How to fix Windows 10 Won’t Shut Issue in 2023

In this guide, we’ll talk about how to fix the windows 10 won’t shut issue in 2023.

Windows 10 Windows Not Shutting Down Issues

  • Windows Update
  • Fast startup
  • Windows System Files
  • Unwanted running applications since startup
  • Other issues that need recovery
  • The taskbar isn’t working (Click here to find the solution for this one)

And we are here to give a solution for each of them.

How to Fix ‘Windows 10 Won’t Shut Down

Before following any of these, make sure you’re really stuck, because sometimes there may be some system processes working to install updates, for example, or making some changes – before shutting down.

So, the first time this occurs, please be a little patient and leave it up to 3 hours. If it exceeds this time limit and this isn’t the first time your update got stuck, try the following steps:

Method I: Force Shut Down:

Before you get the problem fixed for the long run, you may need to force your computer to shut down: here is how you can do that.

  • Press and hold your power button until the computer is shut.power button
  • Remove any source of power (Battery / Power cable / unplug the power cords) for 5-10 minutes.
  • Start your computer and try to shut it down normally.

Method II: Make sure you have the latest Windows 10 version

Having the latest Windows 10 version is always a good idea. Microsoft is always sending new updates and fixes for common issues through it, so we can always begin our problem-solving by checking for updates. If you want to know more about what new features and changes are in the latest update, check out this detailed guide. And also, if you want to stop your computer from notifying you about your license expiring soon, click here.

To check if there are any updates you can do, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings from your start menu.settings from start up menu
  2. Click on Updates & Security.updates & security
  3. Click on the Check for updates button, your computer will then check for, download, and install any updates found.check for updates

If you updated your Windows now, check if your computer shuts down, and if the problem persists, continue to the next method.

If your update is getting stuck or not working either check out this in-depth article or do the thing that most people reported that solved their problem – use the troubleshooter:

  • Type Troubleshoot in the start menu and then choose Troubleshoot.start up troubleshoot
  • Choose Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter. windows update
  • If needed, choose Try troubleshooting as an administrator.troubleshoot as admin
  • Choose Apply this fix.apply to fix
  • Close the troubleshooter.troubleshooter

Method III: Disable fast startup

Fast startup is a hybrid type of startup that makes your computer not fully shut down when you do it, so it can start up again quickly. This mode can cause many issues including our shutdown problem. Follow these steps to disable it:

  • Open the “control panel” and search for “power options” and choose Power Options.disable fast startup
  • From the left pane, choose “Choose what the power button doespower button option
  • Choose “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.change settings currently unavailable
  • Uncheck “Turn on fast startup” and then select “Save changes”.turn on fast startup and save changes

Method IV: Repair Windows System Files

In case there is a problem with some system files, this step will fix all system errors, (see Kernel Mode Trap Error) (it will take some time):

  • Type “cmd” in your start menu, right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.command prompt and run as admin
  • Click Yes to give it permission.give permission
  • Type the following command then press enter: sfc /scannow
    sfc /scannow

    (make sure you put a space between “sfc” and “/scannow”)

Method V: Try closing the computer using Command Prompt

One of the best things about CMD (command prompt) is that you can directly request a forced shut down which stops any running applications. Here are the steps:

  • Launch CMD as an administrator with the same steps in Method IV.
  • Afterward, type the following command then press enter: shutdown /p, and then press Enter.cmd as admin
  • Your computer should now shut down immediately without installing or processing any updates.

Method VI: Stop Windows Delivery Update Optimization

Windows 10 is always downloading updates, that’s why Microsoft came up with this service so that if there are several Windows 10 machines on the same network, computers can exchange the update files instead of downloading them on each computer. Because of this, if a computer on the network is getting any updates from yours, the shutdown won’t occur until the file transfer finishes. The good news is that you can turn off this feature, here’s how:

  • Open Settings from your start menu.settings from start menu
  • Next, go to Update & Security.update and security
  • At the Windows Update page, click on Advanced options.windows update advanced
  • Now, click on Delivery Optimization.delivery optimzation
  • Turn off the Allow downloads from other PCs button.allow downloads fro other pcs
  • Now try to shut down your computer again.

