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If your Windows 11 PC restarts when you select Shut down or Hibernate, install the latest Windows updates first. Microsoft identified a configuration-specific bug affecting some Windows 11 version 23H2 systems after the January 13, 2026 update KB5073455. It involved System Guard Secure Launch and, in some cases, Virtual Secure Mode (VSM).
The issue was fully resolved by the February 10, 2026 update KB5075941. Every later cumulative update includes that repair. As of August 10, 2026, the listed Windows 11 23H2 security build is 22631.7376, delivered by KB5099414.
Do not start by disabling Secure Launch, VBS, BIOS virtualization, or Secure Boot. Those are security controls, and changing them is unnecessary for a PC that can install the corrected update.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →First, check whether this is the known shutdown bug
The January 2026 issue has a distinctive symptom: Windows appears to accept Shut down or Hibernate, but the computer starts up again instead of powering off or entering hibernation.
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| Symptom or clue | How relevant it is |
|---|---|
| The PC restarts immediately after selecting Shut down | Strong match |
| The PC restarts after selecting Hibernate | Strong match |
| The problem began after January 13, 2026 | Strong match |
| The PC runs Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise, Education, or IoT Enterprise | Strong match |
| System Information shows VBS or Secure Launch-related services | Strong match |
| Windows shuts down slowly but eventually powers off | Not necessarily this bug |
| Fans, lights, or RGB remain on and the PC never fully powers off | Could be a driver, firmware, peripheral, or hardware problem |
| A blue or black error screen appears before the restart | Treat it as a crash or stop-code problem, not automatically as the Secure Launch bug |
| The device is a Dell running Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 | Check the separate 2026 Intel IPF issue described below |
Microsoft’s documented issue was limited to particular Windows platforms and security configurations. It was not a problem affecting every Windows 11 computer. Microsoft also said AMD and ARM64 processors were not affected, although processor type alone cannot prove or disprove the diagnosis.
Check your Windows edition, version, and build
Before changing anything, record the system details that determine whether the January issue applies.
- Press the Windows key, type
winver, and press Enter. - Alternatively, open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications.
Record the following:
- Edition: Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, Home, or Pro.
- Version: 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, or another release.
- OS build: for example, 22631.6649 or 22631.7376.
- Update history: whether the January update or a later repair update was installed.
The original update was offered only for certain Enterprise and IoT Enterprise editions of Windows 11 23H2, while Microsoft’s related documentation also makes VSM configurations relevant to supported Enterprise and Education systems. If you have Windows 11 Home or Pro, especially on a version other than 23H2, do not assume that this incident explains your shutdown problem.
Check Update history for the affected and repaired updates
Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history. Search the list for these Knowledge Base numbers:
| Update | Date or role | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| KB5073455 | January 13, 2026 | The cumulative update associated with the restart-instead-of-shutdown problem. |
| KB5077797 | January 17, 2026 | An initial out-of-band fix that helped some Secure Launch devices. |
| KB5078132 | January 24, 2026 | A later out-of-band update addressing the incident. |
| KB5075941 | February 10, 2026 | The update Microsoft identified as fully resolving the issue. |
| KB5099414 | July 14, 2026 | A later Windows 11 23H2 cumulative update that includes earlier fixes. |
Important: You normally do not need to find and install every historical update in this table. Windows cumulative updates include earlier fixes. The practical question is whether your PC has KB5075941 or any later cumulative update, not whether every January package appears in Update history.
Check Secure Launch and VSM without changing them
Secure Launch is not the same as ordinary Secure Boot. System Guard Secure Launch uses virtualization-based security to help protect the startup process against firmware-level threats. VSM is a related protected virtualization environment used by Windows security features.
To inspect the relevant status:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
msinfo32and press Enter. - In System Summary, inspect Virtualization-based Security Services Configured and Virtualization-based Security Services Running.
Microsoft describes the terminology and verification fields in its System Guard Secure Launch and SMM Protection documentation. The presence of ordinary Secure Boot in a BIOS screen does not, by itself, establish that this bug applies.
Do not disable Secure Launch, VBS, Credential Guard, or related BIOS security settings as a routine troubleshooting step. On a work- or school-managed device, those settings may be required by policy. Disabling them can reduce protection, fail to address the actual problem, or create a configuration that IT cannot support.
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The permanent fix: install the current Windows update
Use Windows Update as the primary repair. This is safer and more complete than uninstalling the January update or changing security settings.
- Save open documents and other work.
- If you are using a laptop, connect it to AC power.
