Wait 5–10 minutes to confirm if the shutdown is stuck; if unresponsive after 15 minutes, proceed to force shutdown.2. Hold the power button for 5–10 seconds to force shut down, wait 10 seconds, then restart—this is safe occasionally.3. Check Device Manager for outdated or faulty drivers, especially under Display adapters, System devices, and Disk drives, and update them.4. Disable Fast Startup via Control Panel → Power Options to resolve common shutdown conflicts.5. Perform a clean boot using msconfig and Task Manager to disable non-Microsoft services and startup apps, identifying software conflicts.6. Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in Command Prompt (Admin) to repair system files, and install pending Windows updates.7. Use Event Viewer to check for Error or Warning events from User32, Winlogon, or Service Control Manager during shutdown attempts to identify hanging processes. If all steps fail, use System Restore or reset Windows via Recovery settings—disabling Fast Startup alone resolves the issue in most cases.

If your Windows 10 computer is stuck on the "Shutting down" screen, it can be frustrating—especially if you're in a hurry or need to restart for an update. This issue is more common than you might think and can stem from software conflicts, driver issues, or pending system processes. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix it.

1. Wait a Little Longer (But Not Forever)

Sometimes Windows just takes longer to shut down, especially after updates or if background apps are still closing.

• Wait 5–10 minutes to see if it eventually shuts down.
• If the system is completely unresponsive (mouse/fan not moving), it's likely frozen.

?? If nothing happens after 10–15 minutes, it’s safe to assume it’s stuck.

2. Force Shut Down (Safe When Done Occasionally)

• Hold the power button for 5–10 seconds until the PC turns off.
• Wait 10 seconds, then power it back on.
• Let Windows boot normally—often it will repair itself or show a message about an unexpected shutdown.

? This won’t harm your system if done occasionally, but avoid doing it frequently.

3. Check for Problematic Drivers or Software

Outdated or faulty drivers (especially graphics, chipset, or storage drivers) can prevent clean shutdowns.

Try this:

• Boot into Windows.
• Press Win X → Device Manager.
• Look for devices with a yellow warning icon.
• Update drivers:
  • Right-click → Update driver → Search automatically.
• Pay special attention to:
  • Display adapters
  • System devices (like ACPI or chipset)
  • Disk drives

Alternatively, use the manufacturer’s website (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo support) to download the latest drivers.

4. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a common culprit. It’s meant to speed up boot time but can interfere with proper shutdown.

How to turn it off:

1. Press Win X → Control Panel.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
3. Click Choose what the power buttons do.
4. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
5. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
6. Click Save changes.

Now try shutting down again.

? Reboot and test—this fix resolves the issue for many users.

5. Run a Clean Boot to Find Conflicting Software

Third-party apps (especially antivirus, cloud sync tools, or updaters) may delay or block shutdown.

Perform a clean boot:

1. Press Win R, type msconfig, press Enter.
2. Go to the Services tab → Check Hide all Microsoft services → Click Disable all.
3. Go to the Startup tab → Click Open Task Manager.
4. Disable all startup items.
5. Restart your PC.

Now try shutting down. If it works, re-enable services/startup apps one by one to find the culprit.

6. Check for Windows Updates and System Files

Corrupted system files or missing updates can cause shutdown issues.

Run these commands:

• Open Command Prompt as admin:
  • Press Win X → Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
• Run:

  sfc /scannow

• After it finishes, run:

  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Restart and test shutdown.

Also, go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and install any pending updates.

7. Review Event Viewer for Clues

Check what’s happening during shutdown:

1. Press Win X → Event Viewer.
2. Go to Windows Logs → System.
3. Look for Error or Warning events around the time you tried to shut down.
4. Focus on events from sources like User32, Winlogon, or Service Control Manager.

This can help identify which process or service is hanging.

Summary: Quick Steps to Try

• Wait 10 minutes → Force shutdown if frozen.
• Disable Fast Startup (often fixes it).
• Update drivers (especially graphics and chipset).
• Run sfc /scannow and DISM.
• Perform a clean boot to isolate software conflicts.

If none of the above helps, consider a system restore to a point when shutdown worked, or reset Windows (Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Reset this PC).

Most shutdown hangs are fixable without losing data—start with disabling Fast Startup. That alone solves it in over half the cases.

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