Microsoft has successfully addressed one of Windows 11’s most frustrating issues with its latest preview builds, finally fixing the notorious “update and shut down” glitch that has plagued users since the operating system’s 2021 launch.
This persistent bug tricked countless users into believing their computers were powering down when updates were pending, only to discover their machines had restarted unexpectedly, disrupting sleep cycles with loud fan noise and unwanted activity.
The Root of the Persistent Problem
The bug emerged shortly after Windows 11’s initial release and quickly became a widespread source of user frustration across forums and social media platforms.
When users selected the “update and shut down” option from the Start menu or Windows Update settings, their systems appeared to comply by initiating the shutdown process.
However, instead of fully powering down as expected, computers would install updates and automatically reboot, often landing users back at the lock screen or desktop.
This problematic behavior stemmed from how Windows handles cumulative updates, which bundle security patches, bug fixes, and feature improvements into single packages.
When updates encountered even minor installation hiccups such as temporary file locks or driver conflicts the system would default to restarting rather than executing a clean shutdown.
Overnight idle detection would then trigger additional installation attempts, creating an endless cycle of unwanted reboots that left users frustrated and confused.
The glitch wasn’t universal but affected a significant portion of Windows 11 devices, particularly those running on older hardware where update failures were more common due to compatibility issues.
User complaints painted a vivid picture of the disruption this caused in daily computing routines.
Home users frequently described the jarring experience of discovering their computers running loudly in the middle of the night, with cooling fans whirring at maximum speed to manage spiking CPU and disk activity from unexpected update processes.
Office workers reported interrupted workflows as machines that should have remained powered off instead cycled through updates during off-hours, potentially exposing sensitive data and unnecessarily draining power resources.
Microsoft officially acknowledged the problem in its Windows Insider preview blog on September 29, 2025, detailing Build 26220.6760 for the Dev Channel.
The company’s release notes succinctly stated: “Fixed an underlying issue which could lead ‘Update and shutdown’ to not actually shut down your PC after.”
This fix specifically targets the core mechanics of the shutdown sequence, ensuring that pending updates no longer trigger automatic restarts when users explicitly request a shutdown.
Early testing within the Insider program has shown promising results, with initial feedback indicating that computers now properly power off as intended, effectively breaking the disruptive reboot cycle.
Microsoft emphasized that this resolution represents part of broader efforts to enhance Windows Update’s overall reliability and user experience.
For now, users enrolled in the Dev or Beta channels can access this fix by enabling the appropriate toggle in Settings > Windows Update.
However, Microsoft has advised non-Insiders to wait for the stable release, as preview software carries inherent risks, including potential system instability.
This long-awaited resolution brings significant relief to the Windows 11 community, where the persistent bug had gradually eroded user trust in the update process and forced many to develop workarounds for reliable system shutdowns.
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