11 Methods to Fix the Windows 11 Not Shutting Down Completely Issue

Introduction

After completing the work for the day, one shuts down their computer. However, in some cases, clicking the shutdown icon does not properly switch the device’s power off. In the background, the CPU and hard drive continue running and taking up power, which can damage your PC later.

Typically, reasons for Windows 11 not shutting down completely include a damaged taskbar, fast startup, or a new upgrade of Windows. Also, excess system files can lag the device, and constantly running background apps will slow the total system performance.

You can use the CCleaner Professional app to remove these unwanted files, shut down active operations, and optimize system health. Besides that, here are some useful tactics.

Best Ways to Fix Windows 11 Not Shutting Down Error

As mentioned, specific software or hardware-related issues can affect the device’s regular functioning and affect regular system functions like shut down. We considered all the issues that can cause the Windows 11 shutdown problem and compiled the following list of solutions.

Solution 1: Use keyboard shortcuts to power off

One of the easiest ways to fix the problem of Windows 11 not shutting down is using the device’s keyboard for shortcuts. You can press the Alt and F4 buttons simultaneously, which would open the “Shut Down” prompt on the screen.

Besides that, you can press the keys Ctrl + Alt + Del on the keyboard and then press the power icon. Choose the shutdown option.

Solution 2: Force-shut Windows 11

If the Windows 11 is not shutting down well, you can force it to shut down. Press the power button on the laptop or desktop device’s keyboard area and hold your finger in place. That would force shut the device.

However, this technique would not provide information about why the shutdown feature was not working.

Solution 3: Make changes to the Settings through Control Panel

Users can rectify the Windows 11 shutdown problem by directly accessing the Settings on the device and making specific changes. The Control Panel route is useful to handle for both experienced and beginner-level users.

How to do this?

Step 1: Open the Search tab from the Taskbar and type in “Control Panel” within the text field. Then, open the first result.

Step 2: From the options that come up in this window, click on the “Hardware and Sound” option.

Step 3: Press the Power Options choice and click on “Choose what the power button does” from the options.

Step 4: Then, choose “Shut Down” as the action for the button from the small drop-down menu.

Step 5: Click on Save Changes to complete the process.

Solution 4: Disable the Fast Startup mode

On Windows 11, there is a specific mode called Fast Startup. When this is active, the Windows 11 device runs around 30% faster when compared to another device with similar hardware but an older OS version.

This feature is a cross between the logout function and sleep mode in Windows and can affect the normal functioning of the Windows 11 shutdown process. So, to fix it, you have to disable the Fast Startup setting.

How to do this?

Step 1: Access the Control Panel through the Windows icon or Search button on the Taskbar.

Step 2: Open the Power Options menu and then select “Power Options” out of the functions.

Step 3: See the window’s left pane and click on the option- Choose what the power button does.

Step 4: Click on the “Change settings that are currently available” in the next window.

Step 5: When you see the “Turn on Fast Startup” option, uncheck the mark on the box beside.

Step 6: Click on “Save Changes” to complete the action.

Solution 5: Try Running the Power Troubleshooter

On Windows 11, you would find an available troubleshooting system for every activity and service that the software allows. For Windows 11 not shutting down completely, a Power troubleshooter is present that you can configure to rectify the issue. It would detect the main problem and fix the problem.

How to do this?

Step 1: Open the Windows 11 Start menu. Search with “Troubeshooter Settings” in the text field and press the Enter button.

Step 2: Click on the “Other troubeshooters” option.

Step 3: Click the Run button to activate.

Solution 6: Check and Update your Current OS Version

In some cases, the main issue that does not allow the Windows 11 shutdown process is due to the lack of correct upgrades. When the device’s operating system is up to date with the current software and features, it will consistently provide new updates and resolve errors after detecting them.

So, you must upgrade your system to Windows 11 update and get the right software versions and functions.

 How to do this?

Step 1: Open Search > Settings > Updates & Security.

Step 2: Choose the “Windows Upgrade” option from the left-hand panel.

