6 Proven Ways to Fix Windows 11/10 Shutdown Issues in 2024

Applies to: Solving the 'Windows 10 won't shut down' issue on versions 2009/2004, 1909/1903/1809/1803/1709, and more

Has your PC been displaying the following issue: You click “Shut Down,” but Windows 10 refuses to shut down and instead restarts? Don't worry if Windows 10 is automatically restarting after you click “Shut Down” from the Start menu.

Select a solution from the troubleshooting chart below to resolve the “Windows 10 won't shut down” error right away:

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For your information:

• If any of you are wondering why your Windows 10 or computer won't shut down, first identify the cause.
• For a detailed guide, follow the respective solutions to learn how to fix the Windows 10 won't shut down issue.
• If you lost important files in the process, seek assistance from reliable data recovery software.

If you need a manual Windows Data Recovery Service, the professional technical team will assist you. They can help you with any system startup errors, including system crashes, blue screens, unbootable devices, and more.

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Contact our experts for a free assessment.

Consult with our Data Recovery Specialist for one-on-one manual recovery service. After a free diagnosis, we offer the following services:

• Fix Windows boot issues, including Blue Screen errors
• Repair Windows errors and configure the Windows environment
• Restore the system when it fails to start
• Optimize your Windows computer for faster performance

Why Can't I Shut Down Windows 11 or Windows 10?

Why won't my computer turn off? Why won't my Windows 10 shut down? Check the reasons listed below, and you'll find out what might be stopping your computer or Windows 10 from shutting down:

• Fast Startup is enabled.
• The system files are corrupted.
• Windows 10 update errors.
• BIOS issues.

So how to fix the 'Windows did not shut down properly' issue and get Windows 10/8/7 up and running normally? Try the solutions in the next part for help.

How to Fix Issues with Windows 11/Windows 10 Not Shutting Down Properly

There are several ways to fix the Windows 10 shutdown issue on your computer, depending on the root cause.

Quick Tip: How to Force-Reboot Windows 10

A direct way to fix the problem of Windows 10 not shutting down is to force your computer to turn off:

Step 1. Hold down the power button on your computer until it turns off.

Step 2: Remove all power (battery and AC adapter) for 5-10 minutes.

Step 3: Plug everything back in, and restart your computer.

Plug the power cord back in, and then restart your PC.

Before you start, back up your important files. Then, work through these fixes to resolve the “Windows 10 won't shut down” or “Windows 10 not shutting down” issue.

Method 1: Disable Fast Startup

Disabling the Fast Startup feature is the quickest way to fix the problem with Windows 10 not shutting down properly.

Here are the steps to disable Fast Startup in Windows 10:

Step 1: Press the Windows + X keys, click “Search,” and then type: Power. Click on “Power & sleep settings” from the search results.

Step 2: Scroll down in the Settings window and click on “Power Options.”

Step 3: In the Power Options window, click Change what the power buttons do on the left side.

4. Click “Change current active settings,” then uncheck “Turn on fast startup (recommended).” Click “Save changes.”

It's normal for your computer to take longer to start up and shut down after disabling Fast Startup. If you don't want to solve your Windows shutdown issue this way, try one of the other methods instead.

Method 2: Perform a hard reset

Fast Startup doesn't fully shut down your computer to reduce boot time. Instead, it puts the kernel session into hibernation, which is why Windows 10 won't shut down.

Thus, to fix the issue, you have two ways to perform a full shutdown on your Windows 10/8/7 PC:

Option 1: Using the Shift Key

Step 1: Click the "Start" menu and then click the power button.

Step 2: Click on “Shut Down” from the Start menu while holding down the “Shift” key.

This will turn off your computer completely.

Option 2: Use CMD (Command Prompt)

Step 1: Press Windows + X and click “Search,” then type cmd in the search box.

Step 2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: Type the command shutdown /s /f /t 0, and then press Enter.

When the process is complete, your computer will shut down automatically.

Method 3: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter and install the latest version of Windows 10

Some users are unable to shut down Windows 10 while updating. If this happens to you, run the Windows Troubleshooter to fix issues that might be preventing you from updating Windows.

1. Fix errors that prevent Windows 10 from shutting down

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon, select “Search,” and type troubleshoot in the search box.

Step 2: In the results, choose Troubleshoot.

Step 3. Under Get started, click Windows Update.

Step 4: Click on “Run the troubleshooter.”

Step 2: Install the latest version of Windows 11

Installing the latest version of Windows 11 can also fix some system errors or unknown bugs that might be causing your computer to not shut down. You can also read: How to Download and Install Windows 11.

Method 4: Boot into Safe Mode and Disable Automatic Restart

When Windows 10 won't shut down, pressing the “Shut Down” button on your computer results in a constant rebooting cycle. Thus, another solution to this problem is to disable the automatic restart feature on your computer.

Step 1. Press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.

Step 2: Release the "F8" key only when you see the Advanced Boot Options menu, then select "Safe Mode".

Step 3: Boot the computer into Safe Mode and perform the search after Windows starts.

Step 4: Type sysdm.cpl, and then open sysdm.cpl.

Click “Advanced”, then under “Startup and Recovery,” click “Settings”.

6. Clear the checkbox next to Automatically restart.

Step 7. Click “OK,” and then restart your computer.

