4 Quick Ways to Log Out of Your Windows User Account

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Log out of your Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: September 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Using the Start Menu
|
• Using the Power User Menu
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• Using Alt + F4 Shortcut
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• Using Ctrl + Alt + Del Shortcut
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• Video
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• Q&A

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Do you want to sign out of Windows 10, but can't seem to find the option to do so? Signing out of Windows lets you sign in to another user account if needed. This is different from powering down your PC. Logging out can be done in many different ways. Here's how to sign out of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

How to Log Out of Your Windows PC

To log out of your Windows computer, click the Start menu, select your user profile icon, and then choose Sign Out. Alternatively, press the keyboard shortcut Alt + F4 or Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard shortcuts for a quick sign-out option.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using the Start Menu

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1. 
   1
   Launch the Start menu. Click the Start

   

   button located at the bottom-left of the screen.

   • Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win keyboard key.
   • 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.
   • This method will work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2. 
   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. 
   3
   Click Sign out. You'll be logged out of your Windows account.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using the Power User Menu

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1. 
   1
   Launch the Power User menu. Press the ⊞ Win+X keys together.https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/user-account-access-in-windows-8f1f3c05-e479-4e9a-666b-90091d052aaf

   • Alternatively, right-click the Start
     
     button. Touchscreen device users can hold down and release.
   • 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.
   • This method will work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2. 
   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. 
   3
   Click Restart. Pressing the I (letter i) keyboard key will perform the same action as clicking Restart.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Alt + F4 Shortcut

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1. 
   1
   Navigate to the desktop. You can use the keyboard shortcut Win + D or quickly show your desktop or close all currently opened programs.

   • 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.
   • This method will work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2. 
   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. 
   3
   Click the dropdown menu. It's right below the "What do you want the computer to do?" line of text.
4. 
   4
   Choose the Sign out option.
5. 
   5
   Press OK or hit ↵ Enter. This will confirm that you want to sign out.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Ctrl + Alt + Del Shortcut

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1. 
   1
   Press the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys together. This allows you to access the Windows Security Screen. A blue screen containing many different links and icons should appear.

   • 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.
   • This method will work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2. 
   2
   Select Sign out. You'll be signed out of Windows.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Will signing out erase my entire hard drive?

  

  EpcotMagic

  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.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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