Problems shutting down Windows? So you can fix it

What to do if Windows PC won’t turn off

Well, at this point, the possible reasons why Windows does not turn off when we press the corresponding button can be several. On the one hand, it is possible that all this is caused by a temporary blockage of some component. Whether it’s a Windows function, some internal process, a running program, etc. That in the best of cases, since we can also find ourselves with more serious problems.

In that case, this is something we could run into in other future sessions with the team, which is a bit awkward. That is why below we will see some reasons that cause this, as well as its possible solutions.

Windows forced shutdown

We have already told you before that we can force the equipment to shut down directly with its shutdown button. However, this is not highly recommended, so we can use other alternatives. For example, we have the possibility of using the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Delete. With this we indicate to the system that we want to turn off the equipment, so if everything goes well, it will show us a new screen.

From it we will have the possibility to block the PC, close the session, change the user, etc. At the same time at the bottom right of the screenwe will see a button that allows us to turn off the equipment.

Alt+F4

If through start, we cannot get the equipment to follow the instructions and turn off, we can try with the Alt+F4 key combination. By pressing this key combination, a menu will be displayed where we can choose to Shut down, suspend or restart the computer. We just have to select the Turn off option and click on OK or the Enter key on our keyboard.

Check Windows Update

On the other hand, it is also possible that the OS is performing some important action and blocks the shutdown. One of these could be a Windows update, since if we turn it off during the process, the software could be damaged. So, to check this, it is best that we open windows updatesomething we achieved by accessing the Settings application.

To do this, it is enough that we make use of the Win + I key combination, and we place ourselves in the section of Update and security. Next, in the left part of the window, we find Windows Update. Here we can already check if Windows is being updated at that moment, so we can only wait for it to finish.

Use CMD to shut down Windows

Another of the possible outputs that can be very useful if necessary, is using CMD or the command prompt window. With it we will have the possibility to turn off Windows, but instead of using the usual button, we will use a specific command for it. So the first thing we have to do is open one of these windows, something we can do by typing the command CMD in it search box from the Start menu.

It is preferable that we run this with administrator permissions with the right mouse button on the run icon. Thus, once the corresponding window that we are talking about appears, we write the following command: shutdown /p /f.

It must be taken into account that at the moment we write the command and press Enter, whatever we have running, it will be lost, since the PC will shut down immediately. If, unfortunately, this problem is more than usual, we can create a shortcut to our computer’s desktop so that, by double-clicking on it, the device automatically turns off. If it is not a common problem, it never hurts to have this direct access on our computer’s desktop since it is much faster to execute it than to press the start button and select the Shut down option.

Configure Windows shutdown buttons

In the same way, we must take into account that the system operating allows us to customize the behavior of each of the shutdown buttons. Therefore, some other user may have changed some of this, or it may have been misconfigured for whatever reason. That is why, in the face of the problem that we expose, it is best that we check it to be sure. Then we only have to open the Control Panel and access Power Options. A new window will open in which we have to click on the option to Choose the behavior of the start / stop buttons.

Here we will already have the possibility of adjusting the actions that will be carried out for each button of PC shutdown. And it is that it can even be the case that they are configured to Do nothing. If this is the case, we would already have solved the problem for which we cannot turn off Windows

Uninstall recent apps

There are some programs that, without really noticing us, change some parameters internal to Windows itself, so it stops working as before. That is why if a short time ago we installed some application somewhat suspicious, let’s remove it immediately. This is something that we can easily do again from the Control Panel, by going to Uninstall a program. Next, all we have to do is locate the one that we recently installed, and double-click on it to remove it from the PC.

Update the operating system to the latest version

It is true that initially the patches sent by Microsoft some shouldn’t cause a problem on the PC, at least that’s how it should be. But unfortunately this is not always the case, so sometimes we find unexpected failures in our Windows, which until then worked perfectly. This, for example, can affect the shutdown of the operating system itself after the arrival of a small patch sent by those of redmond.

Usually this happens if it causes some kind of incompatibility with any member of the team. But luckily this is something that, when released, Microsoft immediately addresses with yet another new update, sometimes within hours. That is why it never hurts, in case of unexpected problems, to keep the operating system optimized at all times. This is something that we achieve in a simple way through the application of Setting. Once here, we go to Update and security / Windows Update to download the latest.

Uninstall the latest update

If there was no update pending to install, it is likely that the problem that our device is presenting is in the last Windows update that we installed on the computer. To try to find the solution to the problem, we must uninstall the latest update. This process can be done from the Windows configuration options, within the updates section. Next, click on View installed updates and write down the update code. Next, click Uninstall updates and where the update code is shown, click twice to proceed with its uninstallation. Finally, we restart the computer and check if the problem has been solved.

Scan your computer for malware

Another of the possible reasons for this misbehavior of Windows when trying to turn it off, come from some kind of malicious code that it has slipped That is why it can also be useful to do a scan of the computer with the anti virus that we have installed. In the event that we do not use any additional, in Windows 10 we can always make use of Windows Defender.

This is something that we can find in the Configuration Update and Security section. Here, in Windows Security, we no longer find the antivirus solution that it offers us in the operating system itself.