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In every previous version of Windows, the "log off" option was in the same menu as the power options. In Windows 8, when I click the "power" button in the charms bar, there's no option to log off -- just sleep, shut down, and restart. How the heck do I log off or switch users in Windows 8?

So far I've just been typing shutdown -l from the command line, or pressing Windows+L to go to the lock screen, and switching users from there. I'm sure there's a better way, but I can't seem to find it!

Sleep... Shut down... Restart... no log out?

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4 Answers 4

Reset to default
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It turns out that in Windows 8, the user switching and logout functionality has been moved to the top of the start screen. It's hard to tell that it's actually a menu button, but if you click your username on the start screen, a drop-down box will appear with options to log out, lock the screen, change your account picture, or choose a user to switch to.

windows 8 logout screenshot

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You can also add shutdown, restart, log off, switch user to the desktop right click(context menu) menu. Just download this registry file and run the add-menu.reg file and it immediate add the menu to the right click menu. If you don't like it to keep their then simply run the remove-menu.reg file and it will gone form there.

right click menu with power menu

Information from this source.

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  • Just tried this on two Win8 installs - works great.
    – merk
    Mar 28, 2013 at 6:25
  • actually, i found a problem with this hack - the sleep command does not work correctly. it puts the computer into hibernation instead of sleep
    – merk
    Apr 5, 2013 at 2:20
  • @merk there could be a problem in registry entry of sleep, just compare it with hibernation key, as I don't have Win8 now for check it so I can't tell you exactly.
    – avirk
    Apr 5, 2013 at 2:30
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See here for lots of ways:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2584-lock-log-off-restart-shut-down-switch-user-windows-8-a.html

While in the Start screen, click/tap on either your user name or picture tile to select the Lock, Sign out (Log off), or switch user option.

Press the CTRL+ALT+DEL keys. From here you can select to Lock this PC, Switch user, Sign out (Log off), or you could click/tap on the power button at the bottom right corner to select to Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart Windows 8.

While on the Desktop (Windows+D), press the ALT+F4 keys. From here, you can select to Switch user, Sign out (Log off), Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down, or Restart Windows 8.

  1. Open the Charms Bar in Windows 8, and click/tap on Settings.
  2. Click/tap on the Power button at the bottom right corner in the Settings slide out menu. From here, you can select to Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart Windows 8.

Click/tap on the Power button at the bottom right corner in the Settings slide out menu. From here, you can select to Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down or Restart Windows 8.

  1. Open Task Manager, and click/tap on More details.
  2. Click/tap on the Users tab. From here, you can select a signed in user to Sign out or Switch user. (see screenshot below)
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  • Would you mind taking some new screenshots? It's not preferable to copy a whole article verbatim, including watermarked screenshots. Summarizing the main points or rewriting them in your own style is great, but straight-up copypasta is not preferred.
    – nhinkle
    Oct 23, 2012 at 8:06
  • Thanks. Not trying to be picky, I just don't want us to get in trouble over here, and it's always nice to get fresh screenshots.
    – nhinkle
    Oct 23, 2012 at 8:08
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open run tiype "shutdown -s -t 0" press enter for shutdown tiype "shutdown -r -t 0" for restart tiype "logoff" for logoff tiype "rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState" for sleep tiype "rundll32.exe User32.dll,LockWorkStation" for Lock Screen

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