Microsoft has confirmed that updates released in January 2026 introduced a bug that prevents some Windows PCs from shutting down or hibernating properly. Instead of powering off, affected systems may restart on their own or appear to hang during shutdown.

The problem was initially identified on Windows 11 version 23H2 devices that have System Guard Secure Launch enabled after installing the KB5073455 cumulative update. Since then, Microsoft has expanded its findings and now says the issue also affects certain Windows 10 editions as well as additional Windows 11 configurations that rely on Virtual Secure Mode (VSM).

Which systems are affected

• PCs with System Guard Secure Launch and Virtual Secure Mode (VSM) enabled
• Windows 11 systems and some Windows 10 versions, including Enterprise LTSC releases

In other words, this isn’t limited to a single Windows build or edition. The scope is broader than Microsoft initially believed, impacting more machines across multiple versions of Windows.

Temporary workaround

Until a permanent fix is released, Microsoft and several independent reports recommend using the following command to shut down affected systems: shutdown /s /t 0

This command forces an immediate shutdown and bypasses the behavior that causes the system to restart instead.

What Microsoft has done so far

After reports began surfacing in mid-January, Microsoft released emergency out-of-band updates to mitigate parts of the shutdown and hibernation problem. However, these fixes do not cover every affected configuration.

Microsoft says additional fixes are planned for future Windows updates to fully address the issue across all impacted systems.

Broader update-related issues

The shutdown bug is just one of several problems tied to the January 2026 update cycle. Other reports point to:

• Boot failures and stop errors caused by separate January cumulative updates
• Issues affecting Remote Desktop, Cloud PC access, and mail clients, which prompted Microsoft to release multiple emergency patches

Summary

Affected:
Windows PCs with Secure Launch and/or VSM enabled on Windows 11 and certain Windows 10 editions

Symptom:
Systems fail to shut down or hibernate and may restart instead

Workaround:
Use shutdown /s /t 0

Status:
Microsoft has confirmed the wider impact and is working on additional fixes for upcoming updates