Windows 11 update is redesigning how you shut down your PC

Here comes the sun

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Microsoftis continuing to refine the look ofWindows 11, with the shutdown window set to get a modern refresh, similar to improvements insuggested textandPaint.

This can be found inWindows 11Build 25115, which is available in the Dev Channel if you’re signed in to the Insider program. Once you pressAlt + F4, Windows 11’s shut down options, which include a drop-down menu giving you the choice to hibernate, shut down, restart or standby your PC, will look different.

Instead, it has the rounded edges that have appeared in other updates across Windows 11, such asWindows Media Player, and menus when you right-click on a folder in File Explorer.

There’s also new icons for when you’re in the Recovery Mode, finally moving away from the rather basic look that’s been present there sinceWindows 8.

Analysis: However small, Windows 11’s look is getting better

All of these changes are making a big difference to areas that have felt abandoned for years. Whether it’s the Snipping Tool to take screenshots or the File Explorer that will soon feature tabs like a web browser, Microsoft is trying to modernize Windows for everyone.

WithSun Valley 2, Windows 11’s next major update, tentatively still on course to arrive later this year, these small improvements may be a sign of Microsoft putting its foot off the gas, and looking at the smaller areas of Windows to improve, while fixing up bugs.

Recovery Mode has been a useful feature for years, where it can repair a Windows installation that’s failing to boot up for example, but it’s always been stuck with a look fromWindows 8.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

While it’s just the icons that are seeing a change, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a total redesign by the time Sun Valley 2 arrives.

ViaWindows Latest

Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

Windows 11 24H2 misery continues, as Microsoft’s buggy update is now breaking printers – especially on Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft reportedly sabotaged Windows 95 and 98’s Control Panel, or it looks that way – is this a worrying revelation?

Don’t wait until Black Friday, this year’s best Nintendo Switch bundles are on sale now