After that, shut down your PC and see if the Windows 10 shutdown issues are still there.

Method 5: Run the Windows System File Checker tool

If some of your Windows system files get corrupted, you'll surely encounter issues like “Missing required driver partition.” The built-in Windows System File Checker can scan for and repair missing or damaged system files for you.

This might help resolve the issue where you can't shut down Windows 10. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon, select "Search," and type in cmd.

Step 2. Right-click Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator.”

Step 3: Type the command sfc /scannow.

Step 4: Turn off your computer when the process is complete.

Method 6: Change Your BIOS Settings

As mentioned above, incorrect or damaged BIOS settings can prevent your Windows 10 from shutting down properly. You can first try resetting your BIOS to default settings.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Force your computer to shut down by holding down the power button.

Step 2. After turning off the computer, turn it back on and press F2/F11/Delete to enter BIOS.

Step 3: In the “Boot” (Boot) menu, set the boot order to “Default” or “HDD.”

Step 4: Press F10 or click Save to save your changes and exit the BIOS.

Step 5: Restart and shut down your computer.

Your computer should now start and shut down normally.

If the above methods fail to resolve the “Windows 10 won't shut down” issue, you might need to consider replacing your motherboard.

Repairing Windows Shutdown Problems While Restoring Lost Data

When a computer fails to shut down, data loss is often involved. If you've lost files while trying to fix or after fixing the “Windows won't shut down” problem, a reliable Data Recovery Wizard tool can help.

With this data recovery software, you can safely get your data back in just three simple steps:

Step 1. Run the Disk Drill data recovery wizard on your computer. Select the disk where you lost files and click "Search for lost data". If the missing files were on an external storage device, connect it to your computer first.

Step 2: The software will immediately perform a quick scan for the deleted files and then automatically run a deep scan to find more lost files. After the scan, you can use the "Filter" to quickly filter files of a specific type.

Select the files to recover

Step 3: Click on the “Preview” button or double-click on the file to have a full preview. Finally, select the files you need and hit “Recover”. Then, choose another secure location to save all your files at once.

In addition to common file deletion recovery, formatted data recovery, and lost file recovery, it also helps in retrieving data in scenarios like system crashes or OS reinstallation.

Additional Fix: Another Windows 10 Shutdown Error – Computer Randomly Restarts or Shuts Down

"Windows 10 won't shut down" is just one of the shutdown issues with Windows 10. Another common problem is that Windows randomly restarts or shuts down. If you need it, here's a solution to the Windows 10 shutdown issue:

Method 1: Change Power Options

This is a valid solution to the problem of Windows systems randomly restarting or shutting down. If you're plagued by Windows 10 shutdown issues, give it a try.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon, select "Search," and type Power. In the search results, choose "Power & sleep settings."

Step 2: Go to the Settings menu, scroll down, and tap Power Options.

Step 3: Click Change plan settings, then Change advanced power settings.

Step 4: Expand PCI Express > Link State Power Management.

Step 5: Change “Settings” to “Off.”

(If you're using a laptop, you'll see other options here; set those to “Off,” too.)

Method 2: Disable Hibernation

Disabling hibernation through the Command Prompt is straightforward. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + X and click on "Search." Type cmd in the box.

Step 2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: Type powercfg.exe /hibernate off and press Enter.

(This command turns off the hibernate feature. To re-enable hibernation, type powercfg.exe /hibernate on.)

Step 4: When the process is complete, type exit to close the Command Prompt.

Hopefully, one of the above methods will help you resolve the Windows 10 shutdown issue.

Frequently Asked Questions about Windows 10 Not Shutting Down or Failing to Shut Down

Aside from the solutions for the Windows shutdown problems, some users may also be curious about the reasons behind a slow shutdown. In this article, we've got you covered. Check them out and find your answers now.

What can I do if Windows fails to shut down properly?

This page offers 6 solutions to help you fix the issue that Windows won't shut down.

You can try the following solutions: 1) Disable Fast Startup; 2) Perform a full shutdown; 3) Run the Windows Troubleshooter; 4) Run the System File Checker; 5) Boot in Safe Mode; 6) Alter BIOS settings.

Return to the main text of this page, where you can shut down your computer normally again any way you like.

2. Why won't my desktop or laptop computer shut down properly?

The “hybrid shutdown” feature (also called fast startup) introduced in Windows 8 and later is the most common reason that Windows won't shut down properly. This feature is enabled by default on most laptops and tablets, and some desktop computers as well.

Incorrect CMOS and BIOS settings can also cause startup and shutdown problems.

Why does it take so long to shut down Windows 10?

If you forget to close all running programs and files, you may experience slow shutdowns or issues with Windows not shutting down at all.

The following issues can also slow down the Windows shutdown process:

1). Software Issues - If you have many "Programs Need to Close," your computer needs time to shut them down individually before turning off. 2). Process Issues - Windows needs to close all running processes before fully shutting down. The more processes running on your computer, the slower the shutdown will be. 3). Operating System or Driver Issues - Outdated Windows operating systems or drivers can lead to slower startup or shutdown times for your computer. 4). Local Service Issues - When you have many local services enabled on your computer, closing these services before Windows shuts down can also consume time.