How to Fix When Windows Wonâ€™t Shut Down

If you have no problem with your computer, your Windows computer should shutdown with one click. If Windows does not shut down despite repeated attempts, it is likely that there is a problematic item on your computer.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find out exactly what is causing the Windows shutdown problem on your computer. It could be an application, a system problem, or something else. However, there are several methods you can try and apply, and one of them should probably fix the problem for you.

Force Shutdown Computer

If the normal shutdown option in the Start menu does not work and Windows does not close, you may need to use a force shutdown method. It makes your computer shut down no matter what state it is in.

On most computers, all you have to do to force shutdown your computer is to press and hold the power button for a few seconds. Keep it pressed until you see the device turn off.

Once this is done, you can press the same power button to turn the machine back on.

Windows provides you with several ways to shut down your computer. If the one you usually use doesn’t work, you can always try another method of shutting down your computer.

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Use Command Prompt to shutdown Windows

One of the common ways to shut down a Windows computer is to use a command in a command line utility. Execute a one-line command and it will definitely shutdown your computer.

Use the search box to find the command line and click it when it appears in the search results.

When it opens, type the following command and press Enter. Make sure you save your work to applications before running the command.
shutdown / s / f / t 0

Your computer will shut down immediately.

Create a Windows Shutdown batch file

If the above method has successfully shut down your computer, you will want to use it to shut down your computer at any time. You can really save yourself the hassle of typing the command every time by creating a batch file.

Then you can shutdown your computer with one click.

Use Cortana’s search box to search for Notepad and click it when you see it.

You will use the same command as in the command line utility in Notepad. Enter the following command.
shutdown / s / f / t 0

Click the File menu at the top and select the Save option. You will save it as an executable batch file on your PC.

On the next screen, select your desktop as the location to save the file. It will be easier for you to launch the file from your desktop than anywhere else.
Enter a file name, then a period, then a bat. It should look something like shutdown.bat.
For Save as type, select All Files because you do not want to save it as a text file.
Then click the Save button to save the file.

Right-click the file and select “Run as administrator” to shut down the computer. This step can also be eliminated by setting the file to run as administrator permanently.
Right-click the file and select Send To and then Desktop. A shortcut appears on the desktop.

Right-click the shortcut you just created and select Properties.

Make sure you are on the Shortcuts tab. Then find and click the “Advanced” button.

Select the Run as administrator checkbox and click OK.

You can double-click the file every time you want to shut down your computer.

Use the launch box to shutdown Windows

You can also use the above command in the Run box.

Press the Windows + R keys at the same time.
Type the following command and press Enter.
turn off / s / f / t 0

Quit open applications and kill processes to shutdown computer

One of the possible reasons why Window won’t close is because certain applications are open on your computer. Closing them will most likely fix the problem for you.

Right-click the taskbar at the bottom and select Task Manager.

Click the Processes tab if you are not already there. Select each process that you define as an application and click the End Task button. This must be done for each process on the list.