Shutdown (computing)

For other uses, see Shutdown.
"Shutdown.exe" redirects here. For the album, see Shutdown.exe (album).
"Shutdown -r" redirects here. For the episode of Mr. Robot, see Shutdown -r (Mr. Robot).
"Power down" redirects here. For the book, see Power Down: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World.

Windows XP shutdown dialog box
Windows 10 power menu, opened from the Start Menu

To shut down or power off a computer is to remove power from a computer's main components in a controlled way. After a computer is shut down, main components such as CPUs, RAM modules and hard disk drives are powered down, although some internal components, such as an internal clock, may retain power.