Sign out shortcut: ⇧⌘Q on Mac, Ctrl+Alt+Del on Windows
To log out of your user account: press Shift+Command+Q (⇧⌘Q) on Mac. Windows has no single log-off key — press Ctrl+Alt+Del and choose Sign out, or Win+X then U then I.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Log out (with confirm) | ⇧⌘Q | Ctrl+Alt+Del → Sign out | |
| Log out immediately (no confirm) | ⌥⇧⌘Q | — | |
| Sign out menu | Apple menu → Log Out | Win+X → U → I |
Sign out on Mac
Press Shift+Command+Q (⇧⌘Q) to log out of your macOS account; a confirmation dialog appears with a 60-second countdown. To skip the confirmation and log out at once, add Option: ⌥⇧⌘Q. Logging out quits all your apps and returns to the login window.
Sign out on Windows
Windows has no dedicated log-off hotkey. The fastest keyboard route is Ctrl+Alt+Del → arrow to Sign out → Enter. You can also press Win+X to open the Power User menu, then U (shut down / sign out submenu) then I for Sign out.
Sign out vs lock vs switch user
Sign out closes every app under your account. Lock (Win+L / ⌃⌘Q) keeps them running. Switch user leaves your session suspended while another person logs in.
FAQ
How do I log out on a Mac with the keyboard?
Press Shift+Command+Q (⇧⌘Q). Add Option (⌥⇧⌘Q) to skip the confirmation dialog.
Is there a sign-out shortcut in Windows?
No single key. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and select Sign out, or Win+X then U then I.
What's the difference between sign out and lock?
Sign out closes all your apps; lock (Win+L / ⌃⌘Q) leaves them running behind a password.