How to Fix Windows PC Restarts After Shutting Down?

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How to Fix Windows PC Restarts After Shutting Down

Does your Windows PC keep restarting after you shut it down, even when you try different methods like the normal process, pressing the power button, or putting it in sleep mode?

Don’t worry, this common issue has multiple solutions that can be both simple and complex. In this article, we’ll explore some of the reasons why your computer may restart automatically after shutting down and share various ways to fix it.

Whether it’s a software or hardware-related problem, you’ll find useful tips to try before you consider more drastic measures like formatting your drive or checking your RAM. So, let’s dive into the possible causes and solutions for the issue.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • One of the most common solutions to the issue of a PC restarting after shutdown is to disable the Fast Startup feature.
  • Another easy way to fix the issue is to remove any problematic apps installed in it and perform a clean boot.
  • An effective solution to this issue is to update the BIOS and make the necessary changes to it.
  • Running the power efficiency diagnostics and checking the report may throw some light on the issue and help you act accordingly.
  • One relatively complex fix to the problem is to make some adjustments in the registry.

Why Does Windows PC Restart After Shutting Down?

Windows PCs restarting after shutting down is an issue which is typically related to software, but sometimes it may also be the result of some hardware issues.

Some other reasons why a PC or laptop may restart after shutting down include:

In such situations, you may feel that the only way to resolve the issue is by unplugging it from the main power supply. Well, that is not true.

No matter what the reason is for your PC to restart after shutting down, the fixes are many and quite simple.

Ways to Fix Windows PC Restarts After Shutting Down?

How to Fix Windows PC Restarts After Shutting Down

The most common and easy solution to resolve the issue of a Windows PC restarting after shutting down is to disable the Fast Startup feature and run a power troubleshooter.

Sometimes, performing a force shutdown by disconnecting all external devices and pressing and holding down the power button, and then restarting the PC, would resolve the issue.

Some other useful and effective fixes to the problem include, but are not limited to:

  • Clean Boot the system.
  • Check for any Windows Updates.
  • Disable the automatically restart option.
  • Update the Basic Input Output System or BIOS.
  • Run and check the Power Efficiency Diagnostics report.
  • Uninstalling the ON/OFF by Gigabyte program.

If the problem is not resolved in the above ways, then there may be issues with the hardware. In that case, you will need to follow these steps:

  • Format your drive and install Windows once again. Make sure that you have taken a proper backup of all necessary files and folders before you follow this method.
  • You may also check the Random Access Memory (RAM) by changing the slots, cleaning them and using them again.
  • If you are using a laptop computer, you may take out the battery, clean it and replace it.
  • There can be issues with the charger as well if you keep it plugged in. Change the charger and check.

Now, take a look at some other solutions and try them one by one, checking whether the issue has been resolved every time.

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Method 1: Uncheck the Automatically Restart Feature

If the ‘Automatically Restart’ feature is enabled, then your PC will naturally restart even when you shut it down. Therefore, in order to resolve this issue, uncheck or disable it.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to the Search box.
  • Type This PC in the box.
  • Press Enter.

This PC app

(Alternatively, you can also click on the This PC or My Computer icon on the desktop).

  • Right-click anywhere on the blank space in the window.
  • Click on Properties.

This PC Properties

  • Click on Change settings on the far right of the window.

Click on Change settings on the far right of the window

  • Go to the Advanced tab on the System Properties window.
  • Click on the Settings button in the Startup and Recovery section.

Startup and Recovery

  • Uncheck the Automatically restart option from the window.
  • Click on the OK button.

Automatically restart

Close all windows and refresh your PC.

Method 2: Turn Fast Startup Feature Off

The Fast Startup feature of Windows may create a lot of issues, one of which is the PC restarting after shutdown. Turning it off will rectify the problem.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to the Search box.
  • Type control panel in the box.
  • Press Enter.

Type control panel in the box

  • Go to Power Options.
  • If you do not see the option, as it is in this case, click on the arrow beside Category on the top right corner of the window.
  • Click on Large icons.

Click on Large icons

  • From the left panel of the Power Options window, click on ‘Choose what the power buttons do’ option.

Choose what the power buttons do

  • If you find the boxes under Shutdown settings are blurred, click on the option at the top of the next window that says ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable.’

Change settings that are currently unavailable

  • Now, uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) if it is checked.
  • Click on the Save changes button.

Turn on fast startup (recommended)

Close all windows.