Method VII: Let’s do a System Restore

This will bring back your computer to itsF previous state, this may help avoid any error that happened during shutting down or running Windows update:

  • Open Control Panel and search for recovery.recovery from settings
  • Thereafter, open System Restore.open restore setting
  • Click Next.
  • whose next click it
  • Moving on, choose a previous restore point and click Next.restore point and next
  • Click Finish.
  • click finish
  • After the system restore is finished, try shutting down your computer again.

Method VIII: Control which apps can start automatically

There are apps and processes that can’t be easily shut down when you want to turn off your computer: this may be the reason for your shutdown problems. Furthermore, most probably these are apps that already running automatically with Windows Startup without asking for your permission. So here we can control them and disable every app that you don’t really need on startup. This will also increase your startup speed as well as its shutdown speed. Let’s do it:

  • Open task manager from your taskbar or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.windows 10 won't shut fix
  • If you see the small panel, click More details to switch to the big panel.small panel details
  • Next, open the Startup tab.startup tab
  • Then, right-click on the apps you don’t need to start automatically at Windows Startup and select Disable.disable windows

Method IX: Assign the power button to shut down

Many people overlook this seemingly basic aspect of keeping your Windows 10 PC in line with how you’re used to using it. This fix will show you just how to set the power button as a shut-down switch on your Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs alike. Note that on some builds, the power button might be assigned as a sleep button by default.

That’s why it’s important to also keep this possibility in mind when looking for a Windows 10 won’t shut fix. To get started, head on over to the “Choose what the power button does” section that we’ve talked about earlier as portrayed in Method III section of the article. From there, go to the “When I press the power button” option and select “shut down.” If you’re running the OS on a laptop, you’ll have to configure this behavior both on battery and when plugged in.

Moving on, you’ll want to click on “Save changes” once you’re done configuring the necessary parameters. If you press the power button now, you should be able to see it go through the shutdown process as normal. If not, then you should check out these other methods in our tutorial and give them a try.

Method X: Replace the power button

If there’s nothing more to try out, and pushing the power button still doesn’t work whilst other methods do, then the solution might be one that involves you tinkling with the hardware itself. Yes, you might have to replace the power button. Doing so is a tedious job and we recommend you let professionals handle it, especially because it can differ from laptop to laptop and from desktop to desktop.


Somewhat related to this topic, you can read our complete guide that focuses on how to disable the startup programs by clicking on the image below:

Suggested Read: How to Shut Down Windows 10 Without Updating

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, one of these methods above was able to help fix your “Windows 10 won’t shut down” issue. If you like our solutions, make sure to bookmark our site for easier access or if anyone else needs it!

Do you know any other methods that work? Please share them with us below in the comments! Let’s discuss about it with the other searchers.

Do you get any other technical questions about your Windows 10 PC? Try visiting our website. You could find a topic that might help you with your concerns. Or you might have direct questions like How to fix Windows 10 Stuck on Welcome Screen (2022 Guide).

113 Comments

  1. I tried all of these methods, and none of them worked. I tried to do method 3 but there was not an option to disable fast sartup. I really don’t know what to do, I’ve spent a whole day trying to find a fix, but nothing is working.

    • Hello Callum, make sure you clicked “Change settings that are currently unavailable” in order to be able to disable/enable fast startup. It’s mentioned in Method III 3rd screenshot. Come back and tell how it went and I’ll be glad to help you further. Good luck!

