It may seem rudimentary, simply if you're new to Windows–or just upgrading from Windows seven–the simple option to sign out of your account is a bit hidden in Windows 8 and 10. And even we geeks can be baffled at times, specially when Microsoft decides to hide common features away in new places. Yous can still sign out of Windows from the Outset menu; it'southward just not part of the Power options whatsoever more.

Hither are a few dissimilar options yous have for signing out in Windows 8 and 10.

Sign Out Using the Start Menu

Starting with Windows viii, Microsoft moved the sign out choice from the Ability push button on the Commencement carte. They also started calling it "sign out" instead of "log off." I'm almost embarrassed to admit how many times I clicked on the Start carte du jour'due south Power push button, thinking I had only overlooked it. Now, yous access the sign out choice past clicking your user business relationship proper name at the very top of the Start menu. (This is also where y'all'll become the option to switch users–any other users on your PC will prove up at the bottom of this menu.)

Logically, it makes sense. Ability options affect the computer and user options–such as irresolute business relationship settings and switching users–are grouped under the user name. The trouble is, they didn't make it obvious the user name was something to click on and gave no indication most where the sign out pick had moved.

Sign Out Using the Power Users Menu

The Power Users menu was introduced in Windows viii, and is one of the handier new additions to the taskbar. Y'all can access it by right-clicking the Start button or pressing Windows+X on your keyboard. Just indicate your mouse at the "Close downwardly or sign out" item and then click "Sign out."

For some reason, they thought it would be handy to group sign out with other power options for us power users rather than off on its own. Go effigy. Note also that if you access the Power Users card by pressing Windows+X instead of right-clicking, the carte du jour underlines messages you tin use to choose the commands from your keyboard. And so, for example, you could press Windows+X, u, i for a quick keyboard-merely sign out.

Sign Out Using Ctrl+Alt+Delete

As in most previous versions of Windows, you tin also nonetheless sign out from the security screen you get when you lot press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

Annotation that this is just the security screen you get when you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, not the actual lock screen. You lot cannot sign out from the lock screen, then if y'all've locked your estimator, y'all'll need to enter your password to get back in and then sign out.

Sign Out Using Alt+F4

For this technique to work, you need to be looking at your desktop. Shut or minimize all open up windows or simply hit Windows+D to zip straight to a desktop view. When viewing the desktop, press Alt+F4 (also the standard shortcut for endmost most windows). In the Shut Downwardly Windows dialog that appears, select "Sign Out" from the driblet-downwards bill of fare and and then click OK.

Whether y'all favor clicking your mode to a sign out or using keyboard shortcuts, Windows has y'all covered–and so some. It but may non be immediately obvious to Windows veterans.