Windows 11 Restarts Instead of Shutting Down 

Quick Tips

• Windows 11 machines can sometimes get stuck in a restart loop instead of shutting down.
• This is primarily caused by power settings conflicts.
• Fixes for this error mostly involve changing power settings and disabling fast startup.

As with any new operating system, there are annoying bugs that can be more frustrating than anything else. And here is a prime example: your Windows 11 PC restarting instead of shutting down.

In this article, we’ll show you a few potential ways to solve this problem.

What Causes This Error

The issue of a Windows 11 PC restarting instead of shutting down has a few potential causes, which means there are several possible fixes. Let’s take a look at the major reasons your machine may be refusing to say bye-bye:

• The Windows fast startup feature is causing conflicts with your power settings.
• Something is misconfigured in your actual power settings.
• You have corrupt or outdated drivers.

The most likely cause is power settings, so let’s look at potential fixes there first.

How to Fix Windows Restarting Instead of Shutting Down

Below we’ve assembled some possible fixes for your Windows 11 PC to get it out of the restart loop:

Disable Fast Startup

Fast startup is a useful feature that enables users to boot their computers quickly. It does this by preventing the computer from completely shutting down and saving the operating system’s kernel to a hibernation drive, which will load the next time the Power button is pressed. It essentially avoids a full boot, which can be convenient, but also can cause conflicts with the power settings. To disable this:

Step 1. Open the Control Panel in the Search Bar and choose “System and Security.”

Step 2. Click “Power Options.”

Step 3. From the sidebar, click “Choose what the power buttons do.”

Step 4. At the top of the next window, click “Change settings that are currently unavailable.” You’ll need to have Admin privileges to do this.

Step 5. The greyed-out shutdown settings should now be available to change. Uncheck “Turn on fast startup (recommended)” and then click the “Save changes” button.

Step 6. Shut down your machine to see if it stays off.

Change Startup and Recovery Settings

By default, when your computer encounters a fatal error, it will automatically restart. This can also play a role in putting your machine into a restart loop. Disabling this option can fix your error. Here’s how:

Step 1. Open “View advanced system settings” by typing it into the search bar. Alternatively, you can find this option in the Control Panel, under “System.”

Step 2. In the window that pops up, click the “Settings” button under “Startup and Recovery.”

Step 3. Uncheck the “Automatically restart” option and click “OK.”

Step 4. Shut down your machine to test.

Change Your Network Manager’s Power Settings

Sometimes, a network adapter is to blame for preventing your PC from shutting down. To fix this, you’re going to need to change its power settings in Device Manager:

Step 1. Open the Run dialog (Win + R) and type “devmgmt.msc” and press (Ctrl + Shift + Enter) to run as an Admin.

Step 2. In the Device Manager window, navigate down to the “Network Adapter” subsection and click it to expand.

Step 3. Find your main adapter and right-click it, then choose “Properties” from the Context menu.

Step 4. Open the “Power Management” tab and uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

Step 5. Click “OK” and shut down your computer to test. You can repeat this on all your network adapters to be sure.