Hiding Restart, Shut Down, and Sleep Options from Start Menu in Windows

Environment

  • Windows
  • Local Group Policy Editor
  • Registry Editor

Information

The following process describes different solutions to removing the options for an end user to Restart, Shut Down, or Sleep the start menu or log in screen in Windows 11.

  • This is typically used for users who work remotely, and remote into a device located on campus to complete their work. By removing these options it keeps the user from accidentally putting their device in a state that makes it inaccessible remotely.
  • Administrator credentials are required.
  • The following process applies this globally for all users on the machine.

Source(s)

Process

Method 1: Using Local Group Policy Editor

  1. Log in with Administrator credentials
  2. Open Local Group Policy Editor
  3. In the left panel, expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates
  4. Select Start Menu and Taskbar
  5. Double-click Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands
    Screenshot of the Local Group Policy Editor highlighting the policy setting for 'Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands'.
  6. In the Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands window
  7. Select the Disabled option
  8. Select OK when finished
    Screenshot of the policy properties window showing the 'Disabled' radio button selected.

Method 2: Using Registry Editor

  1. Open Registry Editor as Administrator
  2. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Start\HideRestart
    • Paste that path into the search bar
  3. Double-click value in the right-pane.
    Screenshot of the Registry Editor window highlighting the 'value' entry in the right pane under the HideRestart registry key.
  4. In the Value data: text box change the 0 to a 1
    Screenshot of the Edit DWORD Value dialog box in Registry Editor, showing the Value data field being changed to 1.
  5. Repeat the previous steps for
    • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Start\HideShutDown
    • Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Start\HideSleep
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