Many users, including you now, have reported the issue of Windows 10 not shutting down. When they try to turn off their computer, Windows 10 won't shut down. Instead, it restarts automatically. To help you out, we will show you why the problem occurs and how to fix 'Windows 10 cannot shut down' with useful tips. If there is unexpected data loss during the fix, you can use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to retrieve your files.
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- Can Not Shut Down Mac Because Of Downloading
- Mac Shuts Down Itself
- My Computer Will Not Shut Down
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Quick Navigation Fixes for Windows 10 Won't Shut Down Error:
It's best not to get into the habit of shutting your Mac down this way because macOS will work better if it gets to shut down properly (allowing it to clean up and store code properly). I could not shutdown from the Apple menu or even logout. All desktop items and menu bar would disappear when I tried to shutdown, but the dock stayed and machine would never shut down. I could even reopen applications in the dock, except Finder. However, I could shut down by going to the Login Screen and clicking on ShutDown there. If your iMac won’t shut down after the Mojave 10.14.3 update, you might want to try running any of these tools. Using Apple Hardware Test and Apple Diagnostics is easy. But running them, you have to figure out which tool is appropriate for your macOS version and your iMac model. To know these details, open the Apple menu and click About This Mac. Before shut down or restart, force quit any running apps by pressing Command, Option and Esc together. Relaunch Finder before shut down from the force quit menu. Ensure, the Trash is empty. Try to shut down the mac via Terminal, type sudo shutdown -r now and press Return. Will NOT close Firefox (have to use Task manager). Nothing we do within FF closes it 2. Firefox will NOT open New Private Window, only after we located a New Private Window toolbar icon will item #2 work. Again, this is the fifth straight time after Updating FF that it suddenly creates new and not-seen-before problems.
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Fix 1. Disable Fast Startup | Open Power & sleep settings > Additional power settings > Choose what the power buttons do...Full steps |
Fix 2. Run Full Shutdown | Run Command Prompt as administrator > Enter: shutdown /s /f /t 0...Full steps |
Fix 3. Run Windows Troubleshooter | Type troubleshoot in search > Select 'Troubleshoot'. Under 'Get up and running' section...Full steps |
Fix 4. Run System File Checker | Click the 'Start' button and type cmd. Right-click 'Command Prompt' and choose...Full steps |
Fix 5. Boot from Safe Mode | Continuously press 'F8' before the Windows logo appears. Release 'F8' until ...Full steps |
Fix 6. Change BIOS Settings | The way to reset your BIOS varies depending on the manufacturer of your motherboard...Full steps |
- Windows 10 1709 (Fall Creators), End of Service:
- Microsoft released the final security update for these editions of Windows 10, version 1709 on October 13, 2020. In other words, Windows 10 1709 (Fall Creators)is end of services.
- To keep your OS and data safe, we suggest you update your computer to the latest Windows 10 2004 version or the coming up 2009 version.
- To install the latest Windows 10 update, click to Download Latest Windows 10 Update.
Why Windows 10 Won't Shut Down
Have you ever met this situation: when you click 'Shut down', Windows 10 automatically restarts instead of shutting down directly. Many users have complained that their Windows 10 restarted after they clicked 'Shut down' from the Start menu. That's really confusing and annoying.
Why cannot Windows 10 shut down on earth? Although the possible causes could be many, the primary reason why Windows 10 doesn't shut down is the Hybrid Shutdown feature (also known as Fast Startup) released in Windows 8 and later. It is enabled by default on most of the laptops and in some of the desktops. That's why so many users encounter the issue after upgrading to Windows 10.
The Hybrid Shutdown feature reduces the start and shutdown time of your computer by hibernating the kernel session, which means your computer doesn't shut down fully.
However, in addition to saving your time on starting or shutting down the computer, it may also cause errors on your device and prevent your computer from shutting down. Besides, other reasons like corrupted system files and BIOS issues are also likely to make you fail to turn off Windows 10.
How to Fix 'Windows Won't Shut Down'
Based on the underlying causes, there are several ways for you to fix the Windows 10 shutdown problem on your computer.
