How to Shut Down or Restart a Windows Computer Without a Mouse Using the Keyboard

There are times when you need to shut down or restart your computer but don't have a mouse at hand. In such cases, you can perform these actions using only the keyboard. In this article, we’ll explain how to do this in different versions of Windows.

Shutting Down the Computer Using the Keyboard

To shut down your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Win key (with the Windows logo) on your keyboard to open the Start menu.
  2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Shut Down or Power button in the menu.
  3. Once you're on the correct button, press Enter.
  4. If the "Power" menu appears with additional options (such as Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, etc.), use the arrow keys to select your desired action, then confirm by pressing Enter.

Restarting the Computer Using the Keyboard

To restart your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del at the same time to open the options screen.
  2. Using the arrow keys, select "Restart" (usually located at the bottom right of the screen).
  3. Press Enter to restart your computer.

Using Command Prompt

You can also restart or shut down your computer through the Command Prompt:

  1. Press Win + R to open the "Run" dialog.
  2. Type cmd and press Enter.
  3. In the Command Prompt window, type one of the following commands:
    • shutdown /r /f — to restart the computer (the /f option forces all running applications to close).
    • shutdown /s /f — to shut down the computer.
  4. Press Enter, and your computer will perform the requested action.