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How to Remove Shut Down Button from Windows Vista and 7 Login Screens?

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Recently we posted a tutorial for removing “Windows Branding Logo” and “Ease of Access” (Accessibility) Button from Windows Vista and 7 Login Screens:

How to Remove “Branding Logo” and “Ease of Access” Button from Login Screen?

Today in this tutorial, we’ll tell you how to remove “Shutdown” button from the Login screen!

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Win_7_Login_Screen_wo_Branding.png

Here we start the tutorial:

1. We’ll need to edit “%windir%\System32\authui.dll” file. First copy authui.dll file from “System32” folder to some other location for example Desktop.

Note: here %windir% represents “Windows” directory which can be found in the system drive where Windows is installed. In most of the cases its C:\Windows.

2. Now open the new file in Resource Hacker.

3. Now press “Ctrl+F” keys or select “Find Text” option from “View” menu.

4. Type Shutdown in Find what text box. Click on “Find Next” button and it’ll go to following lines:

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<element id=”atom(ShutDownFrame)” layout=”flowlayout()”>
<button id=”atom(ShutDown)” accname=”resstr(12128)” tooltip=”true”/>
<button id=”atom(ShutDownOptions)” accname=”resstr(12131)” accdesc=”resstr(12131)” tooltip=”true” shortcut=”115″/>

5. Replace the last 2 lines of code with following:

<element id=”atom(ShutDownFrame)” layout=”flowlayout()”>
<button id=”atom(ShutDown)” accname=”resstr(12128)” tooltip=”true” layoutpos=”none”/>
<button id=”atom(ShutDownOptions)” accname=”resstr(12131)” accdesc=”resstr(12131)” tooltip=”true” shortcut=”115″ layoutpos=”none”/>

Guess what? We are only adding an extra string layoutpos=”none” at the end of each line.

6. That’s it, click on “Compile Script” button and save the file.

7. Now we’ll need to replace original authui.dll file present in “C:\Windows\System32\” folder with our new authui.dll file which we saved at Desktop or some other location.

7 a. First take ownership of “C:\Windows\System32\authui.dll” file using following tutorial:

Add Take Ownership Option in File / Folder Context Menu in Windows Vista and 7

7 b. Now rename it to “authui_backup.dll” or any other name.

7 c. Now copy your new modified “authui.dll” file from Desktop to “System32” folder.

PS: If you are using 64-bit Windows edition, you’ll also need to replace authui.dll file present in “C:\Windows\sysWOW64\” folder.

8. Restart your system and after restart Windows will start using your new modified file and you’ll not see the “Shutdown” button on login screen.

PS: Windows Vista “authui.dll” file contains only a single instance of (ShutDown) string, so you’ll need to replace it only once using Step 3 and 4 but Windows 7 contains 3 instances of this string, so you’ll need to change all the 3 instances in the file.

NOTE: If you want to use a free tool to customize Windows 7 login screen, check following list:

Ultimate Collection of the Best Free Tools to Customize Windows 7 Login Screen

Also Check:

How to Restrict Windows Users from Accessing Shutdown Options at Login Screen?

Published in: Windows 7, Windows Vista

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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Comments

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  1. Hi Matt,

    I have been trying to accomplish the same thing with the toggle keyboard. I am new at this. Could you break down what you did?

    Thanks Sean

  2. Matt,

    I ended up figuring out myself thru trial and error. Found a line of code which I modified that wiped out all the buttons in one swoop.

    Thanks Sean

  3. Do you know how to do this in windows 8? I was able to remove the shut down via registry dword value listed above but it appears all of the above in the authui.dll has changed in windows 8.

  4. ok, I would like to do similar task but not hide the red button from the initial startup screen (enterprise edition), but I would like the button only do a restart when pressed and remove the shutdown option or other options from the menu and to move/locate the button to the center of screen.. what code do i change/add for this?

  5. thought i should add; for those who don’t want to edit the system dll(s) to remove just this one button and have windows 7 professional or above, you can remove the button with group policy:

    Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > select Security Options > find “Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on” > Disable

  6. also, for those who edits the dll(s) anyway, you should remove the ‘ shortcut=”115″ ‘ part of the string as well or you can still shut down your computer with the hotkey. it might be a matter of personal preference, but with security reasons in mind this would be the way to go.

  7. hi vg..can you pls. post some tut about how to hide the taskbar permanently using resource hacker..im using taskbar eliminator but its not a good one..thank and advance vg. you’re no.1

  8. ^^ Taskbar cant be removed using Resource Hacker. You’ll need to use 3rd party programs as you mentioned.

  9. What if I want to move the Shutdown button to bottom centre instead?

    Would adding layoutpos=”bottom” work?

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