Step 3: Click on the “Check for updates” option to allow the system to search and download any updates.

If this step does not work efficiently, you should troubleshoot the issues as an administrator.

Solution 7: Use the System Restore tool

In case the regular solutions to fix the issue of Windows 11 not shutting down completely fail to work, you can use the System Restore tool to bring the device to its original version. This happens if the updated software clashes with your device system due to incompatibility. Notably, this solution only works if a primary system restoration point is already available.

How to do this?

Step 1: Through the Search icon, type “Create a recovery drive” and open the app that appears. Allow access.

Step 2: Click on System Properties > System Protection.

Step 3: In the next window, click on the “System Restore” option. From the next list, choose the restore point you want to use for the system restoration and click on it. 

Step 4: Press the button- Scan for affected programs. You would see information on the changes that will occur. It will also show which apps will get added and removed from your system since they were removed/added after the restore point was created.

Step 5: Click on the “Next” button to restore the system.

Step 6: Finally, click on the “Finish” button. The system would restore appropriately to the selected restore point in your system.

Solution 8: Run the SFC Scan

If you have system files that have become corrupted in your system, that can affect the normal functioning of your system software. You can use an app like CCleaner to get a complete PC health checkup and remove corrupted files. Another easy process is directly running a System File Checker scan or SFC of the device.

How to do this?

Step 1: Press the Win + X keys on the keyboard. From the menu that comes up, click on the “Windows Terminal (Admin)” option.

Step 2: The Command Prompt window will appear. Type the following command into the text field and then press the Enter key:

sfc /scannow

Step 3: The command would run, and the device will shut down successfully afterward.

Solution 9: Shut Down Device with Command Prompt

You can access the command prompt or CMD and request the system to force stop. This will forcefully close all running apps and shut the device down.

How to do this?

Step 1: Through the Search button, search for the Command Prompt tab.

Step 2: Click on the “Run as Administrator” option.

Step 3: Type the “shutdown /p” command into the text field. Press the Enter key.

The computer device would quickly shut down without processing updates or installing anything.

Solution 10: Shut Down Delivery Update Optimization on Windows 11

Windows 11 constantly downloads new updates of the software. However, when multiple devices are running on one network in an office setting or similar situation, it is counterproductive to download updates individually on all computers. Therefore, Microsoft’s Delivery Update Optimization service is useful for exchanging updated system files simultaneously on all connected computers.

Therefore, if another computer running on your distributed network is acquiring updates from your device, it would not close while the files are transferring. You can disable this automated feature to shut down the device properly.

How to do this?

Step 1: Click on the Windows icon, open the Settings option, or directly search for it through the Search menu.

Step 2: Open the “Update & Security” option in the Settings menu.

Step 3: Click on the “Delivery Optimization” option from this window to continue.

Step 4: Turn the toggle for “Allow downloads from other PCs” to OFF.

Solution 11: Decide which apps will start automatically

Some processes and applications on desktop devices start running in the background since startup by default. They begin operating automatically and are typically hard to notice unless one searches for them. They do not shut off when one tries to switch the device off, and that causes the Windows 11 shutdown problem.

You should disable such services and apps on your device that are not necessary to start at startup. That would improve the startup and shutdown processes.

How to do this?

Step 1:  Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard together. This would launch the Task Manager. Open the “More details” option.

Alternatively, you can search for Task Manager through the Search icon via Taskbar.

Step 2: Choose the “Start-up” tab from the top row in the Task Manager window.

Step 3: Select the app you want to disable from the list and right-click your cursor on top of it. Then, click on the Disable button.

Conclusion

Specific problems like a defect in the system feature, an excessive number of stored elements, and malware can affect regular system functions like shutting down. You should try the different steps we mentioned for fixing it, like updating drivers or running the troubleshooting sequence.

Other than that, use a reliable system optimization tool like CCleaner to boost system performance, remove wrong files, and handle overall PC health evaluation and maintenance. Try the right solutions for your system and take professional help if these options do not work efficiently.