AskVG

How to Shutdown or Restart Windows 8.1 PC Using “Win+X” Menu and Hidden Secret “Slide to Shutdown” Feature?

- Last updated on by

UPDATE: This tutorial was written at the time of Windows 8.1 Preview testing. In Windows 8.1 Preview version, Sign out command was not available in “Win+X -> Shut down” menu. Now in final version of Windows 8.1, Microsoft has added Sign out command to the menu. Tutorial has been updated to include the new information.

Most of us know that Windows 8 doesn’t come with Start Menu. Microsoft replaced Start Menu with Start Screen. Removal of Start Menu created a few major problems for Windows 8 users and one of these problems was missing power options such as Shutdown and Restart. Microsoft moved power options to new Charms Bar which can be accessed by moving your mouse cursor to top-right or bottom-right corners of screen.

Many Windows 8 users didn’t know about this hidden option and they had a hard time in finding power options to shutdown or restart their computers. That’s why we posted a tutorial and released a freeware and Registry tweak to make Windows 8 users life easier:

Advertisement

Now with the release of Windows 8.1, Microsoft has also added all these power options such as shutdown, restart, sleep, hibernate and sign out in “Win+X” Menu which we also call “Quick Access Menu”.

“Win+X” Menu is a hidden menu present in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 which can be accessed by right-clicking on the extreme bottom-left corner of screen or by pressing “Win+X” keys together. It contains shortcuts of a few frequently used items such as Task Manager, Control Panel, Run, etc. You can read more about it here.

In Windows 8.1 when you access “Win+X” Menu, it contains a new menu “Shut down or sign out” which contains 4 items: Shut down, Restart, Sleep and Sign out.

Power_Options_Windows_8_1_Win_X_Menu.png

By default Hibernate option is not enabled but you can enable it using following tutorial:

How to Enable Missing Hibernate Option in Windows 8 Power Menu?

Its a nice addition by Microsoft in Windows 8.1. Now Windows 8.1 users will not complain about missing shut down, restart, sleep, hibernate and sign out options.

Advertisement

BONUS TIP:

Windows 8.1 also comes with a hidden secret “Slide to Shutdown” feature. Currently this feature is not enabled by Microsoft but you can make it working by executing “slidetoshutdown.exe” command from RUN or Command Prompt. This executable file is present in “C:\Windows\System32” folder. You can also create its shortcut on Desktop or pin it to Taskbar or Start Screen. Now whenever you want to shutdown Windows 8.1 PC, launch the shortcut and an image will be displayed on your computer screen asking you to slide it down to shutdown your PC as shown in following screenshot:

Slide_to_Shutdown_Windows_8_1.png

UPDATE: [Tip] Pin “Slide to Shutdown” Shortcut to Windows 8.1 Start Screen

PS: I still think username context menu at Start Screen was the best place to put power shortcuts in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 as suggested here.

Windows_8_Power_Options_Menu.png

Published in: Windows 8

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.

You are here: Home » Windows 8 » How to Shutdown or Restart Windows 8.1 PC Using “Win+X” Menu and Hidden Secret “Slide to Shutdown” Feature?

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Hey VG , how did you get the Windows 8.1 update very fast?? While staying in India, usually a 2GB download is always slow….

  3. ^^ Win+X Menu is still not customizable by default. 😉

    @Addy
    Are not you using a broadband connection?

  6. I’ve got 2 : Airtel 4G and BSNL 3G …. still really slow dwnload frm both of these

  7. Hrm, I only see restart and shutdown. I see Sleep still listed is under ‘power buttons and lid’ settings within the advanced power options. And hibernate is available from the charms bar like normal…. But that neither are listed consistently it’s just confusing. I’ve switched my power button to hibernate but that seems to be the only way for me to activate it, sleep isn’t even an option.

  9. Win+X menu in Windows 8.1 replaced Command Prompt and Command Prompt (Admin) entries with Windows PowerShell and Windows PowerShell (Admin)? What a mistake, again, by Microsoft, I wonder why didnțt they keep all the 4 options so users can use the ones they want. Also, agree to you VG, the Start screen user image is the best place to place power options.

  13. Well after using windows 8 and windows 8.1 for a considerable time, I moved back to windows 7 and even with a proper start button I m still using the ALT+F4 to bring up the shut down options. That’s what the successors of windows 7 did to me.
    -25th Oct. 2013, 12:07 GMT

  14. I have 8.1 but when I right click on the start icon the only option is “Network Connections”. How did all the other options get removed and how do I get them back?

  16. Slide to Shutdown isn’t a secret feature. When you hold the power button of a PC with InstantGo for a few seconds, SlideToShutdown.exe runs. This is mentioned in the Help.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NOTE: Your comment may not appear immediately. It'll become visible once we approve it.