Method 1. Disable the Fast Startup Feature
Turning off the startup feature is the quickest way to fix Windows 10 not shutting down. To disable Fast Startup in Windows 10:
Step 1. Click the 'Start' button and type power. From the search result, choose 'Power & sleep settings'.
Step 2. In the Settings window, scroll down and click 'Additional power settings'. In the left side of the Power Options window, click 'Choose what the power buttons do'.
Step 3. Click the link 'Change settings that are currently available' and then you are allowed to change the shutdown settings.
Step 4. Uncheck 'Turn on fast startup (recommended)' and choose 'Save changes'.
Disabling Fast Startup will increase the time spent on starting or shutting down the computer. If you don't want to fix the Windows shutdown problem using this way, you can try another way around.
Method 2. Perform a Full Shutdown
The Fast Startup feature doesn't fully turn off your computer in order to decrease the booting time. Instead, it hibernates the kernel session, which is the reason why Windows 10 cannot shut down. Thus, to fix the issue in this case, you can perform a full shutdown on your computer. There are two ways to perform a full shutdown in Windows 10. Apply the one you prefer.
Option 1. Use the Shift Key
When you click 'Shut down' in the Start menu, press the 'Shift' key simultaneously to turn off your computer completely.
Option 2. Use CMD
Step 1. Click the 'Start' button and type cmd.
Step 2. Right-click 'Command Prompt' and choose 'Run as administrator'.
Step 3. Enter the command shutdown /s /f /t 0.
Method 3. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
Some users can't shut down Windows 10 during the update. If you are in such a situation, you can run the Windows troubleshooter to resolve problems that prevent you from updating Windows.
Step 1. Click the 'Start' button and type troubleshoot.
Step 2. In the result, choose 'Troubleshoot'.
Step 3. Under 'Get up and running' section, click 'Windows Update'.
Step 4. Click 'Run the troubleshooter'.
Method 4. Run Windows System File Checker Tool
If some of the Windows system files are corrupted on your computer, you will surely encounter problems, for example, 'a required drive partition is missing'. The builtin Windows System File Checker tool is able to check and repair missing or corrupted system files for you, which may help you fix 'Windows 10 won't shut down'.
Step 1. Click the 'Start' button and type cmd.
Step 2. Right-click 'Command Prompt' and choose 'Run as administrator'.
Step 3. Enter the command sfc /scannow.
Method 5. Boot Computer from Safe Mode and Cancel Automatically Restart
When Windows 10 cannot shut down, it will keep restarting each time you press 'Shut down' on your computer. Thus, another way to fix the issue is to disable automatic restart on your computer.
Step 1. Continuously press 'F8' before the Windows logo appears.
Step 2. Release 'F8' until the boot menu shows up and choose 'Safe Mode'.
Step 3. Boot the computer into Safe Mode and go to search after Windows boot-up.
Step 4. Type: sysdm.cpl and open sysdm.cpl.
Step 5. Click 'Advanced' > 'Settings' under Startup and Recovery.
Step 6. Uncheck 'Automatically restart'.
Step 7. Click 'OK' and reboot the computer.
Afterward, shut down your PC and check whether the Windows 10 shutdown problem persists.
Method 6. Change BIOS Settings
As mentioned, your Windows 10 may fail to shut down due to BIOS issues, be it wrong settings or corruption. You can first reset your BIOS to default. Since the way to reset your BIOS varies depending on the manufacturer of your motherboard, you can check the motherboard manual to get things done.
If none of the methods introduced helps to solve the problem 'Windows 10 cannot shut down', you should consider getting your computer motherboard replaced.
Restore Lost Data While Fixing Windows Not Shutting Down
When the computer cannot shut down, it is often accompanied by data loss. If you have files lost before or after fixing 'Windows doesn't shut down', you can use the hard drive recovery software - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to retrieve your files. This tool not only supports common deleted file recovery, formatted data recovery, and lost file recovery but also helps to recover data after OS crash, OS reinstallation, and more.
Step 1. Select a partition to scan.
Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, hover on the partition where you have lost data after the computer restart and then click 'Scan'.
Step 2. Select the files you want to recover.
