Windows 7 - Power Button - Start Menu

**Brink**

How to Change the Default Windows 7 Start Menu Power Button Action

Information

This will show you how to change the Windows 7 Start Menu power button default action for the current user account or all user accounts to be either Switch User, Log Off, Lock, Restart, Sleep, Hibernate, or Shutdown when clicked on.

Tip

The Hibernate option will not be available in the Start Menu Power Button unless you have hibernate enabled and have hybrid sleep turned off in your Power Plan Options.

EXAMPLE: Start Menu Power Button

OPTION ONE

Through Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

NOTE: This option will let you change the default action for the Start Menu power button only in the current user account.

1. Right click on the Start button and click on Properties.

2. To the right of Power button action, select the action that you want for the Start Menu power button and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The Hibernate option will not be listed unless you have turned off the Hybrid sleep option in the Power Plan Settings. If you are using Hybrid sleep, then you would select Sleep from below.

OPTION TWO

Through Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

NOTE: This option will let you change the default action for the Start Menu power button in the user accounts on the computer. You can only do this while logged in an administrator account.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, double click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and click on Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, right click on Change Start Menu power button and click on Edit. (See screenshot below)

4. To Allow All Users to Change Power Button -
NOTE: This option will allow all users to be able to change their Start Menu power button to what they like using OPTION ONE above.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Change Start Menu Power Button for All Users -
NOTE: This option will let you change the Start Menu power button to what you want for all users accounts on the computer. After applied, the Power button action option in the Start Menu will be grayed out for all users and cannot be changed (see step 7).
A) Select (dot) Enabled, then under Options, select the action you want for the Start Menu power button in the drop down menu. (See screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. If you check Start Menu and Taskbar Properties using the OPTION ONE section above, you will now notice that the option to change the Start Menu power button is grayed out and set to what you have it set to in step 5A above. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**Barman58** · 12-29-2008

Hi Shawn,

Just one thing I've noticed in Build 7000.

The Hibernate option for the button only shows when the hybrid sleep mode is disabled via the power options

This applies on my system anyway

**Brink** · 12-29-2008

Thank you Nigel. Nice find. I have updated the tutorial to include this.

Also here: Hibernate - Enable or Disable

meteorolog0 · 02-18-2009

But how will you make it to icon instead of a text Shut Down. Just like in vista instead of text Shut Down, you will only see an icon. Thanks!

**Brink** · 02-18-2009

Hello Meteorolog0, and welcome to Seven Forums,

I'm sorry, but there is no way that I know of in Windows 7.

You could use the shutdown shortcut from the link below to have a icon that you can pin to the Start menu and use instead.

Shutdown shortcut - Vista Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

meteorolog0 · 03-02-2009

ok, anyway thanks for this wonderful forum. more power

**bug** · 10-27-2009

Thanks so much Barman58! I was trying to figure out why hibernate wasn't an option just about forever! (meaning 1-2 hours) Finally! Thanks again!

**kaunhaiye** · 10-28-2009

Is there any way that windows 7 confirms the shut down.

I vividly remember that windows xp used to confirm and that makes more sense to me.

Any way to do this?

**Brink** · 10-28-2009

Hello Kaunhaiye, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but no.

You could create a Shut Down shortcut that has a time delay on it with a notice. This way you can use the Abort shortcut before the time delay runs out in case you accidentally clicked on the Shut Down shortcut.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

jake66 · 11-07-2009

Is there any way of changing back to the two icons like in vista?