One of the most annoying mistakes when we use a computer is when we start the shutdown procedure and it freezes or worse still the user interface does not respond to our clicks on the screen, effectively making unable to shut down Windows.If after turning off the computer, as usual, the procedure remains hanging and appears interminable, we will necessarily have to use an aggressive strategy to complete the shutdown, i.e. the removal of the power outlet (not recommended, since it can lead to malfunctions and data loss).
In this article we will see together how to shut down or restart the PC even in the event of a block or problem in the shutdown procedure, so that we can always complete this delicate phase without causing damage to the operating system or to our precious files.
PC does not shut down: what to do?
If Windows does not allow the computer to shut down properly and if this problem occurs continuously, often investigating the nature of the problem is unnecessary, as we will waste a lot of time on something that may very well have escaped us (an automatically updated but faulty driver, a process blocked etc.).
So let's see how to proceed step by step, up to the definitive disappearance of the problem (which is not obvious, but it's worth trying them all before formatting).
Force shutdown the computer
The computer can also be shut down from the command prompt or window Run, without even having to go through the graphical interface.
If the problem is precisely the mouse click not responding on the key Stop, we can force it to close by opening the Start menu at the bottom left, looking for the Command Prompt program and typing:
shutdown / s / f / t 0
The PC will start the shutdown procedure, regardless of what it is doing at that moment (any blocked programs, services or processes will also be bypassed). This command should be used sparingly, especially if we still have programs or files open, as it leads to forced system shutdown and probable loss or damage of personal data.
If even the Start button does not respond to the commands (PC completely blocked), let's try to start the run window by pressing the button WIN + R, then we type in it the same command seen above, so as to start the forced stop procedure.
Disable Windows 10 Fast Startup
On Windows 10 there is the Quick Start function, which offers a noticeable increase in the operating system startup speed thanks to hybrid hibernation. This feature is very useful but, if the files that manage it get damaged or some process blocks it, it makes it almost impossible to shut down the system properly.
So if we have problems with turning off the computer, we disable fast startup on Windows 10 by opening the Start menu at the bottom left, typing Cover and pressing on Changes the settings made when the lid is closed to open the feature management screen.
To deactivate the function, all we have to do is press up on Change settings that are currently unavailable, remove the check mark from the item Enable Quick Start (Recommended) and finally confirm the modification by pressing on Save changes.
Let's try to shut down the system, even forcing it with the command seen a little while ago: the next time the computer is started it will take much longer but it will start correctly without problems.
To speed up the startup of a PC without fast startup we can always use traditional hibernation, as seen in the guides Computer sleep and hibernation: differences and usability is How to Enable Hibernation in Windows 10.
Use Windows Troubleshooter
If we don't know what to do anymore and the suggestions proposed so far have not helped, we can try the Windows Troubleshooter tool, so as to try them all before moving on to the "hard" ways (topic in the next chapter).
To open Windows Troubleshooter, press the bottom left on the Start menu, open the app Settings, we select the menu Update and security and finally open the menu Troubleshooting.
In this screen we look for the item Power on and follow the steps indicated to be able to solve the shutdown problems. If the entry is not present we can still launch the entries Program compatibility troubleshooting is Energy saving to try to solve. The chances of success are very low, but it is always worth trying all avenues before restoring the system.
Advanced recovery procedures
If your system doesn't want to know about shutting down properly (even after numerous reboots), it's time to go "hard way".
The first method we can use is the system restore, especially if we have been able to activate it immediately (by default it is turned off on Windows 10, so we must have been foresighted in the past). To use it, press the bottom left on the Start menu, look for the item Restoration, we open the menu item Restoration and press on the item Open System Restore.
In the window that opens, click on Come on and we select a restore point on a date prior to the problem encountered, then we wait for the reboot and recovery; at the next start we check if the computer turns off correctly, so as to bypass the problem without too much effort.
To learn more about system restore we can read our guide Restore Windows system configuration if your PC is not working today.
Alternatively we can proceed with system recovery built into Windows 10, which will restore the operating system as it was just started but will save your personal files (which will not be deleted).
To proceed, open the Start menu at the bottom left, click on the app Settings, we select the menu Update and security, let's go to the Restore menu and press the button It begins present under the section Reset your PC.
The recovery procedure will start in which you can choose whether to save your personal files or format the entire disk (which is not recommended in this case); the rest of the procedure is automated, all we have to do is get comfortable and wait for the recovery of Windows 10, so as to make the system shutdown work again.
We have created the guide on this recovery procedure How to reset Windows 10 (Reset PC).
Conclusions
By following to the letter all the suggestions proposed in the various chapters we will be able to restore the correct shutdown of Windows 10 in the vast majority of cases, without even losing personal files (even in case of recovery). If the problem is a device driver or its update, it is better to use the drivers already present in the PC package and block driver updates, as seen in the guide Disable Driver Updates in Windows 10.
In another article these points are explained in more detail, with the guide on how to fix if Windows takes too long to shut down. Having corrupted files on the disk can also cause the system to shut down incorrectly, in which case it's worth it run an advanced scandisk to fix errors on the hard drive.