Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Alt+F4 Not Working in Microsoft Word or Windows

Nimra Malik Oct 19, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to troubleshoot and restore the Alt+F4 keyboard shortcut that is failing to close Microsoft Word or other applications.

How to Fix Alt+F4 Not Working in Microsoft Word or Windows

Product: Microsoft Word / Windows
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to quickly exit a program using the standard Alt+F4 keyboard shortcut.
Observed behavior: Pressing Alt+F4 does not close Microsoft Word or other Windows applications, and the keystroke either does nothing or performs an unrelated multimedia action.

Before you start

Before proceeding, press Alt+F4 in a few different applications (like Notepad or a web browser) to determine if the shortcut fails globally across Windows or exclusively inside Microsoft Word.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore the Alt+F4 Shortcut in Microsoft Word

Use this method if the shortcut successfully closes other Windows applications but fails to close Microsoft Word.

Sometimes, Word's internal keyboard shortcuts can be accidentally reassigned or removed. You can manually restore the default shortcut for the close command within the Options menu.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on the "File" tab in the top left corner, and select "Options" at the bottom of the menu.

Access Keyboard Customization

In the Word Options dialog, click on "Customize Ribbon" in the left-hand pane. Next, click the "Customize..." button located at the bottom left, next to the "Keyboard shortcuts:" label.

Find the Close Command

In the Customize Keyboard dialog, scroll down the "Categories" list and select "All Commands". In the "Commands" list on the right, scroll down to find and select "FileCloseOrExit".

Reassign Alt+F4

Click inside the "Press new shortcut key" box and press "Alt+F4" on your keyboard. Ensure that the "Save changes in" dropdown is set to "Normal.dotm" so the change applies universally.

Assign and Save

Click the "Assign" button (Alt+F4 should now appear in the Current keys box). Click "Close", and then click "OK" on the main Options window to save your settings.

Restore the Alt+F4 Shortcut in Microsoft Word

Template Saved: Saving the shortcut to Normal.dotm ensures the Alt+F4 command remains permanently restored for all future Word documents you open.

Solution 2

Use the Fn Key Combination

Apply this solution if Alt+F4 fails in all Windows programs, which is highly common on modern laptops.

Solution 3

Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

If neither Word settings nor the Fn key resolves the issue globally, your system may have outdated or corrupted keyboard drivers.

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If complex configuration settings or shortcut conflicts in Microsoft Word are slowing down your productivity, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides standard keyboard shortcut behaviors right out of the box and natively supports all your existing Microsoft Office files.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package for your Windows PC.
2. Install and Launch: Run the quick installer, open WPS Office, and launch the WPS Writer application.
3. Edit Your Documents: Open your existing .docx files and easily close them using the standard Alt+F4 shortcut.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does pressing Alt+F4 change my screen brightness or volume instead of closing the app?

This happens because your laptop prioritizes multimedia "Action Keys" over standard function keys. You must either press the Fn key simultaneously (Fn + Alt + F4) or change the Function Key behavior in your computer's BIOS settings.

What does 'Save changes in Normal.dotm' mean in Microsoft Word?

Normal.dotm is the global default template for Microsoft Word. Saving your custom keyboard shortcuts (like Alt+F4) to this template ensures the shortcut works across all existing and new documents, rather than being restricted to a single file.

Can I assign a different keyboard shortcut to close Word?

Yes. By navigating to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Customize (Keyboard shortcuts), you can locate the 'FileCloseOrExit' command and assign any custom key combination you prefer to close the application.

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