File Explorer with keyboard shortcuts on a daily basis will help you perform operations faster than traditional operations.

Follow this checklist before clean installing Windows 11!

Follow this checklist before clean installing Windows 11!

When you're planning a fresh Windows 11 install, a little preparation can save you time and effort later.

How to transfer data between computers

How to transfer data between computers

Many people keep their computers for years. They may update a few components and deal with maintenance issues to keep their computers running at their best. However, there comes a time when there’s nothing you can do to speed up or fix problems with your old computer.

How to reset applications on Windows computers

How to reset applications on Windows computers

If your Settings or Microsoft Store app isn't working properly, is crashing, or won't open, you can reset the app.

How to Start Scheduled Tasks with Delay on Windows

How to Start Scheduled Tasks with Delay on Windows

This feature is extremely useful for delaying unnecessary tasks, ensuring network connectivity before a task starts, running tasks in a specific order, scheduling updates, or performing hardware maintenance.

What is VPN? Advantages and disadvantages of VPN virtual private network

What is VPN? Advantages and disadvantages of VPN virtual private network

What is VPN, what are the advantages and disadvantages of VPN? Let's discuss with WebTech360 the definition of VPN, how to apply this model and system in work.

How to change currency format in Windows 11

How to change currency format in Windows 11

This guide will show you how to change the currency format used for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Instructions for installing .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 10

Instructions for installing .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 10

This guide will show you different ways to install .NET Framework 3.5 online and offline in Windows 10.

How to Install Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC

How to Install Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC

If your PC doesn't meet Microsoft's hardware requirements, don't give up. It's possible to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs.

5 Best VPN Software Today With Free Trials and Refund Policies

5 Best VPN Software Today With Free Trials and Refund Policies

Signing up for a VPN can be a waste of money if you don’t know how the product works. That’s why you should use a free VPN trial to help you make the right decision.

How powerline adapters change your home internet

How powerline adapters change your home internet

Is the internet speed on your home Wi-Fi network not meeting your expectations? There's a relatively cheap and simple solution to this problem: a Powerline adapter.

How to fix Settings app not working on Windows 10

How to fix Settings app not working on Windows 10

On Windows 10, users can access the Settings app via the Start menu, which is a more accessible version of the Control Panel. However, many users report that the app is not working due to a bug that causes it to not work when clicked (or redirects users to the Windows Store). Here are some fixes for this problem.