Method 3: Tweaking Power Management

The default settings in the power management may also cause your PC to restart after it is shut down. In order to avoid this, make some simple tweaks in the power setup.

STEPS TO FIX:

Select Device Manager

  • From the window, select Network adapters.
  • Click on the arrow beside it to expand and select whatever network adapter you have on your system.
  • Right-click on it.
  • Select Properties from the drop-down menu.

Network adapter properties

  • Go to the Power Management tab in the new window.
  • Uncheck the small square box next to ‘Allow this device to wake the computer.’
  • Click on the OK button.

Allow this device to wake the computer

Close all the windows.

Method 4: Improving Power Usage

There may be some issues within the power settings causing some problems in the power usage and hence this issue. Making some changes to improve it will often fix the problem.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to the Start button and click on it.
  • Choose Settings.

Choose Settings

  • Click on Update & Security.

Update & Security

  • Choose Troubleshoot from the left panel of the window.
  • Click on Additional troubleshooters.

Click on Additional troubleshooters

  • Scroll down to find Power among other options.
  • Click on it and then click on the Run the troubleshooter option.

Run the troubleshooter option

Let the system diagnose and fix the issues.

However, it may not work every time. In that case, you should consider another way of troubleshooting the issue by following the steps mentioned below:

Choose Troubleshooting

  • Click on Improve power usage under System and Security.

Improve power usage

  • Click on the Next button.

The system will automatically detect the issues. Wait till it is done detecting and you see a window like the following. Click on Apply this fix.

Apply this fix

When the fix is applied, you will see another window as the following saying that things have been Fixed.

Power plan fixed

Click on the close button.

Method 5: Change Power Down and Auto Reboot Value Data

Sometimes, a few specific settings in the registry, such as the value data for power down after shutdown, may also cause a PC to restart even after shutting it down. Therefore, make the changes as described below.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to the Search box.
  • Type regedit in it.
  • Press Enter.

Registry editor app

Once the Registry Editor window opens up, click on the small arrow on the left side of each of the following folders to expand them, in the exact order listed:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  • SOFTWARE
  • Microsoft
  • Windows NT
  • CurrentVersion
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Once you have reached the CurrentVersion folder, type windows on your keyboard or scroll down to find the Winlogon folder and double-click on it. On the right side of the window, you will find PowerdownAfterShutdown.

find PowerdownAfterShutdown

  • Double-click on it.
  • On the Edit String window, change the default Value data from 0 to 1.
  • Click on the OK button.

Edit String window

Close all the windows.

Now, to change the auto reboot value data follow these steps:

  • Open the Registry Editor once again.

Click on the arrow and expand the following folders as before in the exact order:

  • HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE
  • SOFTWARE
  • Policies
  • Microsoft
  • Windows

When you reach Windows, do the following:

  • Right-click on the Windows folder.
  • Click on New.
  • Then click on Key.

Right-click on the Windows folder

  • Create a new folder and name it WindowsUpdate.

WindowsUpdate

  • Right-click on the newly created folder.
  • Click on New.
  • Click on Key.
  • Create another new folder and name it as AU.

Create another new folder and name it as AU

  • Double-click on it.
  • Right-click on the blank space in the window on the right.
  • Click on New.
  • Click on and open the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.

DWORD (32-bit) Value

  • Name it a NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUser.
  • Press Enter and open it.

NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUser

  • In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window, change the Hexadecimal Base Value data to 1 if it is 0.
  • Click on the OK button.

Hexadecimal Base Value data

Now, close all windows and restart your system.

Method 6: Remove Unwanted Files and Clean the Drive

Some software related issues may cause your PC to restart after shutting down. You will therefore need to clean the drive of your system by removing the unwanted files.

There are a couple of ways to do this.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to Search.
  • Type %temp% in the box.
  • Press Enter.

Type %temp% in the box

  • Press the Control and A keys on your keyboard together to select all the files and folders in the Temp window that opens up.
  • Press the Shift and Delete keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
  • Click on Yes on the confirmation box.

select all the files and folders in the Temp window

  • If you see a window saying Folder Access Denied, ‘You’ll need to provide administrator permission to delete this folder.’
  • Click on the Continue button in that case.

You’ll need to provide administrator permission to delete this folder

A few files will not be removed since they will be open in another program. Click on Skip to leave them and close the window.

File in use skip

  • Now, refresh your system.
  • Then go to This PC as before.

(Alternatively, you can right-click on This PC icon on your desktop or double-click on it straightaway to open it).

  • Right-click on Local Disc (C:).
  • Select Properties.