Wait until the scanning completes. Afterward, select the lost files you want to recover. To locate specific files, click 'Filter' and choose the category or use the search bar. If you need, double-click the file to preview its content.
Step 3. Recover the data lost due to the computer restart.
After choosing the files, click 'Recover' and choose a location on another drive to save the data.
Fixes for Another Windows 10 Shutdown Problem
'Windows 10 can't shut down' is just one of the Windows 10 shutdown problems. Another frequently happened issue is Windows randomly restart or shutdown. In case you need it, the solutions to this Windows 10 shutdown problem are:
Method 1. Change Power Options
This is an effectiveness-based solution to Windows randomly restarting or shutting down. Don't hesitate to try it if you are bothered by the Windows 10 shut down issue.
Step 1. Click the 'Start' button and type power. From the search result, choose 'Power & sleep settings'.
Step 2. In the Settings window, scroll down and click 'Additional power settings'.
Step 3. Click 'Change plan settings' > 'Change advanced power settings'
Step 4, In the new windows, expand 'PCI Express' > 'Link State Power Management'.
Step 5. Set the 'Settings' to 'Off'. (If you are using a laptop, there are other options available. Set them to 'Off', too.)
Method 2. Disable Hibernation
Disabling hibernation is quite easy with the help of cmd. Do as follows:
Step 1. Click the 'Start' button and type cmd.
Step 2. Right-click 'Command Prompt' and choose 'Run as administrator'.
Step 3. Enter powercfg.exe /hibernate off. (As you may know, this command is used to turn off hibernation on your computer. If you want to re-enable it, enter powercfg.exe /hibernate on instead.)
Hope at least one of the tips above is helpful to you to fix the Windows 10 shutdown problem.
FAQs About Windows 10 Won't or Not Shutting Down
In addition to the solutions for Windows not shutting down issue, some users may also want to learn the causes and what is slowing down the Windows shutdown process. Here we have the answers for you. Check and find the answer to your question now.
1. What to do when Windows won't shut down?
This page answers this question with 6+ solutions to help you get rid of Windows won't shut down issue.
You may try to: 1). Disable Fast Startup; 2). Run Full Shutdown; 3). Run Windows Troubleshooter; 4). Run System File Checker; 5). Boot from Safe Mode; 6). Change BIOS Settings.
Revert back to the main content on this page, and you can follow any method to make your computer shutdown normally again.
2. Why is my PC or laptop not shutting down?
The Hybrid Shutdown feature (also known as Fast Startup) released in Windows 8 and later is the primary reason why Windows doesn't shut down normally. It is enabled by default on most of the laptops and in some of the desktops.
The Faulty CMOS and BIOS settings can also cause Startup and Shutdown problems.
3. Why does Windows 10 take so long to shut down?
You may meet Windows takes forever or Windows fail to shut down issue when you forget to close all running programs and files on your computer.
The following issues may also slow down your Windows shutting down procedure:
- 1). Software Problems - If you have a lot of 'Programs need to close', it's normal that computer needs time to close them one by one before shutting down the computer.
- 2). Process Problems - Windows has to close a number of processes before it can completely shut down. Similar to the Software problems, the more running processes are running on your computer, the slower it would be for the computer to shutdown.
- 3). Operating System or Driver Problems - When Windows OS or driver is outdated, the computer will slow down in starting up or shutting down.
- 4). Local Services Problems - When you have enabled many local services on your computer, it also takes time to close the services before Windows shutting down.
Have you tried restarting your iMac after updating to Mojave 10.14.3 but it got stuck and won’t shut down? If that is the case, you are not alone. For many iMac users, an iMac not shutting down after the Mojave update is becoming a popular problem.
In this article, we look at some ways on how to fix problems with an iMac that won’t shut down after the Mojave update.
1. Close All Active Apps.
For your iMac to properly shut down, you need to close all active apps first. Problems with shutting down iMacs often arise due to apps that fail to close. So, before you do any troubleshooting steps, check if any app is still open. An app isn’t likely to close if a change has been made but remains unsaved.
