How to Change Default Action of Shut Down Windows Dialog in Windows 10
The Shut Down Windows dialog is what you see when you press the Alt+F4 keys without any currently open windows selected.
If you press the Alt+F4 keys with a window selected (active), that window will be closed.
The Shut Down Windows dialog allows you to select from the actions below for what you want the computer to do.
Shut down is the action selected by default in the Shut Down Windows dialog, but you can change the default action if wanted.
This tutorial will show you how to change the default action of the Alt+F4 Shut Down Windows dialog for your account, specific users, or all users in Windows 10.
If you disable hibernate or remove hibernate from the power menu, Hibernate will not be available in the Shut Down Windows dialog.
If you remove sleep from the power menu, Sleep will not be available in the Shut Down Windows dialog.
If you have a Windows Update waiting to restart the computer to finish, you will have the Update and shut down (default) and Update and restart actions available in the Shut Down Windows dialog.
Contents
- Option One: Change Default Action of Shut Down Windows Dialog for Current User using a REG file
- Option Two: Change Default Action of Shut Down Windows Dialog for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Three: Change Default Action of Shut Down Windows Dialog for All Users using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Shut Down Windows dialog
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Start_PowerButtonAction DWORD
100 (hex) = Switch user
1 (hex) = Sign out
10 (hex) = Sleep
40 (hex) = Hibernate
2 (hex) = Shut down
4 (hex) = Restart
1 Do step 2 (Switch user), step 3 (Sign out), step 4 (Sleep), step 5 (Hibernate), step 6 (Shut down), or step 7 (Restart) below for what you want as the default action.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 8 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Switch_User_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 8 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Sign_Out_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 8 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Sleep_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 8 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Hibernate_for_current_user.reg
Download
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 8 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Shut_Down_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 8 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Restart_for_current_user.reg
Download
8 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
9 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
10 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
11 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
If enforced, this option will override Option One.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Three.
1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (see screenshot below)
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Change Start Menu power button policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (default) or step 6 (change) below for what you would like to do.
This step will allow users to use Option One.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select either Shut down, Sleep, Log off, Restart, Switch User, or Hibernate in the "Options" drop menu for the default action you want, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Lock is not supported as a default action in Windows 10, and will be the same as Shut down.
7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
If enforced, this option will override Option One.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
PowerButtonAction DWORD
(delete) = Default user choice
100 (hex) = Switch user
1 (hex) = Sign out
10 (hex) = Sleep
40 (hex) = Hibernate
2 (hex) = Shut down
4 (hex) = Restart
1 Do step 2 (Switch user), step 3 (Sign out), step 4 (Sleep), step 5 (Hibernate), step 6 (Shut down), step 7 (Restart), or step 8 (default) below for what you want as the default action.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 9 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Switch_User_for_all_users.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 9 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Sign_Out_for_all_users.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 9 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Sleep_for_all_users.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 9 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Hibernate_for_all_users.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 9 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Shut_Down_for_all_users.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 9 below.
Set_Shut_Down_Windows_default_action_to_Restart_for_all_users.reg
Download
This step will allow users to use Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 9 below.
Default_Shut_Down_Windows_action_user_choice_for_all_users.reg
Download
9 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
10 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
11 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
12 Restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
13 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Switch User in Windows 10
- How to Sign out of Windows 10
- How to Put Your Computer to Sleep in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Sleep from Power menu in Windows 10
- How to Hibernate the Computer in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Hibernate from Power menu in Windows 10
- How to Shut Down the Computer in Windows 10
- How to Restart the Computer in Windows 10
Change Default Action of Shut Down Windows Dialog in Windows 10
Change Default Action of Shut Down Windows Dialog in Windows 10
How to Change Default Action of Shut Down Windows Dialog in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: General Tips
31 Jul 2020
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