Your PC refuses to sleep. You click shut down, but it wakes right back up. This specific nightmare is affecting thousands of Windows 11 users right now. Microsoft finally admitted the glitch exists and just pushed an emergency solution to stop the endless restart cycle.
A New Update Brings Old Problems
Microsoft usually releases updates to keep our devices safe. But sometimes these updates break things.
The tech giant released security update KB5073455 on January 13, 2026. This was part of their standard Patch Tuesday schedule. The goal was to fix security holes and improve stability.
The update did the exact opposite for many users.
People quickly noticed a strange behavior after installing the patch. They would click “Shut down” or “Hibernate” in the Start menu. The screen would go black. The fans would spin down. But seconds later, the system would boot right back up to the login screen.
It creates a loop where the computer never actually turns off.
This forces users to wait by their machines. They have to physically hold the power button to force a hard shut down. This method is not healthy for the hardware or the operating system files.
“I thought my mouse was waking it up, but it just keeps restarting every single time I try to sleep,” one frustrated user shared on a feedback forum.
This is not the first time we have seen this.
Windows 11 had a similar bug back in November. That issue prevented devices from powering off when users selected “Update and shut down.” Microsoft fixed that quickly. But this new bug seems more aggressive because it affects standard shut down attempts too.
Secure Launch Is The Culprit
Engineers investigated the issue immediately. They found the root cause deep inside the system security features.
The problem ties back to a feature called Secure Launch.
Secure Launch is also known as System Guard. It allows the system to boot into a trusted state. It protects your computer from malicious software that tries to load when you turn on your PC.
The recent update caused a conflict with this feature on certain hardware configurations.
When you tell Windows to shut down, the operating system sends a signal to the hardware. Because of the bug, Secure Launch interferes with this power signal. The system interprets the shutdown command incorrectly and triggers a restart instead.
This explains why the issue is sporadic.
It does not affect every single Windows 11 user. It only hits those with specific hardware that utilizes Secure Launch in a certain way. This complexity is likely why the bug slipped through Microsoft’s testing phase.
Grab The Emergency Patch Now
You do not have to wait for the next big update.
Microsoft recognized the severity of this bug. A computer that cannot turn off is a major problem for laptop battery life and user sanity. They developed an “out-of-band” fix over the weekend.
The fix is available right now.
This is not an automatic update for everyone yet. You might need to manually trigger it if you are suffering from the bug. The patch restores the correct communication between the operating system and the power management hardware.
Here is how you can check for the fix:
- Open your Settings menu.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Look for the emergency patch in the list.
You can also use the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Advanced users often prefer this method. You can search for the specific KB number related to the fix on their official website. You download the file and double-click it to install. This ensures the fix is applied immediately without waiting for the automatic rollout.
Try These Workarounds Meanwhile
The update might take time to reach every region.
You still need to turn off your computer tonight. If the patch is not showing up for you yet, there are other ways to force a proper shutdown. You do not need to pull the power plug.
Use the Command Prompt.
This is the most reliable method when the Start menu fails. It bypasses the standard graphical interface commands. It talks directly to the system kernel to cut the power.
Follow these simple steps:
- Press the Windows Key and type “cmd”.
- Press Enter to open the Command Prompt window.
- Type
shutdown /s /f /t 0and hit Enter.
This command tells the computer to shut down (/s), force close any running apps (/f), and do it immediately with zero seconds delay (/t 0).
Disable Fast Startup.
Another potential culprit is Fast Startup. This feature saves system info to a file to help the PC boot faster. It often causes shutdown glitches.
You can turn this off in the Control Panel. Go to Power Options and change what the power buttons do. Unchecking “Turn on fast startup” often solves weird power bugs. This is a good temporary fix until you get the official Microsoft patch installed.
Technology is great when it works.
It is frustrating when a simple function like “Off” stops working. Microsoft moved fast this time to clean up the mess. Hopefully, the next Patch Tuesday will be a little less eventful for our power buttons.
