How to Sign Out of Windows 10

4 incredibly easy ways to log out of your Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC

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Power User Menu

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Alt + F4 Shortcut

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Ctrl + Alt + Del Shortcut

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Q&A

Do you want to sign out of Windows 10, but can't seem to find the option to do so? Signing out of Windows does not shut down your computer and lets you sign in to another user account. Scroll down to the first step to get started.

Before you start: Save any unsaved work in open apps. Signing out will close open apps, and any unsaved work since your last save opportunity will be discarded and most likely lost.

Things You Should Know

Click the Start menu, select your user profile icon, and then choose "Sign Out."
To sign out from the Power User menu, press the Windows key + X at the same time, chose "Shut down or sign out," then click "Restart."
The "Alt + F4" and "Ctrl + Alt + Del" keyboard shortcuts also provide quick sign-out options.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Start Menu

1
Launch the Start menu. Click the Start
button located at the bottom-left of the screen.
- Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win keyboard key.
2
Click the user profile icon. A context menu will appear.
- Newer versions of Windows 10 will have it towards the bottom-left of the menu. Older versions will have it at the top-left along with your username.
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3
Click Sign out.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Power User Menu

1
Launch the Power User menu. Press the ⊞ Win+X keys together.^{[1]
X
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- Alternatively, right-click the Start
  button. Touchscreen device users can hold down and release.
2
Hover over/select Shut down or sign out. This option is located second from the bottom. Choosing this will prompt a submenu to appear to the right of the main context menu.
- You can also press the U keyboard key.
3
Click Restart. Pressing the I (letter i) keyboard key will perform the same action as clicking Restart.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Alt + F4 Shortcut

1
Navigate to the desktop. Press ⊞ Win+D simultaneously. There are other different ways of doing this:
- Close all open apps. Use the ✕ button.
- Clicking the very bottom-right of the screen, on the taskbar.
2
Open the "Shut Down Windows" dialog box. Press Alt+F4 together.
- Pressing the keys together while an app is displayed will cause the window to close.
3
Click the dropdown menu. It's right below the "What do you want the computer do do?" line of text.
4
Choose the Sign out option.
5
Confirm that you want to sign out. Press OK or hit ↵ Enter.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Ctrl + Alt + Del Shortcut

1
Access the Windows Security Screen. Press the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys together. A blue screen containing many different links and icons should appear.
2
Click or tap on "Sign out" from the list of links.

Community Q&A

Question

Will signing out erase my entire hard drive?

Christopher

Top Answerer

No. "Signing out" is just the term for logging out or going out of one account so you can go into another account.