Windows 11 25H2 Patch Fixes Decades-Old Bug: “Update and Shut Down” No Longer Fails to Restart PC

With the introduction of Windows 11, specifically in the 25H2 Build 26200.7019 (or the 24H2 variant, 26100.7019), users have finally experienced a much-anticipated change: when selecting Update and shut down, your PC will actually power down as expected.

Despite this improvement, many users still face an issue where selecting “Update and shut down” leads to an unexpected restart instead. This problem, which has been frequently reported, is common across both Windows 11 and Windows 10 platforms. Microsoft had shipped a problematic toggle for “Update and shut down” starting from Windows 10, but only recently acknowledged its existence.

For many, the frustration of being misled by the “Update and shut down” feature is all too familiar. Imagine it’s late at night, and you have work the next morning, but you choose to install a Windows update before bed. You select Update and shut down, only to find your computer at the login screen in the morning instead of off, assuming the battery didn’t drain completely first.

Update and shut down option in Windows 11 25H2

The confusion arises because the update options, “Update and restart” and “Update and shut down, ” are placed closely together, leading many to mistakenly believe that they could have selected the wrong option. However, it appears that this was a systemic bug within Windows, making trust in the Update and shut down button precarious for numerous users.

While the exact reasons behind the faulty operation of “Update and shut down” remain somewhat unclear, Microsoft has confirmed that the optional update released in October 2025 (KB5067036) addressed critical issues preventing this command from functioning correctly in certain scenarios.

According to a documented statement from Microsoft, they have resolved an underlying issue that caused the feature not to shut down PCs reliably after an update.

Understanding the Breakage of “Update and shut down” in Windows 10 and 11

While Microsoft hasn’t disclosed the specific mechanics behind this issue, some speculate it may stem from a race condition or complications within the Windows Servicing Stack.

Executing the “Update and shut down” command involves two essential tasks for Windows. Initially, it begins installing any pending updates, and thereafter, the system is designed to power off. However, this sequence is not as straightforward as it may seem.

Once updates are installed, a reboot is automatically triggered; this is a critical part of the update process. During this reboot phase, which is visually indicated by “working on updates, ” Windows cannot simply skip to the power-off stage. The system needs to complete certain tasks offline to finalize file replacements.

Typically, after completing the “working on updates” stage, Windows should shut down. Unfortunately for many users, the system fails to power off correctly, booting instead to the login screen. This disruption is likely linked to issues with the Servicing Stack, where the shutdown command does not persist through the reboot cycle, possibly due to being reset or a race condition triggered by features like Fast Startup.

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