If you have already saved the changes but the app still does not close, you have to force-quit it. To do that, try any of these options:
- Right-click on the icon of the app in the Dock. Select Force Quit.
- Hold the Command, Option, and Escape keys together and click the app in the Force Quit Hit the Force Quit button.
- Open the Apple Choose Force Quit. Choose the problematic app and hit Force Quit.
- Right-click on the icon of the app in the Dock and hold down the ALT You’ll see that the Quit button changes to Force Quit. Click on it.
- Open the Activity Monitor and close the app from there.
2. Perform an Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics.
Apple Hardware Test and Apple Diagnostics are two handy built-in tools that help you troubleshoot problems with your iMac. These tools can investigate problems with your system memory, wireless components, and even the logic board. If your iMac won’t shut down after the Mojave 10.14.3 update, you might want to try running any of these tools.
Using Apple Hardware Test and Apple Diagnostics is easy. But running them, you have to figure out which tool is appropriate for your macOS version and your iMac model. To know these details, open the Apple menu and click About This Mac. From there, check the following:
Mac Not Shutting Down Properly
- If your iMac’s version is from 2013 or later, then use Apple Diagnostics since it is already built into your machine.
- If your iMac’s version is from 2012 or earlier, use Apple Hardware Test.
Using Apple Diagnostics
- Disconnect all external peripherals except the display, mouse, and keyboard.
- Go to the Apple menu and select Restart.
- Hold the D key while waiting for your iMac to restart.
- Apple Diagnostics should begin automatically. Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Once the test is done, all the problems found will be shown on your screen.
Using Apple Hardware Test
- Disconnect all external peripherals except the display, mouse, and keyboard.
- Go to the Apple menu and choose Restart.
- Hold the D key while waiting for your iMac to restart.
- Once the Apple Hardware Test screen appears, choose the language you want to use.
- Press Return.
- If the Apple Hardware Test screen does not show, you have the option to run the test online. You need to connect your iMac to a stable internet connection and restart your Mac while pressing and holding the Option and D keys.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- If a problem is detected, you will be notified of it. Take note of the message and seek further assistance from Apple Support.
3. Safe-Boot Your iMac.
Performing a safe boot can delete your system cache and help improve your system after an update. So if you have just updated to the most recent Mojave but iMac is not shutting down, then you should try this solution.
Here’s how to safe-boot your iMac:
Can Not Shut Down Mac Because Of Downloading
- Since you cannot shut down your Mac properly, do anything you can to switch it off.
- After that, wait for 10 seconds before pressing the Power button.
- Once you hear the startup tone, press the Shift key. Hold it down until the Apple logo appears.
- At this point, you have entered Safe Mode. With this mode enabled, all extensions are disabled and other unnecessary apps are not running. Take note that it may start slow, so give it time.
- If your iMac works fine in Safe Mode, restart it, but this time in a Normal setting.
4. Clear Your System of Junk Files.
One possible reason why your iMac is acting up upon shutdown is that there’s plenty of junk files that are interfering with your system processes. It’s a wise move to get rid of them.
To delete junk files, you can manually go through all your folders and delete the files you don’t need. But we won’t suggest doing this because you might accidentally delete important system files and trigger more errors and problems. It’s also time-consuming.
Mac Shuts Down Itself
What we highly recommend doing is to download and install a third-party iMac cleaning tool. In just a few clicks, you can instantly find junk files and delete them as you like. It won’t even take you hours to do that. Be careful, though, because there are cleaning tools out there that are bundled with malware and viruses. It is best that you read reviews first or seek recommendations.
My Computer Will Not Shut Down
Summary
Macbook Won't Shut Down
Most power-related errors on iMacs are usually fixed after performing Apple Diagnostics or Apple Hardware Test. If not, a Safe Boot or the use of third-party cleaning tools might address the problem. However, if you are not confident with your skills in resolving the problem, you can consult an Apple expert. He or she can figure out the problem and suggest the perfect solutions for you.
We hope what we shared above have helped you resolve your iMac shutdown problems caused by the recent Mojave update. We’d like to know which of the solutions worked for you. Share them below!
Can Not Shut Down Mac Because Of Downloaded
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