Microsoft has confirmed a Windows 11 shutdown bug that prevented some systems from shutting down or entering hibernation after installing the January 2026 security update. The issue affected a limited set of enterprise devices running Windows 11 version 23H2 with specific security features enabled.
The problem was introduced by cumulative update KB5073455, released on January 13, 2026. On impacted systems, attempts to shut down or hibernate caused the device to restart instead of powering off.
Who is affected
Microsoft stated that the issue was narrowly scoped and did not impact consumer versions of Windows. The shutdown bug only affected systems meeting all of the following conditions:
- Windows 11 version 23H2
- Enterprise and IoT editions only
- System Guard Secure Launch enabled
- January 2026 cumulative update KB5073455 installed
Devices running Windows 11 Home or Pro were not affected.
What caused the shutdown issue
The issue was tied to System Guard Secure Launch, a Windows security feature that uses virtualization based security to protect the boot process from firmware level threats such as rootkits and bootkits.
After installing KB5073455, systems with Secure Launch enabled were unable to complete shutdown or hibernation requests. Instead, Windows initiated an unexpected restart sequence.
Microsoft confirmed the behavior through its Windows Release Health Dashboard and noted that the update was only offered to Enterprise and IoT editions, further limiting exposure.
Impact on affected systems
While Microsoft stated that the issue did not result in data corruption, it could lead to unintended consequences. Laptops and mobile devices were at risk of battery drain if users believed their system had powered off when it had actually restarted.
Administrators also reported confusion during routine shutdown procedures, particularly in managed enterprise environments.
Temporary workaround
Before a fix was released, Microsoft provided a temporary workaround for affected users. Devices could be shut down using the Command Prompt with the following command:
shutdown /s /t 0This command forced an immediate shutdown. However, Microsoft confirmed that no workaround was available for systems configured to enter hibernation.
Users were advised to save all work and manually shut down their device to prevent power loss.
Issue resolved with out-of-band update
Microsoft resolved the shutdown and hibernation bug in an out-of-band update, KB5077797, released on January 17, 2026.
The fix is available through the Microsoft Update Catalog and is also included in all cumulative updates released after that date. Microsoft recommends installing the latest available update to ensure the issue is fully resolved.
Related January update issues
Microsoft is also addressing other issues linked to January 2026 updates, including Remote Desktop connection failures and authentication errors affecting Cloud PC and Azure Virtual Desktop environments after installing KB5074109.
In addition, Microsoft recently resolved a separate issue where some security software incorrectly flagged the Windows component WinSqlite3.dll as vulnerable on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server systems.
What users should do
Users running Windows 11 Enterprise or IoT editions with Secure Launch enabled should take the following steps:
- Install the latest cumulative update or KB5077797 from the Microsoft Update Catalog
- Avoid relying on hibernation until the fix is confirmed installed
- Save all work before shutting down to prevent potential data loss
Update status can be verified through Windows Update settings or by reviewing installed updates in system history. Microsoft continues to monitor update health and recommends reviewing known issues before broad deployment in enterprise environments.
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