How to Disable Shutdown in Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7

In this Windows Tutorial, you will learn that, how you can prevent users from shutting down computer by disabling, or removing Shut Down command. Do remember that, this policy applies to Windows Groups. If you want to prevent only a specific user from shutting down the PC, then you have to place that user to a specific group, and then remove that group from the Shut Down policy.

Let’s see, how this work? Open the Run command by pressing Windows + R key. In the open dialog box, type G P EDIT.M S C. Under Computer Configuration, expand to Windows Settings, and then expand Security Settings. Under Security Settings, expand Local Policies, and then User Rights Assignment. From the right side pane, scroll down the list, and double-click on, “Shut Down System” policy.

If you are using Windows on a workstation computer, then you will see three User Groups by default, Administrators, Backup Operators, and Users, which means, the available local user accounts, which fall in these three groups can shut down the system.

Suppose, if you have 5 local user accounts under Users group, and you remove Users group from Shut Down System policy, then all the 5 users will not be able to shut down the system. If it seems complicated, then you can remove all the groups from this policy, and then add specific users and groups to whom you want to give the rights to Shut Down the computer.

Click Add User or Group, you can either type user or group names, or can click Advanced option, and then click Find now. If a specific group is not in the list, then click Object Types, and make a check mark on Groups, and click the Find button again.

So, in my case, I want to restrict all the users in Users group to Shut Down the System. So, I will remove this group from the Shut Down System policy. Apply the changes, and to see the effect, I login to another user account.

Here you can see that the Shut Down command has been removed from the Start Menu, and this user cannot Shut Down the computer by any means. If he tries to press ALT+F4 key to bring the Shut Down dialog box, then he will be logged out from his account.

If this policy seems complicated to you, then you can apply another Group Policy which you can find under User Configurations, Administrative Templates, then expand to Start Menu and Task bar. From the right side pane, Double Click the policy, “Remove and prevent access to Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands”. Enable the policy, and see the changes right away!