If you stare at the shutdown screen for a long time and nothing is moving, you may feel annoyed. There may be multiple reasons why you are experiencing this issue.
Most of the time, there is still an app running in the background, or your system is being updated. Additionally, a system file may have been corrupted, causing your COMPUTER to malfunction.
If you need help shutting down your Windows 11 PC, please go through the solutions below.
1. Check the running processes
Your PC might not shut down because an application or process is still running. You can use Task Manager to find and close any running applications. Also, take a look at the Processes tab.
Typically, there is a process that freezes and it prevents you from shutting down Windows. To identify it, look for processes that use most of the disk or CPU.
2. Use desktop shortcuts
If you can’t use the Start menu to shut down your Windows 11 PC, there’s a quick alternative you can try. You can create a desktop shortcut to shut down your PC. To make sure you don’t accidentally click on it, rename it and choose a suggestive icon.
Alternatively, you can run a command line to shut down your PC. Start a command prompt with administrative privileges, enter shutdown /s, and press Enter.
3. Disable Fast Startup
Fast startup, also known as hyperboot or hybrid shutdown, is designed to shorten computer startup time. When you shut down your PC, Windows saves the system files that you used during the startup process. Although it speeds up the startup of your computer, it has a negative impact when you shut down your computer.
By default, Fast Startup is enabled in Windows 11, so you have to manually turn it off to fix the shutdown issue. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Launch the control panel, go to View, and select the big icon or the small icon.
2. Turn on the power options.
3. In the left pane, click to select what the power button does.
4. In shutdown settings, deselect Turn on fast startup (recommended).
5. Click the “Save Changes” button.
6. Close all running applications and try shutting down your PC.
4. Run the Power Troubleshooter
Not being able to shut down your PC can be a power-related issue. Luckily, Windows already includes a troubleshooter that you can use to fix it.
Follow these steps to run the Power Troubleshooter:
1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.
2. Go to System > Troubleshooting.
3. There, go to other troubleshooters.
4. Locate “Power Troubleshooter” and click “Run”.
5. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Your computer may not shut down because Windows gets stuck while managing updates. In this case, running the Windows Update troubleshooter should resolve the issue.
In the Start menu search bar, search for troubleshooting settings and select Best Bet. Then, tap Other Troubleshooters to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.
6. Run an SFC scan
As we mentioned, a corrupted system file may make your PC unable to close. To resolve this issue, start a command prompt with administrative privileges and enter the following command: sfc /scannow. Then, press Enter. Now, Windows will recognize and automatically replace any corrupted system files.
7. Remove the battery from the laptop
If your computer has a removable battery, there’s an old trick to get your laptop to shut down. Remove your battery, wait a few minutes, and then replace the battery. Then, try turning off Windows as usual.
8. Update the Windows version
Windows 11 is a fairly new operating system, so Microsoft is still sorting out the details. If you haven’t updated your system in a while, you may experience various errors or malfunctions, such as not being able to shut down your PC.
To update Windows 11 to the latest available version, launch Settings and tap Windows Update. Then, click the Check for Updates button.
9. Use System Restore
If there are no updates available, and you’re stuck with Windows not shutting down, you can use restore points to go back in time. As long as you have enabled System Restore on your computer, you should be able to use it to restore your Windows 11 system.
10. Disable Delivery Optimization
Windows uses delivery optimization to install updates faster on computers connected to the same network. If a computer downloads an update from your device, Windows 11 won’t shut down until the download is complete. To prevent this from happening, you should disable the delivery optimization feature.
1. Press the Windows key +I to bring up the settings menu.
2. Select Windows Update > Advanced Options.
3. Go to Additional Options and click Delivery Optimization.
4. Turn off the Allow downloads from other computers option.
11. Reset Windows 11
If you think that Windows 11 doesn’t shut down because of improper settings or third-party apps, and you don’t know how to fix them, you should try resetting your system.
Windows 11 will be reinstalled, and in the process, it will remove any apps you installed and restore your system settings to their default values. Plus, you can choose whether to keep or delete your personal files.
12. Force it off
If you’ve tried these fixes and still can’t get Windows 11 to shut down, there’s another workaround. You can shut down your PC by holding down the power button for a few seconds. Before doing so, close all applications and save your work.
However, if you’re using an old PC, this approach can damage your hardware, and you might not get an answer that your PC can’t shut down on its own.
Turn Windows 11 off
When you encounter this issue, we recommend going through every solution we’ve mentioned to keep your PC running smoothly. This will enable you to delete any corrupted files, keep the system updated, and manage their power settings.
Even if you don’t mind keeping your computer on for a long time, you should give your computer a chance to update the system and clear the memory.
