Shutdown (computing)

The shutdown feature and command is available in Microsoft Windows,[1] ReactOS,[2] HP MPE/iX,[3] and in a number of Unix and Unix-like operating systems such as Apple macOS.

In Microsoft Windows and ReactOS, a PC or server is shut down by selecting the Shutdown item from the Start menu on the desktop.

Just like other operating systems, Windows has the option to prohibit selected users from shutting down a computer.

The Windows Shutdown website lists various software utilities to automate the task of shutting down.

In Windows, a program can shut down the system by calling the ExitWindowsEx or NtShutdownSystem function.

Windows XP shutdown dialog box
Windows 11 power menu, opened from the Start menu
Shutdown options have been moved from a separate dialog box to the start menu , in Windows Vista and later versions of Microsoft Windows. The above is from Windows 7 .
macOS power management dialog box