How in the Tech

Toggle functionality on the Windows 7 Start Menu power button

By Adam Myers ⋅ June 15, 2010 ⋅ Tags: Annoyances, Windows 7

In an attempt to stream-line the shutdown process, Microsoft modified the behavior in Vista and Windows 7. Previously, in Windows XP, when a user went to shutdown they’d click the button off the Start Menu, the screen would dim and you’d be presented with a second dialog where you ultimately selected what you wished to do in order to end your Windows session – it didn’t have to be Shutdown even though that is how you kick-started the process.

In Vista and 7, Microsoft removed this two step process and instead provided a one-click button that executed the shutdown or sometimes sleep process. If you wished to do something different, to the right of the button was a rather small arrow that slid out all the other available options. From a user interface design decision, the change somewhat made sense – the process was streamlined and the user generally knew the results if they clicked on the button. However, also from a user interface design perspective, the small clickable area when aiming for the arrow button often leads to inadvertently hitting the Shutdown button to the left. If you’ve accidentally ever shutdown your computer when you were instead trying to just put it to sleep, you are likely aware of the pain it can result in!

While it is true that you may utilize any of the shutdown options in Windows chances are you use just one the majority of the time. Shouldn’t that one be associated with the larger button and not off the smaller arrow button?

It’s actually quite painless to change the functionality attached to the power button.

Right-click on the Shut down button off the Windows 7 Start Menu and choose the only option – Properties.

From the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog look for the drop-down titled Power button action.

You are presented with seven options and while all are useful it’s quite likely just one is directly applicable to your day to day usage. They are: Switch user, Log off, Lock, Restart, Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down. Multiple user households may choose either Switch user or Log off while a single user might side more with Sleep or Lock. Choose and click Apply.

You will now notice the text of the button on the Start Menu has been changed to reflect your choice above.