  2. Hello, for me the only working method is shutting it down through CMD (or forced shutdown). I tried the other options you listed here, but my regular shutdown still doesn’t work. That itself is fine but it’s annoying that i can’t put my pc into the power saving mode. If I try to shut it down or put into the power saving mode, my screen will go black and my peripherals won’t react anymore. Any idea how else i could solve this?
    (BTW this has been the case since I bought it. I even reinstalled Windows back then and it didn’t help)

    • Hello Shiro, I think you are having some power issues with your computer, I’ll recommend two tips you should try and maybe this will fix them:
      First of all, try the power troubleshooting from the settings.
      Also, check your drivers from your device manager and if you find any missing drivers I advise you to download all of them from your computer manufacturer’s official website, install them and then give your computer a couple of restarts.
      Finally, it’s somehow hard to discuss this here in the comments, please create a new thread on our forums and I’ll be there for you and we can also exchange screenshots there:
      https://win10faq.com/forums/
      Good luck and will be waiting for your reply!

    • if you find any solution tell me also. my problem is same. but there was no problem when i was using windows 10 pro. this problem is on windows ten simple

  3. Hello, i have this problem. I want to try reinstall windows, but when i try restart my PC now my PC start restarting swith the monitor to sleep mode and don´t switch on. And i know in reinstalling windows
    the pc will restart a few times, can i reinstall the windows?

    Sorry for my bad english

    • Hello Martin, I think it’s safe for you to reinstall Windows. Just make sure you don’t have any hardware issue by checking the fans of the power supply and the processor are working.

  4. For anyone who tried all of this and didn’t worked at all, try shuting down your computer with Ubuntu live USB, if that doesn’t work it might be BIOS problem… In that case you can update your BIOS or replace the chip.

    • Good point Marjan, I’m currently studying this and may be adding it as a testing procedure to our article. Thank you so much for your contribution, it really means a lot to us! Have a great day!

    • I have dual boot, win10 and ubuntu 18.04,the turn off option works fine on ubuntu, ubuntu turn off the laptop properly and the restart option is way faster than windows, also the sleep option works on ubuntu and does not work on Win10, if i close de the lid on windows 10 then i must press power button to turn off the laptop because it wont wake up.

      The problem is definily on Win10, it happens in two laptops i use, mine HP Envy Core i7 and Dell Latitude 3480 Core i5 where i work.

      • Hello Marcel, I think I may help you with the waking up problem:
        Right-click on the Start Button to open the Power User menu. Select Device Manager.
        Click the arrow next to Keyboards.
        Double-click each one of the keyboards you see in turn, and select the Power Management tab.
        On each entry’s tab, make sure that Allow this device to wake the computer is checked.
        Click OK, and your keyboard should now wake your PC from sleep.
        Repeat these steps for the Mice and other pointing devices category if you’d like your mouse to wake your computer as well.
        Please tell me if you need any further help. Good luck!

        • hello mina,
          i have marcal’s exact same problom
          i’m dual-booting with arch and it closes fine iver there however in windows it acts the same way as marcal descriped
          it isn’t that the keyboard isn’t waking it up, it actually never slept or shut down in the first place it’s just that none of the peripherals work but the power is on the fans are spining etc..
          and you have to force shut it each time.
          another bizarre thing is that if i simply start the laptop normally and shut it down or put it to sleep after say 10 or so minutes of light usage it’ll do it no problme. however if i’m using it extensively or it’s on for a longer period if time (even if i literally don’t open anything at all just the device is merely on for a while) it’ll then start doing this behaviour
          the screen, peripherals, apps everything will shut down normally but the power will remain on.
          i have reinstalled windows multiple times (it actually only started happening after i had decided to reinstall windows a year ago to start dual booting linux (but it happened before i installed linux ) i just reinstalled windows today on a new ssd and this problem is still there.

          also to answer a question i’ve seen you asking before, yes i did add a new hdd caddy instead of the cd one on my laptop back around when this started happening.

          however my system is displaying these issues even as i haven’t yet put the caddy back in after the fresh install ( also note that there’s no dual boot at the moment but idk if i changed the bios settings to reflect that)

          i have tried all your steps before and again today and they unfortunately did not work ( i haven’t checked the delivery optimisation effects yet but i’ve never had any othet computer devices on my network anyways so i doubt it’ll make a diffrence).

          sorry that this is long i’m trying to give all the relevant info i can think of.

          and also thank youfor actually keeping track of this thread and responding to people even after all this time. it’s truely rare.

