Question How do I set the Start menu power button in Windows 11 to default to restart instead of Shut down?

[electronbluetwo]

How do I set the Start menu power button in Windows 11 to default to restart instead of Shut down? I did this in Windows 10, but I can't find anything to do with Windows 11. I saw one Youtube video I thought might help, but it had you create a DWORD and change the value to 4. That didn't work. Neither did creating a QWORD. Thanks for reading.

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and full OS information (edition, version).

What is driving the requirement to change the button(s)? Why?

= = = =

The correct way to shutdown is to use the Windows' shutdown icon/menu. Windows must be allowed some time to "houseclean" and otherwise prepare for the next start up. Failing to allow Windows that time by physically powering off can corrupt OS, App, and data files.

Note: Do stay out of the registry. Registry edits are a last resort and should only be done after a full system backup including the registry itself.

 

[electronbluetwo]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and full OS information (edition, version).

What is driving the requirement to change the button(s)? Why?

= = = =

The correct way to shutdown is to use the Windows' shutdown icon/menu. Windows must be allowed some time to "houseclean" and otherwise prepare for the next start up. Failing to allow Windows that time by physically powering off can corrupt OS, App, and data files.

Note: Do stay out of the registry. Registry edits are a last resort and should only be done after a full system backup including the registry itself.

My hardware has nothing to do with it. It's Windows 11 Home. I'm trying to change it because I want to hit one button to restart.

 

[Ralston18]

Actually the hardware does matter: primarily the motherboard and the case (front panel) connections.

FYI:

https://www.pcinq.com/how-to-connect-motherboard-front-panel-headers/

Reset is not the same as Power on/off.

Just use the shutdown icon to shut down and then the Power On button when you want to turn the PC on again.

If you do not like or prefer working down to the menu selection for shutting down then create a Desktop shortcut shutdown icon.

https://www.lifewire.com/shut-down-windows-11-7254324

Or by keyboard:

https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/how-to-shut-down-windows-11/

Overall point being is that Windows must be permitted to properly shutdown. Otherwise the cumulative results will lead to corrupted files and increasing numbers of errors.

 

[electronbluetwo]

I said "Start menu power button".

FYI:

You're pretty rude for a moderator.

 

[JeffreyP55]

How do I set the Start menu power button in Windows 11 to default to restart instead of Shut down? I did this in Windows 10, but I can't find anything to do with Windows 11. I saw one Youtube video I thought might help, but it had you create a DWORD and change the value to 4. That didn't work. Neither did creating a QWORD. Thanks for reading.

Good, dumb idea anyway..

 

[Ralston18]

No pushing physical buttons - correct?

Also: would a combination of keyboard keys be acceptable as a means to restart?

= = = =

When I right click the Windows 11 icon I see a menu item "Shutdown or signout > ".

Upon mouse icon hover then four selections appear.

- Sign out
- Sleep
-Shutdown
-Restart

I do not have/see a default selection and must select as needed at the time.

Please take a couple of screen shots of the menus you are seeing. Post the screenshots here via imgur (www.imgur.com).

That all said, what now is required may be a bit of code via screen shortcut button.

You could use Powershell with Shutdown /R

Reference:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/...ur_pc_using_powershell_or_command_prompt.html

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/shutdown

I did find a couple of related registry "fixes". However they did not appear to be a direct fix. One simply removed shutdown (the default) from the menu.

And as stated before, registry changes are a last resort. Remember Microsoft can and does make registry changes that could affect your changes and not for the good....

 

[USAFRet]

Pretty sure you can do something similar with an AutoIt script.

A modification of this, maybe:

Reboot PC through script

I am trying to reboot a pc after user inputs in how many minutes until the pc reboots, I know I am overlooking something and spent about 5 hours searching for an answer with no luck. here is the code #include <MsgBoxConstants.au3> #RequireAdmin Reboot() Func Reboot() ; Asks the user to ente...

www.autoitscript.com

Same with AutoHotKey

script to restart computer? - Ask for Help

script to restart computer? - posted in Ask for Help: i found scripts that can allow me to sleep or shut down the computer, but none to restart the computer. is there one? sorry for the newbie question!

www.autohotkey.com