How to Disable the Power Key on Your Keyboard (Stop Accidental Shutdowns)
Does your computer suddenly shut down when you reach for Print Screen or Delete? Some keyboards have a Power key, often next to Sleep and Wake keys, and one accidental press turns the PC off instantly, losing unsaved work. It happened to us repeatedly while blogging on an old keyboard. The good news: you can disable the power key on your keyboard in Windows in under a minute, without touching the hardware.
Quick answer: Open Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do, set When I press the power button to Do nothing (and the sleep button too, if you like), then click Save changes. Windows treats the keyboard power key like the PC’s power button, so this stops accidental shutdowns.
Table of Contents
What is the power key on a keyboard?
Many keyboards from the 2000s, and some today, include ACPI power management keys: Power, Sleep and Wake. They’re usually above the arrow keys or near Print Screen, Pause and Scroll Lock. Pressing Power doesn’t put the computer to sleep (Microsoft explains the options in its Windows support pages); it starts a full shutdown, just like pressing the button on the computer case.
How to disable the power key in Windows 11 and 10
- Press Windows + R, type
powercfg.cpland press Enter to open Power Options. - In the left pane, click Choose what the power buttons do.
- Next to When I press the power button, choose Do nothing. On laptops, set it for both On battery and Plugged in.
- Optionally set When I press the sleep button to Do nothing as well.
- Click Save changes.
On recent Windows 11 versions you can also find these options in Settings → System → Power & battery → Lid & power button controls (or Power button controls on desktops).
Note: this setting also changes what the power button on your PC case does. A quick press will no longer shut down Windows; to turn the PC off, use Start → Power → Shut down. Holding the case button for several seconds still forces a hard power-off.
Disable the power key on a Mac
Mac keyboards with a power or Touch ID key don’t shut down on a single press: a short press locks the screen or sleeps the Mac, and you need to hold it to see shutdown options. If you’re worried about accidental presses, be careful near the top-right key, as there’s no setting to disable it.
Our story: the keyboard that kept shutting down
We were blogging from a relative’s old computer with a 2004 Tech-Com keyboard, taking lots of Print Screen screenshots for articles. Strangely, the computer kept shutting down in the middle of unsaved posts. It wasn’t a Windows update or a virus. A close look at the keyboard showed a Power key right above Print Screen, between the Sleep and Wake keys.
In desperation we popped the key off with a pen, which worked, but we put it back before the owner noticed. Don’t try this: you can easily break the key clip. Changing the power button setting in Windows is the proper fix.
Other ways to stop accidental shutdowns
- Keyboard software: some brands’ keyboard utilities can disable special keys.
- BIOS/UEFI settings: some PCs let you turn off “power on by keyboard” or change power button behaviour in the firmware settings.
- Save often: turn on AutoSave in Office and use editors that save drafts automatically, like WordPress.
- Replace the keyboard: most modern keyboards no longer have a power key, or put it where you won’t hit it by accident. Even an Apple keyboard on Windows avoids the problem.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my computer shut down when I press a key?
Your keyboard probably has a Power key that you’re pressing by accident. Set the power button action to “Do nothing” in Power Options.
Does disabling the power key also disable the PC power button?
Yes, a short press of the case button will also do nothing. Use the Start menu to shut down, or hold the case button to force power off.
Can I disable just the sleep key?
Yes. In Power Options, set “When I press the sleep button” to “Do nothing” and leave the power button setting as it is.
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Thanks for writing this article. Recently a keyboard broke and I had it replaced with another wich has these same buttons. Whomever thought it was a good idea to put a power button on where print+screen is supposed to be must’ve been out of his or her mind. I mean seriously. Was laughing pretty hard when I rrealised what was causing the random shutdowns.
My power options in Windows 8 do not have “Ask me what to do” option or any advance button. I’m using an external usb keyboard [cicero F21 YQA keyboard] with a Toshiba laptop. I am often hitting the power key by mistake and suddenly my computer is shutting down. I will either have to get a new keyboard or find a way to disable or change the function of that key. [it also has sleep and wake keys which I would also like to disable]
Thanks for sharing this. I was looking for something like this. Can you tell me how to disable “Del” key on the keyboard ? Reply Asap :D
Thank you so much for this info!! I have a cat that loves to jump on the keyboard and would always end up shutting down the computer when I was in the middle of something (was driving me nuts) so thanks again!
I want to join. I haven’t ever thought about such way to shut down my PC. I will take note of it.
I hate the computer to do strange things like that. It is nice to know all of these helpfull things to do. I have never had this happen before but it is always good to know. I just recently learned how to make my mouse bigger. This may not seem like a big deal to young people but it is a big thing for older people who are going blind. It has been a life saver along with my 23″ screen.