The latest issue faced by Windows 10 users is their systems taking too long to shut down completely, termed as Windows 10 Slow Shutdown. The screen may turn off instantly, but the hardware is still running. As you can see, the LED light for the power remains active. The computer continues to run for a few minutes even after the screen is turned off. A few seconds or even a few minutes can be usual, but there are reports of computers taking even 10 to 15 minutes to shut down. So it can be an annoying and serious problem as you cannot shut down your computer fast.

Often, slow shutdowns can be caused by programs running in the background. It may not be apparent, but when you close a program, it may not be fully closed. In some instances, it continues running in the background, even though it’s not visible to you. The causes for this error may be corrupted Windows Files or Drivers in your Windows 10. These may prevent windows from shutting down completely.

If you are facing this frustrating issue, then do not worry anymore, as we are here with the best methods that you can use to solve the Windows 10 Slow Shutdown issue. But before we find the fixes, ensure your PC is not facing a Windows Update Service Not Running Error.

How to Fix Windows 10 Slow Shutdown Issue

Run System File Checker

1. Press the Windows Key + X and then Click on Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt admin

2. Type in the following commands and hit enter: Sfc /scannow sfc scan now command prompt option

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows

Then, Wait for the processes to complete restart your computer, and check whether the Windows 10 slow shutdown problem is fixed.

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Run Check Disk (CHKDSK)

1. Press the Windows Key + X and then click on Command Prompt (Admin).

2. In the command window, type in CHKDSK/f/r and then hit enter.

chkdsk

3. The windows will ask you whether to schedule the scan in the next system reboot.

4. Type Y and then hit enter.

5. Reboot your computer to save the changes.

Run Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)

1. Press the Windows Key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Enter the following command and hit enter: ( We remind you to have the Windows Installation Media Ready before you start DISM)

3. DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess (Replace the Repair source with the actual location of your repair source.) The SFC scan can also help you recover Random Windows 10 Restart Error.

cmd restore health system

4. Press Enter to run the command and then wait for the process to complete, it may take 15 to 20 minutes.

5. After the DISM is complete, type the following in the command and hit enter:

6. Sfc/scannow  sfc scan now command prompt option

7. The System File Checker will run, and after it is completed, restart your computer.

8. Check whether the Windows 10 Slow Shutdown error is resolved.

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Run the System Maintenance

1. Search for maintenance in the Windows search bar and click Security and Maintenance.

security and maintenance

2. Click to Expand the Maintenance section and then click on Start Maintenance.

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start maintenance

3. Let the system Maintenance run and then Reboot your computer after completing the process.

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Perform a Clean Boot

At times, 3rd party software may conflict with the Windows Store, and this may cause you not to be able to install anything from the Windows App Store. If this is the issue causing Windows 10 slow shutdown, then the best method you can use is to perform a clean boot. To perform a clean boot, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows Key + R, then type in “msconfig” and click OK.  msconfig

2. Go to the General Tab and Check Selective Startup selective startup

 

3. Uncheck “Load Startup Items” under the selective startup group.

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4. Go to the service tab and then Check “Hide all Microsoft Services.”

hide all microsoft services in system configuration

5. Now, click “Disable all” to disable all the unnecessary services.

6. Under the Startup Tab, Click “Open Task Manager.”  task manager option

 

7. In the Task Manager Window, Disable all the Startup items.  disable startup items

8. Click OK and then Reboot your computer. Now, your computer will be booted in a clean boot. You can also fix the GDI+ Window Preventing to Shutdown Error with this method if other methods in the article don’t work.

9. After that, Check whether the Windows 10 Slow Shutdown issue remains.

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Run the Power Troubleshooter

1. Search for “troubleshooting” in the Windows Search bar and then click on Troubleshooting. troubleshooting control panel

 

2. In the left window pane, Select View All.

3. Select the Power option From the “troubleshoot computer problems” list.

control-panel-large-icons-power-options

4. Follow the On-Screen instructions to Complete the Power Troubleshooter. You can also it to fix any Driver Power State Failure in Windows.

5. Reboot your PC after the troubleshooting is finished.

Registry Fix

If you are encountering a delay while shutting down your computer, it could be caused by corrupted registry files. To avoid Windows from timing out when services fail to respond, it is advisable to reset the Registry Editor. This action helps accelerate the shutdown process of your PC.

1. Press the Windows Key + R, type “regedit,” and click OK.

type regedit and tap ok

2. Navigate to the following Registry Key: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

3. Make sure that “Control” is selected in the left pane, then look for WaitToKillServiceTimeout in the right pane.

4. If you cannot find the value, right-click on an empty area on the right window pane and click New, then select String Value.

5. Name the String as WaitToKillServiceTimeout and then Double Click on this value.

waittokillservicetimeout

6. If you have created or already have the WaitToKillServiceTimeout string value, then double-click on it and change its value between 1000 to 20000, which changes the value to 1 to 20 seconds successively. (Don’t save this value too low; doing so would lead programs to exit without saving the changes.)

string value

7. Click OK and then close everything. Reboot your computer to save the changes.

8. Check whether the Windows 10 Slow Shutdown error gets fixed or not.

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FAQs

How do I fix slow shutdown on Windows 10?

Answer- To fix slow shutdown on Windows 10, try these steps: Disable unnecessary startup programs. Update device drivers. Run a disk cleanup. Check for malware or viruses. Adjust power settings. Disable Fast Startup. Update Windows.

How do I speed up shutdown on Windows 10?

Answer- Windows10 Shutting down speed can be increased either by directly switching off the main supply or following these steps: Click the mouse button on the empty desktop area. Click on New > Shortcut and In the text box, type Shutdown.exe -s -t 00 in the text box Lastly, type Next and Finish

Why is my Windows 10 slowing down?

Answer- Windows 10 may slow down due to various reasons: There are too many background processes or startup programs. Outdated hardware or drivers. Accumulated junk files and temporary data. Malware or viruses. Insufficient RAM or storage. Overloaded system resources.

Why does shutting down take so long?

Answer- Shutting down may take a long due to processes that need closure before shutdown, background apps, or updates. Windows saves data, closes programs, and prepares for a safe shutdown. Slowdowns can occur when these tasks are delayed, or hardware/software issues impede the process.

Conclusion

These are the best methods that can solve the Windows 10 Slow shutdown issue. But we strongly recommend you to go through these steps thoroughly before attempting any one of these ways. Even a small mistake could damage your system, so proceed carefully. But when done with caution, these methods are sure to fix your issue. We hope that these methods help you to solve the problem you are facing.