          • i also checked on the statues of the mice and keyboard in device management and they were already checked for the ability to wake up the device

  5. Hi Mina, i have tried absolutely everything (all your suggestions and others), but still i cant turns it off or put to sleep. It turns off and after 3-4 seconds boots normally back again. I have everything latest, updated, no viruses, turned off fast startup.
    But i noticed one interesting thing. It stay in sleep mode, if it goes to sleep by timer. So i am guessing that problem is not that something its wake up. There have to be a difference in way how it goes to sleep by timer and by hardware button/closing lid/windows turn off button. Do you have any idea?

    • Hello Luksal, in your case, I strongly recommend you reset your PC and choose the “keep your files” option because it seems like your windows version is so damaged power wise. If updating it doesn’t work than it’s better to reset it.

  6. Turning off fast start up worked for me, thank you.
    Athlon 200GE, Asrock B450m pro4f on windows 10 Professional.

  7. I have tried everything and nothing worked. I must always do a force shutdown. Updated did not work, turning off fast startup… nothing. I think my computer won´t work any longer if I keep shutting it down like this. Uinstalling win 10 is the only solution.

    • Hello Nicole, I’m so sorry nothing worked for you. I think that’ you’re right, maybe you should try resetting your PC while keeping your files first, it may fix your problem and you won’t have to reinstall Win 10

  8. my problem is whenever i shutdown on normal, it does like it will shutdown ,however the screen will appear again.

    • Hello Yakubu, did you try all the solutions we suggested?
      Besides, have you installed new hardware? like a caddy maybe for a second storage disk?

  9. Need a method 0… holding power button is not turning off computer. Laptop is frozen with power on. Not responding to any inputs including Ctrl+Alt+Del or holding power button for any length of time.

    • Oh that’s incredibly weird! Did you try restarting your computer in safe mode and then put it back into normal boot? If this doesn’t work either, then I would suggest that your Reset your computer without removing your files.

  10. I tried all the methods but the system shutdown completely . the issue with the system is when I shutdown the fan keeps working and the processor, if i switch it on again it starts up normally

  11. My problem is a bit different from this one but i think you might help
    My computer is unable to run .exe files, and i dont know how to resolve this problem

  12. This is a horrible joke went mad. Windows 10 is absolutely, outstandingly ridiculous. Well done, Microsoft, let’s fast forward back to the stone age.

  13. Hi Mina
    I am in need of some help here. My Windows 10 doesn’t Sleep / Hibernate / Shutdown / Restart properly. The problem is that with any of these options (except restart I think) the screen goes black, fan stops (at I cannot hear it) but the indicator lights (processor & charger) are constantly on. By some stroke of luck, I have found that in this state, if I depress the space bar once, the shutdown/sleep/hibernate process completes (or at least the indicator lights turn off).

    I have played with the fast start option but that did not affect results.
    I have tried re-installing Windows, that did not help.
    I have since then gone into dual boot mode, and installed Ubuntu, the same problem occurs there too!!
    I am fed up, please help.

    Regards
    Bharat

  14. Hi Mina, my windows 10 laptop slowed to a freeze and I repeatedly hard power switched it off. It is super long time to get a unresponsive screen back on and not responding to selections and going dark. What may you suggest. The cursor moves show a timer when selecting and nothing happens. Please offer help options. Thank you

  15. What works for me is getting it to do a Restart instead of a shutdown and then power-off manually before it reboots. Not the best solution, but, as I said, it works for me – for now.

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