Local Disc (C:) properties

  • Click on Disk Cleanup from the Local Disk (C:) Properties window.

Click on Disk Cleanup

  • Select all files displayed in the Disk Cleanup for (C:) window. You may or may not delete the Download files.
  • Click on the OK button.

Disk Cleanup files to delete

  • Click on the Delete Files button on the next window for confirmation.

Click on the Delete Files button on the next window for confirmation

When the system has finished cleaning the disk, close all the windows.

  • Now, again, open the Local Disk (C:) Properties window.
  • Select the Tools tab.
  • Click on the Check button.

Local Disk (C:) tools

  • Click on Scan drive, even if it says you do not need it.

Scan drive

  • When the system has finished scanning the drive successfully, click on the Close button on the window.

Scanning the drive successfully

  • Now, go to the Optimize option on the Local Disk (C:) Properties window.

Local Disk (C:) optimize

  • Make sure that Drive C: is selected.
  • Click on the Optimize button here again.

Optimize drives

Now, close all the windows.

Method 7: Changing Power Options

Based on the power settings, the PC may also restart after shutdown. In that case, choosing other power options may prove to be useful in resolving the issue.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to the Search box.
  • Type edit power plan in the box.
  • Press Enter.

Type edit power plan in the box

(Alternatively, you can also use the control panel and go to the power options).

  • Click on Change plan settings next to Balanced (recommended).

Click on Change plan settings

  • Click on the small arrow on the box next to ‘Turn off the display.’
  • Set the time to Never from the drop-down menu.
  • Do the same for the ‘Put the computer to sleep’ option.
  • Save the changes.
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Turn off the display

  • Now, repeat the same steps as above, but this time click on the ‘Change advanced power settings’ option.
  • In the Advanced settings window, look for PCI Express and click on the plus sign next to it.
  • Click on the plus sign beside Link State Power Management as well.
  • Click on the small arrow on the Moderate power savings box beside Setting.
  • Select the Off option from the drop-down menu.
  • Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button.

Change advanced power settings

Now restart your computer.

Method 8: Using the Command Prompt

Sometimes a specific command may rectify the problem of your PC restarting after shutting down. In this case, you will need to use the Command Prompt.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to the Search box.
  • Type cmd in the box.
  • Press Enter.

Command Prompt

  • Type in the command powercfg -h off.

Exit from the Command Prompt and restart your PC.

Method 9: Enabling Safe Mode

Enabling safe mode will start the PC only with the necessary drivers. Therefore, it will remove the interferences caused, which result in the PC restarting instead of shutting down.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to Update & Security from Settings as you did in Method 4.
  • Click on the Recovery option in the left pane of the window.
  • Click on the Restart now button on the right side under Advanced startup.

Advanced startup

  • When it does, select Troubleshoot.

Troubleshoot

  • Select Advanced options.

Advanced options

  • Click on the Startup Settings option.

Startup Settings option

  • Click the Restart button.

Click the Restart button

  • Press F4 or simply 4 to enable Safe Mode.

enable Safe Mode

Method 10: Perform a Clean Boot

If the above method fails to resolve the issue, then the third-party apps installed and their activities may also cause this problem on Windows PCs. The easiest way to stop it is to perform a clean boot.

This will disable the processes of all of the third-party apps installed on your PC and start your computer only with the essential processes and services.

STEPS TO FIX:

  • Go to the Run box by pressing the Windows and R keys on your keyboard together.
  • Type msconfig in the box.
  • Click on the OK button.

msconfig

  • Now, go to the Services tab in the System Configuration window.
  • Check the small square box next to ‘Hide all Microsoft services.’
  • Click on the Disable all button at the right.

Hide all Microsoft services

  • Now, go back to the System Configuration window and go to the Startup tab.
  • Click on Open Task Manager.

Open Task Manager

  • From the Task Manager window, right-click on each of the items displayed on the Startup tab that are showing Enabled under the Status column.
  • Disable them all, one by one.

Task Manager window startup tab

  • When you have disabled them all, again go back to the System Configuration window.
  • This time click on the Apply button and then on the OK button.

To ensure that the changes are applied, finally restart your computer.

Conclusion

There is no need to consider the issue of your PC restarting after shutting down to be fatal.

As you can see from this article, there are quite a few reasons for it to happen, and there are also a lot of solutions to fix this problem.

Go ahead and try them out, one or in a combination, and make your PC work as usual.

About Puja Chatterjee

AvatarPuja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.

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Puja Chatterjee
Puja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.
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