Windows 10 comes with a different user interface yet again which includes a new Settings app and a different Start menu quite unlike the Windows 7 Start menu or the Windows 8 Start screen. It provides basic functionally that everyone is used to although it does not have submenus for system folders. The power button is now in a different location and the commands to lock or log off are located elsewhere. In case you are interested, let me walk you through all the ways to sign out from your Windows 10 user session.
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Here are all the ways to sign out from Windows 10.
- The Start menu.
Click your user name in the Start menu. In the drop down menu, you will see the Sign out command:
- Win + X Power user menu.
Right click the Start button on the taskbar in Windows 10. From its context menu you can access the Sign out command. Alternatively, you can press Win + X shortcut keys on the keyboard.
This will open the Win + X menu. See the article Use Win+X menu to manage tasks in Windows 10 faster.
Tip: see the full list of all Windows keyboard shortcuts with Win keys. - Ctrl + Alt + Del security screen.
Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del shortcut keys together on the keyboard and pick the Sign out command from there:
- The classic Shutdown dialog.
Minimize all windows if you have any open and click on the Desktop so it is focused. Now press Alt + F4 shortcut keys together on the keyboard. In the Shutdown Windows dialog, select the item "Sign out":
Tip: see How to create a shortcut to the Shut Down Windows dialog. - The shutdown console tool.
Open a command prompt and type the following:shutdown -L
This will sign out you from Windows 10:
That's it. Thankfully, Microsoft is keeping these options in Windows 10, so everyone can pick their most preferred way.
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Thanks
don’t mention it
shutdown -L
I hate this windows 10 it is just horrible, I wish I had my old method of sign in/out back again. Welcome page is horrible ttoo
What about win + L?
That’s for locking your PC.
A need to know how to log my account off not sign out!! please help because a know how to sign out but want to log out such that my name is not seen on the monitor
Please refer to the following article: Hide your email and user name from Windows 10 lock screen and How to make Windows 10 ask for user name and password during log on
I used windows 7 before and was expecting to see the sign out option when I clicked on the power button in the start menu. Thanks for this.
You forgot command prompt and typing “logoff” (without quotes), or creating a simple batch file using notepad and the command logoff (and then dropping it on the desktop for users).
Also, a log off and sign out are the same thing for the above user who mentioned it. You may be thinking of locking the account (not an Active Directory lockout), which allows for a quicker sign in the next time. Windows Key, User Icon and Lock.
Thanks very much, this is excellent advice and thanks to you…I managed to sign my wife out of her account so it could be fixed. Windows 10 keeps losing the use of the Start Menu with annoying regularity! Thanks again
You are welcome. Glad to hear!
Another really quick and useful way to log out of Windows is to create a new desktop shortcut.
In the Target box enter “C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -l”
In the Start In box enter “C:\WINDOWS\system32”
Name the shortcut whatever you want.
Now all that you need to do to log out is to double-click on the shortcut you just created.