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Install every available quality and security update.
- Restart when Windows asks you to. If necessary, select Restart now.
- Return to Settings > Windows Update > Update history and verify that installation completed.
- Test Shut down. If your device supports hibernation, test Hibernate as well.
For a Windows 11 23H2 system, KB5075941 or any later cumulative update contains the full Microsoft-documented repair. A newer build than 22631.7376 may be available after the date of this article; install the current applicable update rather than trying to target an old package manually. Microsoft’s Windows 11 release information page lists current versions and builds.
Windows Update also includes an optional setting at Settings > Windows Update > Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Microsoft says this prioritizes non-security updates, fixes, improvements, and feature updates. Regular security updates are delivered whether this setting is enabled or disabled.
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If Windows Update will not install the fix
Work through these options in order. Restart and try Windows Update again after each repair where appropriate.
1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
- Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update.
- Select Run and follow the prompts.
Microsoft also directs Windows 11 users to the automated Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Its Windows Update troubleshooting guide contains the current recovery options.
2. Repair the Windows image and system files
Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Search for Command Prompt, right-click it, choose Run as administrator, and run the following command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthWait for DISM to finish. Then run:
sfc /scannowRestart the PC and try Windows Update again. Microsoft recommends running DISM before SFC because DISM can provide the files required to repair the Windows image. These commands can repair corruption that interferes with updating, but they are not a targeted replacement for the Secure Launch bug fix.
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3. Reinstall the current Windows version
Some Windows 11 installations offer a repair option that reinstalls the current operating-system version through Windows Update:
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- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now.
- Allow Windows to download and reinstall the current repair version.
- Restart when the process finishes.
Microsoft says this reinstalls the last successfully installed operating-system update while preserving the existing Windows installation. The option may be unavailable on work- or school-managed PCs.
4. Use the Microsoft Update Catalog only when necessary
Manual installation from the Microsoft Update Catalog is mainly appropriate for administrators or systems that cannot obtain the update through Windows Update. Confirm the exact Windows version, edition, processor architecture, and package before downloading an .msu file. Do not select a package merely because its KB number appears in an online troubleshooting article.
Temporary workaround: request a full shutdown from the command line
If the PC still restarts and you cannot install the corrected update immediately, save all work and open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal. Run:
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchshutdown /s /t 0Here is what the switches mean:
/srequests a shutdown./t 0sets the timeout to zero seconds.
Microsoft documents this syntax and describes it as a way to request a full shutdown rather than a hybrid shutdown involving Fast Startup. It is a temporary workaround, not the permanent repair, and it does not restore reliable hibernation.
Do not add /f to the normal command. The /f switch forces applications to close and can cause unsaved data to be lost. Use it only when you have deliberately accepted that risk.
The command is not guaranteed to work on every affected computer. User reports include systems where the machine still restarted after the command. If it works, that is useful for getting the PC powered off and may indicate an interaction in the normal or hybrid shutdown path, but it does not prove that the Secure Launch regression is the root cause.
Optional: create a one-click full-shutdown shortcut
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
- For the location, enter
shutdown /s /t 0. - Select Next, give the shortcut a name such as Full shutdown, and select Finish.
Save your work before using the shortcut. It should be treated as convenience access to the same temporary command, not as a substitute for updating Windows.
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Usually, no. Uninstalling a security update removes security protections and may not be possible after the update has been superseded. Since the issue was fully resolved by KB5075941 and later cumulative updates, installing the current update is the better 2026 solution.
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If an administrator has approved removal as a last-resort diagnostic step, the standard path is:
Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates
Select the relevant update only if Windows allows it. Microsoft warns about the security implications of uninstalling updates and recommends trying to reinstall the current Windows version first. On an Enterprise, Education, or IoT Enterprise device managed by an organization, coordinate with IT before removing anything.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf your symptoms do not match the Secure Launch bug
A Windows 11 PC that refuses to power off can have many causes. Use the symptom pattern rather than applying the January 2026 explanation to every shutdown failure.
Windows shuts down only when Fast Startup is bypassed
Fast Startup uses hibernation infrastructure during shutdown. As a diagnostic test, you can temporarily disable it:
- Open Control Panel.
- Select Power Options.
- Select Choose what the power buttons do.
- Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Clear Turn on fast startup.
- Select Save changes.
- Restart Windows, then test shutdown again.
