Published: January 2026
Category: Technology · Software · Operating Systems
If your Windows 11 PC refuses to shut down and instead springs back to life, you’re not imagining things — and you’re not alone.
Microsoft’s first Patch Tuesday release of 2026 quietly introduced a bug that caused some Windows 11 machines to restart whenever users attempted to shut them down or put them into hibernation. For affected users, a routine end-of-day shutdown suddenly became a frustrating loop, undermining one of the most basic expectations of any operating system.
The issue surfaced shortly after Microsoft rolled out its January security updates for both Windows 11 and Windows 10. While the official release notes focused on security fixes, they didn’t initially flag the shutdown problem that quickly began circulating in user reports and tech forums.
The scope of the bug, however, is narrower than it first appeared.
As first highlighted by Neowin, the problem only affects Windows 11 PCs that have Secure Launch enabled — a security feature designed to protect systems from low-level malware attacks during the boot process. Secure Launch is commonly enabled on newer devices, particularly those built with modern security standards in mind.
Microsoft later confirmed the issue in its own knowledge base, offering a clear explanation of what went wrong.
“After installing the January 13, 2026, Windows security update (KB5073455) for Windows 11, version 23H2, some PCs with Secure Launch are unable to shut down or enter hibernation. Instead, the device restarts,” the company wrote.
For users who rely on their PCs for work, gaming, or creative projects, this kind of bug is more than a minor annoyance. A system that won’t shut down properly can interfere with updates, drain power unnecessarily, and raise concerns about hardware wear over time — especially for laptops.
Fortunately, Microsoft moved quickly to issue a fix.
An out-of-band update, KB5077797, resolves the shutdown and hibernation issue. The same update also addresses a separate problem that caused sign-in failures for Remote Desktop connections, making it a worthwhile install even for users who haven’t encountered the shutdown glitch directly.
Users experiencing the issue should manually install the update as soon as possible. Once applied, affected PCs should return to normal shutdown behaviour without further intervention.
The episode is a reminder of the trade-offs that come with modern operating systems. As Windows continues to layer in advanced security features like Secure Launch, even small changes can have unexpected ripple effects. For most users, the fix is straightforward. For Microsoft, it’s another example of how even well-intentioned updates can stumble when deployed at scale.
If your PC suddenly refuses to power down, the solution isn’t to fight it — it’s to update it.
Author.Adigun Adedoye.