Microsoft has confirmed and resolved a frustrating bug that caused the “Update and Shut Down” option in Windows 10 and Windows 11 to restart the system instead of actually shutting it down. Many users have noticed this behavior for years, often assuming they accidentally clicked “Update and Restart.” The company now says the issue was real and is finally fixed in the November 2025 Patch Tuesday update.
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The Issue
For years, Windows users have complained that selecting “Update and Shut Down” would apply updates but then bring the computer back to the lock screen instead of powering off. This led to confusion, power drain, and frustration as systems rebooted overnight or remained on for hours after updates finished.
Microsoft officially acknowledged the bug after months of user reports on Windows 11 builds 24H2 and 25H2. The issue also appeared on certain Windows 10 devices, confirming that the glitch persisted across multiple versions. The company admitted that the shutdown logic inside the update process was not executing correctly, causing a full reboot instead of a complete shutdown.
Why It Happened
Under normal conditions, when you choose “Update and Shut Down,” Windows completes pending updates, installs necessary files, and then safely powers off the computer. But in this bug, a command misfire during the final phase caused the system to restart rather than shut down completely.
This behavior was tied to how Windows handles “servicing stack updates” and the sequence of post-update tasks. During certain update cycles, Windows entered a special servicing mode that required a reboot to complete the update process. Instead of interpreting the user’s request to shut down, the system executed a restart command and returned to the login screen.
While Microsoft never offered full technical details, engineers confirmed that the bug was triggered during specific update states and power transitions, especially when multiple cumulative updates were queued. This made the problem inconsistent and difficult for users to predict or reproduce manually.
How Long It Lasted
The bug dates back to at least the later years of Windows 10 and became more noticeable in Windows 11, particularly for users who routinely installed updates at the end of their workday. Discussions about the issue have appeared on Microsoft forums, Reddit, and social media since early 2023. The problem gained renewed attention in 2025 as it affected newer 25H2 preview builds.
Some users thought they had accidentally clicked the wrong option, while others began avoiding “Update and Shut Down” altogether. On laptops, this caused unnecessary battery drain as systems stayed powered on overnight. On desktops, users would often find their computers waiting at the sign-in screen hours later.
The Fix
Microsoft has now resolved the problem in the November 2025 Patch Tuesday rollout. The fix is included in cumulative update KB5067036 for Windows 11 version 25H2 and will be delivered automatically through Windows Update. Users on Windows 10 are also receiving related servicing updates addressing the same logic error.
The update corrects the shutdown routine so that “Update and Shut Down” now behaves as intended, properly powering off after updates are applied. Microsoft confirmed that the fix was tested internally and in Insider Preview channels before public release. The company also used this patch to improve power-handling behavior across update cycles, particularly when updates are installed right before shutdown.
This change arrives shortly after Microsoft’s emergency fixes for other Windows 11 update problems, including a patch that restored keyboard and mouse functionality inside the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) after an earlier update caused input failures. These quick responses suggest Microsoft is focusing more attention on update reliability following a series of user complaints.
What Users Can Do
If you have experienced this problem, it should automatically resolve once you install the latest November 2025 cumulative updates. To ensure your PC is fixed, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings → Windows Update and click Check for updates.
- Install the update labeled KB5067036 or any later release.
- After installation, try the “Update and Shut Down” option to confirm the PC fully powers off instead of restarting.
If your system still reboots instead of shutting down, you can temporarily select “Update and Restart” and then manually shut down the PC from the sign-in screen as a workaround. You can also use the Command Prompt and run shutdown /s /t 0 after updates are complete to force a safe power-off.
Users who regularly install updates at night or before travel should verify the patch is applied to avoid unintentional restarts. Enterprise and IT administrators can also deploy the fix across managed devices using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Microsoft Intune.
For additional security and stability improvements, it’s recommended to keep Windows and drivers up to date, and regularly scan your system for threats with trusted software such as Malwarebytes. More updates on Windows performance, bug fixes, and security changes can be found in the cybersecurity section of our site.
With this long-standing issue finally fixed, Windows 11 users can once again trust the “Update and Shut Down” option to do exactly what it says — update, and then actually shut down.
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