My Computer Won’t Shut Down; Now What?

Computers are incredible devices that have made our lives so much easier. From handling emails to doing video calls and making presentations, there are very few things we can’t do from our PCs and laptops. 

While computers have definitely made both our personal and professional lives simpler, they are not free of problems. Every electronic device comes with its own set of issues, and your computers are no different. There are a variety of issues that you can face with your computer. And one of the major ones is difficulty in shutting it down. 

Normally, a computer will easily shut down within a few clicks. If that isn’t happening, your computer has some problematic element that is preventing it from turning off. There are several reasons ‌your computer won’t shut down. It can happen because of unwanted applications running in the background, faulty Windows system files or drives, Windows updates, and more. 

This article will walk you through some quick and easy fixes to power off your computer. So, let’s get started. 

What to Do When Your Computer Isn’t Shutting Down?

Sometimes, your computer can straight up refuse to shut down. And no matter what solution you try, it won’t budge. A problem like this can be both concerning and frustrating. But you have no reason to worry. The issue of computers not shutting down is more common than you might think. And fortunately, there are various tricks you can use to resolve it within minutes!

We’re going to look now at 7 shutdown techniques that should promptly solve your issues. 

1. Trying to Force Shut Down 

This is one of the simplest tricks you can use to turn off your PC. When their computer is not shutting down, many people try to shut it down forcefully by cutting off the power supply. 

However, doing so is not recommended, as it can do more harm than good. It can damage your hardware components, internal wiring, or motherboard. To prevent any kind of damage to your PC, you must always force shut it down in the right way. Here are the steps to do so. 

Step 1: Press and hold down the physical power button for 10-15 seconds or until the PC shuts down completely. 

Step 2: Remove all sources of power from your computer for at least 5-10 minutes. Unplug the power cord and cables. If you are using a laptop, remove the battery. 

Step 3: After waiting for 5 to 10 minutes, power on your computer and use your normal shutdown process to turn it off once more. If it shuts down properly this time, things should be okay. 

2. Use Command Prompt to Turn Off Your Computer 

Another way to shut down your PC is by using Command Prompt or CMD. Command Prompt is a command-line interpreter that is present in almost all versions of Windows. It helps you to execute text-based commands, perform various administrative functions, and troubleshoot Windows-related issues. 

Here are the steps to use Command Prompt to shut down your PC. 

Step 1: Go to your system’s Start menu and type in CMD. 

Step 2: The Command Prompt application will appear on the menu. Right-click on it and select the “Run as administrator” option. 

Step 3: The Command Prompt screen will appear. Now you need to type in the following command: “shutdown /p” (make sure that your letters are lowercase). 

Step 4: After typing this command, press Enter. 

As soon as you press the Enter key, your PC will shut down immediately without downloading or installing any updates. Try your usual startup process after some time and then shut it down normally again. Your computer should now turn off easily. 

3. Try Disabling Fast Startup 

If you use Windows 10, turning off Fast Startup can easily get rid of your computer shutdown issue. Fast Startup is a Windows 10 feature that makes your PC run almost 30% faster than the normal boot. 

This feature prevents your computer from fully shutting down and instead puts it in a hibernation state. This ensures that your PC starts up super quickly following a shutdown. However, on many occasions, Fast Startup prevents your computer from shutting down altogether. 

So, if the above-mentioned methods don’t work, disabling Fast Startup is worth a shot. Here’s how you can do that. 

Step 1: Open Control Panel, and in the search box, type “Power Options.”

Step 2: Click on “Power Options” and then tap on “Choose what the power button does.”

Step 3: Now click on the “Change settings that are currently unavailable” option. 

Step 4: As soon as you perform step 3, you will see the various shutdown settings available to you. You need to uncheck the checkbox present before the “turn on fast startup” option.

Step 5: Finally, click on “Save Changes” and close the window. 

Your computer should shut down now. Try out the next method if you are still struggling with turning off your PC. 

4. Run Windows Troubleshooter 

Windows troubleshooter can help you fix all the errors that may be preventing your computer from turning off. Follow these steps. 

