Create a Windows 8 Shutdown Shorcut and App Tile

The shutdown Windows Start menu button has evolved over time, but is hidden in Windows 8.

So you upgraded to Windows 8 and finding everything to be a bit different, including no access directly to the shutdown menu from the traditional Start menu. If you don’t need the Home screen, or Metro UI, and would like the traditional Start menu back, read this article: Switch Windows 8 Start Menu Back to Previous Style.

If you prefer the new Windows 8 Metro UI approach, you can still have your shutdown button. In this article, I will show you how to create shutdown shortcuts for Windows 8, including the creation of a shutdown App Tile on the Home screen.

Presently, fro anywhere in Windows 8, you can access Restart or Shutdown by hovering your mouse over the Start menu on Desktop, or in the bottom left corner of the Home screen and select Settings. Specifics steps given in this article, Free Software How to Shutdown #Windows_8 bit.ly/sNBAqA, tweeted by @modeane ~Dr. Modeane Walker.

You can also Log off from the Home screen, by clicking on your Profile tile in the upper right corner. My guess is that this menu will evolve, providing more options, such as shutdown, restart, etc. These shortcuts are good for your desktop PC, laptop, and especially your Windows 8-based tablet PC.

In the meantime, let’s create a shutdown button that can be accessed from the Home screen, then we will also create another shortcut for the Desktop and to add as an App Tile on the Home screen.

Create Windows 8 Shutdown Shortcut

Follow these instructions…

1. Go to the Desktop; click on the Desktop App Tile on the Home Screen
2. Right-click a blank are on the desktop, select New from the context menu, then select Shortcut
3. In the Browse box, type in your desired function from the list below
• Shutdown: Shutdown.exe -s -t 00
• Restart: Shutdown.exe -r -t 00
• Hibernate: rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState
• Sleep: rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0
4. Click the Next button
5. Give your shortcut a name and click the Finish button
6. Let’s now change the button icon…
7. Right-click on the shortcut you just created and select Properties from the context menu
8. Click on the Change Icon button at the bottom, select an appropriate icon, and click OK and close the Properties window
9. Let’s now move it to the Accessories folder…
10. Open Windows Explorer, either from the Taskbar/Startbar, or by executing the Win+E hotkey
11. Navigate to the following directory: %appdata%\microsoft\windows\Start Menu\Programs\
12. Copy and paste the above address into the Explorer address/location bar
13. Open the Accessories folder
14. Go back to your shortcut on the desktop…
15. Right-click and select Cut from the context menu
16. Go back to the opened Accessories folder and click the Paste button from the Ribbon, or right-click in the folder and select Paste from the context menu

Now, let’s verify it is working by going to your Home screen (click on the Start button in the bottom left corner, or tap the Windows key on your keyboard) and start typing the shortcut name you created. It should now appear above.

Create a Windows 8 Desktop Shortcut and Home Screen App Tile

1. We can accomplish this by simply creating one shortcut.
2. Follow the instructions above to get to the Browse box
3. In the Browse box, type in or C&P the following: C:\windows\system32\shutdown /s /t 0
4. Click the Next button, give it a name, and click Finish
5. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
6. Go back to the newly created shortcut, right-click, select Copy, and paste it into the above folder and close Windows Explorer

You can now move the Desktop shortcut anywhere you would like. Now, let’s verify the App Tile creation; go to your Home screen, scroll to the right and you should find the new shutdown Tile.

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