How to fix
Windows takes too long to shut down
on Windows

Hello. I have a Windows 11 PC, and previously it took about 10 seconds to shut down but now it takes more than 2 minutes. What could be wrong?

Microsoft released Windows 11 at the end of 2021. Many people have rushed to update to the newest version to try it out. It offers an updated user interface, design, and many other features.[ref en-1] However, some users experience issues with the newest operating system. We previously wrote about many Windows 11 bugs like the WiFi icon missing, clock and date missing, and File Explorer lagging.

Now some people report having a problem with Windows 11 shutting down. They describe the shutdown process as taking way longer than it should. While it is unknown why exactly this could be happening, some people report that the culprit was a third-party security program.

In this guide, you will find 7 methods to help you fix the Windows takes too long to shut down problem. The issue could be caused by missing Windows updates, corrupted system files, outdated drivers,[ref en-2] etc. If you want to avoid a lengthy troubleshooting process, you can use a maintenance tool like [d1].

It can fix various system errors, BSODs,[ref en-3] corrupted files, and registry issues. It can also automatically clear cookies and cache from your machine, which are often the culprits of many malfunctions. Otherwise, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Method 1. Install Available Updates

• Click Start on the taskbar
• Select the Setting app pinned to the Start menu
• Click Windows Update on the left side of Settings
• Press the Check for updates button to download and install new patch updates

Method 2. Close Background Apps in Task Manager

• Right-click on the Start and select Task Manager
• In the Task Manager window, under the Background processes, look the apps that are running
• If you find any app that is running in the background and you are not using it, right-click on it and select End task

• Shut down your PC and see if the issue is resolved

Method 3. Repair Corrupted System Files

• In the search box on the taskbar, type Command Prompt
• Select Run as administrator, and then select Yes
• Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and then press Enter
• After you see a message The operation completed successfully, type sfc /scannow and press Enter

• After you see a message that says, Verification 100% complete, type exit
• Close the window and see if the issue is fixed

Method 4. Uninstall Third-Party Security Software

Many users report having the long shut down problem because of a security tool F-Secure. You should try to uninstall it and see if it fixes the issue.

• Click on the Start button and select the cog to open up Settings
• Select Apps and click on App & features.
• Scroll down to the app you want to uninstall, and click on the three dots on the right
• Click on the Uninstall button
• A small pop-up window will appear. Click on the Uninstall button again

• Wait for the process to finish

Method 5. Update Drivers

• Type Device Manager in the search area of your taskbar and click Open
• Inside the Device Manager window, expand the different drivers
• Right-click on them and select Update from the context menu

• If this did not help or Windows was unable to find any updates, use a utility like [rev id="DriverFix"] that can find the best drivers for your system and install them automatically

Method 6. Create a Shutdown Shortcut

• Go to desktop, right-click anywhere and select New > Shortcut
• In the Create Shortcut window, go to the Type the location of the item field and type the below shortcut

Shutdown.exe -s -t 00

• Click on Next and go to the Type a name for this shortcut field and name it

• Click on the Finish button
• Go to the desktop and double-click on the Shutdown Shortcut created and your PC should shut down

Method 7. Perform a Repair Install

• Visit the official Microsoft website to download Windows 11 Installation Media
• Run the Media Creation Tool and select Create Installation Media for another PC
• Select your USB drive
• Let the Process complete of writing the Installation files to the USB drive
• Click Finish
• On the PC you wish to upgrade, Press Windows + E to open the File Explorer
• Open the Removable drive and click Setup.exe

• Accept the license terms on the next screen
• Confirm the Upgrade options – Files, apps and Settings are kept
• Click Install, and the upgrade should start