Step 1: Click on the Windows icon and type “Troubleshoot” in the search box. 

Step 2: Tap on “Troubleshoot settings” from the result. 

Step 3: Click on the “Troubleshoot” option present on the left pane. 

Step 4: Tap on the “Additional troubleshooters” option 

Step 5: Now, click on “Power” > “Run the troubleshooter” 

The troubleshooter will now start looking for all the issues and errors affecting your computer’s shutdown process. If it finds any issues, it will fix them right away. All you need to do is apply the solutions recommended by the troubleshooter, and it’s done. Most likely, you will not have any problems shutting down your PC now. 

5. Check and Change Your PC’s BIOS Settings

Another reason your PC may be having trouble shutting down is because of BIOS issues. The BIOS might have some setting issues, or it might be corrupted. Either way, it is worth trying to restore it to default and see if it solves the computer shut down issue. 

The steps for changing BIOS settings are as follows. 

Step 1: Click on the Start > Settings 

Step 2: In the Settings menu, click on the “Update & Security” option

Step 3: Now, tap on “Recovery” > “Advanced startup” > “Restart now”

Step 4: After your computer restarts, click on “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” 

Step 5: Now click on “UEFI Firmware Settings.” This will let you enter your PC’s BIOS. 

Step 6: Now, move over to the Boot section and tap on the “The Default” or “HDD” option present at the top of the Boot order. 

Step 7: Finally, press the F10 key or click “Save” to save your changes and exit BIOS. 

Step 8: Restart your PC and shut it down normally. 

Hopefully, your computer’s shut down issue has now been sorted.

6. Let’s Use the Windows Run Box

Using the Windows run box is another quick fix for your PC’s shut down problem. You can use this trick in just two simple steps. 

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the run box. 

Step 2: Now, simply type “shutdown /s /f /t 0” in the Run box and click on “OK” or press Enter. Your computer will shut down now. 

7. Give a Shot to System Restore 

If none of the above methods work, you can try to do a System Restore. This will remove any errors or issues in your system’s drive, files, settings, etc. 

System Restore returns your computer to its previous state and solves almost all the problems that might affect your computer’s functionality. Don’t worry; doing System Restore doesn’t affect your documents, pictures, or anything else you have saved on your device. 

Follow these steps to perform System Restore. 

Step 1: Open Control Panel and click on the “Recovery” option.

Step 2: Now, click on “System Restore” > “Next” 

Step 3: Select a previous restore point and tap on “Next”

Step 4: Finally, select “Finish” to complete the procedure. 

After everything is done, and the System Restore process is completed, try to shut down your computer and see if the problem is resolved.

Conclusion 

So, these were our 7 tested methods to fix your computer’s shutdown problem. We hope that one of these solutions resolves your issue and your computer is working normally once more. It can be frustrating when we can’t use our computers to get work or get important tasks done. But there are ways out of this mess. In the end, especially when you’re dealing with shut down problems on your work systems, it’s a good idea to have your IT specialist help you take care of the issue.  

Tech Masters helps businesses of all sizes repair system issues, upgrade their security, and make the most of their technology, with top-notch IT service support. Contact us today to learn about your individually tailored IT solution. 

For quick answers to shut down problems with your computer, see our frequently asked questions below. 

FAQ

Can I turn off my computer with the power button? 

Yes, you can easily turn off your computer with the power button. Just press and hold the power button for 5 to 10 seconds, and your computer will shut down. But doing so without going through a full shutdown process may put your computer at risk. Be sure to read #1 above to find out how to do this in a safer way. 

Why doesn’t my PC shut down?

There are various reasons why your PC might be having trouble shutting down. For example, it could be internal issues, faulty system files, malware or viruses and many other problems.  

What are some other ways to fix the problem?

You can use Command Prompt, run Windows Troubleshooter, check and change your BIOS settings, disable Fast Start-up and more. 

Should I take care of the problem on my own or consult a professional?

It depends on the situation. If it seems like a basic problem on a home computer, feel free to try the methods above. If you’re dealing with a problem on your company’s systems, it may be wise to consult with an IT professional or team to ensure you don’t lose data or access.