Close all your applications at the same time

Submitted by HelpMeRick.com on December 31, 2005 - 1:10am.

If you use multiple programs at the same time, when you're done working on your computer for the day, you probably close each open application one by one. This week's tip will show you how to shut down all open programs at the same time.

Follow these steps to close all your programs at one time:

  1. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and click on each application button on your taskbar (the bar next to your Start button)
  2. You will notice that each button remains selected. 
  3. Once you've selected all the application buttons on the taskbar, RIGHT click on any one of them
  4. Click Close from the shortcut menu that pops up. 
  5. Now all your applications will close. 
  6. If you have any application in which an open file hasn't yet been saved, that application will prompt you to save the file.

One more tip to keep in mind is that the keyboard shortcut of Alt+F4 will also exit out of any open window or program. If no windows are open, then Alt+F4 will bring up the close windows dialog box.

Alt+F4 also works in troubleshooting situations where your mouse may be incapacitated.

If this helped, consider buying me a beer or an Americano!