Microsoft’s specific Fast Startup troubleshooting article applies to Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 rather than specifically to Windows 11. Therefore, disabling Fast Startup is a general diagnostic step, not the confirmed fix for the January 2026 Secure Launch regression. If the command or this setting changes the behavior, continue investigating the shutdown path instead of assuming the known bug is responsible.
The screen goes black but fans, lights, or USB devices remain active
This pattern is more consistent with a driver, peripheral, firmware, power-management, or hardware problem than with the documented restart symptom. Try the following:
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- Disconnect newly added USB devices, docks, printers, and external displays.
- Install current chipset, graphics, storage, network, and power-management drivers from the computer manufacturer.
- Check the manufacturer’s support site for a BIOS or UEFI update.
- Test the PC after a clean boot to isolate third-party services and startup applications. Follow Microsoft’s clean-boot procedure.
Do not change BIOS virtualization or other security options based only on a forum suggestion. Microsoft notes that unexpected restarts and related failures can arise from hardware, drivers, or software.
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A blue screen, black error screen, or stop code appears
If Windows displays an error before restarting, record the exact stop code and any named driver or file. Investigate it as a crash rather than as the Secure Launch shutdown regression. Microsoft’s unexpected restart and stop-code guide covers hardware, driver, and software causes.
DISM and SFC are also reasonable when Windows features are freezing or returning system errors, but they will not specifically undo the KB5073455 regression unless corrupted system files are a separate factor.
Do not confuse this with the separate Dell issue on 24H2 and 25H2
Microsoft documented a different 2026 issue affecting a limited number of Dell devices after the June 23, 2026 preview update KB5095093. It involved an incompatibility between an Intel Innovation Platform Framework driver and the newer Windows USB-C Connection Manager interface. Reported symptoms could include a Device Manager warning and changes in performance, power consumption, or general system behavior.
That issue affects Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, not the original Windows 11 23H2 Secure Launch incident. Microsoft resolved it with KB5121767, released July 18, 2026, and later updates. Dell users on 24H2 or 25H2 should follow Microsoft’s separate resolved-issues notice rather than installing KB5075941 or changing Secure Launch settings without evidence that the 23H2 issue applies.
Support and lifecycle caveats
Windows 11 version 23H2 is no longer supported for Home and Pro editions. Enterprise and Education editions continue receiving updates until November 10, 2026, according to Microsoft’s Windows 11 23H2 status page. This is another reason a Home or Pro user with a 23H2-like shutdown symptom should verify the version and consider moving to a supported release rather than relying on an old cumulative update.
If the PC still restarts after installing the current applicable updates, collect these details before contacting Microsoft, the PC manufacturer, or your organization’s help desk:
- Windows edition, version, and OS build
- Processor type
- Installed KB numbers and installation dates
- Whether Shut down, Hibernate, or both cause the restart
- Whether the system shows a stop code or error screen
- The values shown for VBS-related services in
msinfo32 - Whether
shutdown /s /t 0behaves differently - Connected docks, USB devices, security software, and recent driver or BIOS changes
That information separates the fixed 23H2 update regression from a general shutdown or crash problem and gives an administrator enough detail to troubleshoot a managed system without weakening its security configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Windows 11 shutdown bug caused by Secure Boot?
Not necessarily. Microsoft identified System Guard Secure Launch and, in related configurations, Virtual Secure Mode as relevant to the Windows 11 23H2 issue. Secure Boot is a related but different security feature, so seeing Secure Boot enabled does not prove that this bug applies.
Does KB5077797 permanently fix the restart-instead-of-shutdown problem?
It helped some affected Secure Launch devices, but it was an initial out-of-band fix. Microsoft’s complete documented resolution began with KB5075941 on February 10, 2026; later cumulative updates also include the repair.
Can I keep using shutdown /s /t 0 instead of updating Windows?
Use it only as a short-term workaround when Windows Update is unavailable. It requests a full shutdown, but it does not repair hibernation, is not guaranteed to work on every system, and leaves the underlying update and security issue unresolved.
Should I disable VBS or Secure Launch to make the PC shut down?
No—not as a standard fix. These features protect Windows and may be required by an employer or school. Install the corrected cumulative update first, and consult IT before changing centrally managed security settings.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: If Windows 11 23H2 restarts instead of shutting down or hibernating after KB5073455, install KB5075941 or any later cumulative update through Settings > Windows Update. Until that is possible, save your work and try shutdown /s /t 0. If the PC hangs, shows a stop code, or runs 24H2/25H2 on a Dell, investigate the separate driver, firmware, or crash path instead of disabling Windows security features.
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