How to shut down Windows 8 the easy way: get Windows 8.1 Update

The first version of Windows 8 was notoriously difficult to shut down if you had a PC or laptop, since it was designed to work best with tablets that have a sleep/wake button. Here we show you how to quickly and easily shut down a Windows 8 PC.

If you update - for free - to Windows 8.1 or the latest Windows 8.1 Update, Microsoft has made it considerably easier to shut down, restart or switch users.

In Windows 8.1, you can right-click on the 'Start button' on the traditional desktop. This brings up a menu, which is also accessible by pressing Windows-X, where you have the old Shut down or sign out menu.

 

If you prefer using the new Windows interface, you'll benefit from the latest Windows 8.1 Update which adds a power button to the top-right corner of the screen. Click this, and you'll get the similar shut down and restart options.

  

There's still the the option to shut down when you open the Charms bar and click Settings, then Power. See also: Windows 8 review.

Shutting down Windows 8: Use your PC's power buttonThere's another way you can shut down a Windows 8 PC or laptop, and it will take you less than 30 seconds to configure:

1 - When on the Start screen, begin typing 'Control panel'. Click it in the list of results which appear. 

 

2 - In Control Panel's search box, type 'power'. Under Power Options, click 'Change what the power buttons do'

 

 

3 - By default, 'When I press the power button:' is set to Sleep. Simply change this to Shut Down. If you have a laptop, you can choose separate behaviour depending on whether it's running on battery power or connected to the mains.

 

 

 

Now, instead of using your mouse to shut down your computer, you can quickly press the power button to achieve the same thing.

Of course, if you're happy to leave your PC in sleep mode, you don't need to configure anything at all. Simply get into the habit of pressing your PC's power button instead of using any of the methods above to actually shut down your machine. If you have a laptop, you can merely close the lid to put Windows into sleep mode, but using the steps above you can change what that action does, too.