What to do if Windows 11 restarts instead of shutting down?

What to do if Windows 11 restarts instead of shutting down? Does your Windows 11 computer restart every time you try to shut it down, and you don't know how to proceed? This situation can be truly disconcerting. You make sure to click "Shut Down," only to find the system restarts as if nothing had happened. This error can have multiple causes related to system configuration, drivers, or even external devices. Fortunately, there are several solutions you can apply step by step.

Today we're going to explain, in detail but using simple language, all the possible causes and how you can resolve this error so your computer shuts down properly. Whether your laptop or desktop PC is behaving this way, this article is designed to help you identify the source of the problem and apply the most appropriate solution without having to format the system or lose your data. Let's get started with the solution: what to do if Windows 11 restarts instead of shutting down?

Why does Windows 11 restart instead of shutting down?

There are several reasons why Windows 11 may not shut down properly and instead restart. The first thing you should keep in mind is that this is not a strange or irreversible failure. In fact, it's more common than it seems and has solutions within everyone's reach.

Some of the most common causes include:

• Quick start function active: This feature, intended to reduce boot times, may interfere with the shutdown process.
• Driver or hardware errors: A peripheral or hardware component may be causing conflicts that force the system to reboot.
• Wake-on-LAN enabled: This option, designed to turn on the computer from the network, can cause it to restart without us realizing it.
• Wrong power settings: Sometimes the physical buttons on your computer may be incorrectly configured by the operating system.
• Active system error: When Windows detects a critical error, it may be scheduled to restart automatically without warning the user.

First things first: check system events

An effective way to start diagnosing the problem is by using the Windows Event ViewerThis tool allows you to view all system logs, including those related to forced shutdowns or abnormal restarts.

To access the viewer, type “Event Viewer” in the Windows search bar. Then click on “Windows Registry” > “System” and locates the events recorded under “Power-Troubleshooter”This will allow you to see which device or event triggered the unexpected reboot.

If you detect that a certain hardware component appears as the source of the event, you should try updating your drivers or, if they are already updated, uninstall and reinstall them from scratch.

Disabling fast startup may fix it.

One of the most effective measures is disable fast startupThis feature, while it may improve boot times, sometimes prevents the system from shutting down completely.

To disable it, follow these steps:

• press Windows + S and writes Control panel.
• Accede to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
• Click on Choose what the power buttons do In the left side.
• Press on Change currently unavailable settings.
• Uncheck the box that says “Turn on fast startup (recommended)”.
• Save the changes and restart your PC.

This solution usually works in most cases., especially if the problem started after an operating system update.

Force complete system shutdown

Because fast startup prevents certain processes from shutting down properly, performing a complete shutdown may be necessary to remove residual buffers and hibernation sessions.

There are several ways to do it:

• With the keyboard: Hold down the Shift key while clicking “Shut Down” from the power button in the Start menu.
• With CMD: Open Command Prompt as administrator and type the command: shutdown / s / f / t 0

Thus, The system will shut down completely without leaving any hanging processes nor enter hybrid mode.

Check and disconnect external devices

It may seem basic, but Peripherals can also be the culprits from unexpected restarts. Some USB devices, external monitors, printers, or connected hard drives may send electrical signals that interfere with the shutdown.

To rule it out:

• Disconnect all external devices from your computer, including those that are turned off.
• Turn off the computer normally.

If it now shuts down without any problems, It is likely that one of the devices is the cause. You can connect them one by one until you identify the culprit. We continue with the solutions for What to do if Windows 11 restarts instead of shutting down?

Disable Wake-on-LAN in BIOS or Windows

Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a technology that allows you to turn on your PC remotely. through your network card. This can cause the system to interpret a wake-up signal and restart when you shut down your computer.

To avoid this, it is recommended to disable WoL from the BIOS settings or from Windows itself:

• Restart your PC and enter the BIOS (usually with F2, F10 or Del).
• Look for the option Wake-on-LAN o Wool and disable it.

You can also go to Device Manager > Network Adapters > Properties > Power Management and uncheck the option to wake the computer from the network.

Modify the configuration of the physical buttons

Windows may be set to perform a different action when you press the power or shutdown button. The “Restart” option may be assigned instead of “Shutdown”.

To change this setting:

• press Windows + R, run powercfg.cpl.
• Click on Choose the behavior of the on / off buttons.
• Choose "Delete” in the power button options for both “On Battery” and “Plugged In”.

Disable automatic restart after system failure

Windows has an option that automatically restarts the device when it detects a system error. If this behavior is enabled, The system might be rebooting every time it encounters a fault during shutdown.

To disable it:

• press Windows + S and writes sysdm.cpl.
• Access the tab Advanced, then Start and recovery.
• Click on Configuration and uncheck “Reboot automatically".

This way, if the system encounters an error, it will display a blue screen with technical information instead of rebooting without warning.

Boot from safe mode

If after all the previous steps the problem persists, you can try boot the system in safe modeThis mode allows you to identify if any service or program is interfering with the shutdown.

To access safe mode:

• Restart your PC and hold down the key F8 before the Windows logo appears.
• Choose Safe Mode in the menu that appears.

From here, you can repeat some of the solutions already explained (disabling fast startup, automatic restart, etc.) and shut down your computer from this environment.

Before continuing we recommend that you use the search engine Tecnobits since we have countless Windows tutorials, such as this one on How to disable news widgets in Windows 11.

Check for system errors with SFC File Checker

If any critical system file is corrupted, the shutdown process may be affectedFortunately, Windows includes a tool to automatically scan and repair corrupted system files.

To use it:

• Open CMD as administrator (right click on Start > Command Prompt > Run as admin).
• Write the command: sfc / scannow and hit Enter.
• Wait for the verification to complete and restart your system.

Update Windows or restore to a previous point

In case the error occurred after a software update or installation, you can try use the Windows Recovery ToolYou can restore your system to a previous point where everything was working correctly.

Write in the search engine “Create a restore point” and follow the instructions to select a system backup.

You can also choose to reinstall Windows while keeping your files, which does not delete your personal documents but does eliminate possible conflicts with installed programs.

This process is in Settings > System > Recovery, and there you can choose Reset this PC.

Windows 11 It may be very versatile, but its shutdown mechanisms can still be affected by countless factors. Many users are unaware that a small setting can make a big difference in their daily experience. By following the steps we've detailed, you'll have several alternatives to root out the problem of Windows 11 restarting instead of shutting down. You don't have to be an expert to solve it, and above all, you don't have to resign yourself to living with this daily problem.