In this article, you’ll learn how to turn off a computer with keyboard only (without using a mouse).
Douglas Engelbart from SRI International first began developing the mouse in the early 1960s when he was researching more about computers and human interaction.
Later, Bill English, the chief engineer at the same organization, came up with the prototype in 1964. Afterward, with development, the mouse slowly became an inalienable part of all computer users across the globe.
Table of Contents
- How to turn off a computer with keyboard only (without using a mouse)
- Did you know that you can also use your keyboard to substitute for your mouse?
- Shut down Windows using the shortcut keys Alt+F4
- Shut down Windows using the Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination
- Shut down Windows using the Windows+X key combination
- Shut down Windows by pressing the computer’s power button
- Shut down Windows by using the Start Menu
- Wrap up
How to turn off a computer with keyboard only (without using a mouse)
If you work with computers, you must be well aware of how a mouse makes our lives easier. It does not matter if you are using a desktop, laptop, or a Mac, having a mouse makes our work extremely efficient and quick, and enables us to work freely.
There are several cases where working without a mouse is extremely difficult and inconvenient.
The uses of the mouse are many – through using a mouse, you can move quickly between windows, tabs, and different applications and promptly navigate from one corner of the screen to the other.
Nowadays, mice also come with a scroll wheel that can act as a mouse button, and you can press it. The mouse also helps work with numerous applications, such as text editors, word processors, and spreadsheets.
Some popular text editors include Microsoft Word, Notepad, and Open Office. On the other hand, some popular spreadsheet apps include MS Excel from Microsoft Office, and Google Sheets.
While writing long texts or preparing spreadsheets, you can use the mouse to take the cursor to the desired location.
Other than text editors, the mouse truly shines while using design software such as AutoCAD, MS Paint, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3DS Max, Corel Draw, and several other applications.
While the mouse is undoubtedly one of the best devices ever made, especially for desktop computers, laptops, and Macs, it still is an electronic device that may occasionally fail.
For example, have you ever wondered how you would work on your laptop if your mouse or trackpad suddenly stopped working?
Did you know that you can also use your keyboard to substitute for your mouse?
Did you also know that you can even turn off your laptop using only the keyboard keys?
Yes, you read that right! There are numerous keyboard shortcuts available that you can press for carrying out different tasks on your laptop, desktop, or Mac, without using the mouse.
If you familiarize yourself with the keyboard shortcuts for your routine tasks, you can work extremely quickly by using the shortcuts by pressing your keyboard keys instead of using the mouse.
In addition to keyboard shortcuts, you can also press the keys of your keyboard to simulate mouse controls.
For example, did you ever wonder why there is an up arrow on your number 8 key on your numeric keypad?
Similarly, did you notice that the number 4 key on the numeric keypad has a left arrow and the number 6 key on the numeric keypad has a right arrow?
Lastly, please notice that there is a down arrow on your number 2 key on the numeric keypad.
We will tell you the reason – these four digits on the numeric keypad of your keyboard can be used to move the mouse cursor on the screen in case your mouse stops working.
When you use the numeric keypad to control the cursor, the number 8 key operates as the up arrow key, the number 4 key works as the left arrow key, the number 6 key works as the right arrow key, and the number 2 key simulate the down arrow key.
Although this method is not as efficient and speedy as using your mouse or keyboard shortcuts, it can help you in pinch situations when your mouse is not working and you need to carry out tasks that do not have any shortcut keys.
In such cases, you can press the keys on your keyboard and complete your desired jobs.
In today’s article, Turbo Gadget Reviews will teach you how to operate your computer using only your keyboard and pressing the keyboard keys in different ways.
In addition, you will also learn to press different keyboard combinations to carry out different tasks without a mouse.
So, without more delays, let’s dive into the details.
Shut down Windows using the shortcut keys Alt+F4
Please follow the steps mentioned below to shutdown Windows using the keyboard shortcut key combination Alt and F4:
- Navigate to your computer’s desktop. To do that, you can use the Windows key+D on your Windows PC;
- Then, press the shortcut keys Alt+F4;
- A new window will pop up on the center of your screen with some options;
- By default, the Shut down option is the selected item. Now, press Enter to turn off the computer.
Shut down Windows using the Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination
If you are using Windows, you can press the shortcut keys Ctrl+Alt+Del together to shut down your laptop or desktop using only your keyboard.
- When you press the key combination mentioned above, you will see the following image on the screen;
- Notice the power button present on the bottom-right of your screen. Now, press the Tab key, and keep pressing it to keep switching from one option to another till you reach the power button;
- Next, press the Enter key as soon as the power button is highlighted on the screen to see some power options;
- Press the Down Arrow key to navigate to the option that says, “Shut down” and press Enter;
- Windows will now ask if you want to turn the system off. Give your confirmation by pressing the Enter key to turn off your computer.
Note: You can use the shortcut keys Command+Option+Escape to shut down your system if you are using a Mac.
Shut down Windows using the Windows+X key combination
You can employ another method to shut down your computer using the keyboard keys only. If you’re having trouble with your mouse and would like to turn the system off just by pressing the keyboard keys, go through the following steps:
- Press Windows Key+X at any time to open the Power User menu;
- Next, navigate to Shut down or Sign out and then Shut down using the arrow keys on your keyboard;
- Once you have highlighted the text that says Shut down, press Enter key to shut down the computer.
Note: You will not get a confirmation message when you use the Power User menu to turn off the computer: The system will instantly shut down.
Shut down Windows by pressing the computer’s power button
You can also shut down your Windows by pressing the power button. However, by default in most machines, if you press the power button once, it will put the laptop or desktop computer to sleep.
So, you need to long-press the power button. However, please note that you might lose all your saved progress if you use this method.
Note: Usually, this procedure is only considered when you have a frozen computer, and even pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Del is not helping.
Shut down Windows by using the Start Menu
You can use the Start Menu to shut down your computer through your keyboard:
- To do that, press the Windows Key to open the Start Menu;
- Next, press the Tab key once and then use the Down Arrow key a few times to select the Power Button;
- After that, press the Enter button and select Shut down, and then press Enter again to shut down your PC.
Wrap up
The mouse is a fantastic input device that allows us to work freely and efficiently. However, in case your mouse does isn’t working, you can use your keyboard to carry out all your tasks in your Microsoft Windows or Mac systems.
There are plenty of Windows keyboard shortcuts available to complete specific tasks quickly.
Once you familiarize yourself with the keyboard shortcuts, you can them to speed up your work.
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