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"Shutdown" option missing from the Start Menu and Ctrl+Alt+Del dialog box


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Author:

Raghu Boddu MVP

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COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS CONTENT DISCLAIMER

MICROSOFT CORPORATION AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, OR ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED HEREIN. ALL SUCH INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. YOU SPECIFICALLY AGREE THAT IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED HEREIN, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS SUPPLIERS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES.

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SUMMARY

The "Shutdown" button may not be available in the Start menu and grayed out when you press Ctrl+Alt+Del.

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CAUSE

This issue is due to the Local Computer Policy settings.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve the issue, perform the following:
 
Click Start, Run.
Type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Navigate to the following path:
 
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar
 
Double-click "Remove and Prevent Access to the Shut Down command"
Select "Not configured" or "Disabled"
Close Group Policy window.

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MORE INFORMATION

Related articles:
 
MS Knowledge Base article #303070 - "Logoff" and "Shutdown" Are Missing from the Start Menu When You Use Remote Desktop
 
Important: This article includes modifying the registry. It is recommended to have a good backup of the registry, before making the modification. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, go through the following Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 
- Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

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Keywords: KB555449, kbhowto, kbpubtypecca, kbpubmvp

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Article Info
Article ID : 555449
Revision : 5
Created on : 8/19/2020
Published on : 8/20/2020
Exists online : False
Views : 395