Microsoft has rolled out a fix in its latest preview builds to resolve a notorious glitch with the “update and shut down” feature.
This long-standing issue, which has haunted the operating system for years, tricked users into believing their PCs were powering off when updates were pending, only for the machines to restart unexpectedly and disrupt sleep cycles with noisy fans.
The bug emerged shortly after Windows 11’s launch in 2021 and quickly became a source of irritation across forums and social media.
When users selected the “update and shut down” option from the Start menu or Windows Update settings, the system appeared to comply by initiating the shutdown process.
However, instead of fully powering down, the PC would install the update and reboot, often landing back at the lock screen or desktop. This behavior stemmed from how Windows handles cumulative updates, which bundle security patches, bug fixes, and feature improvements.
If an update encountered even a minor hiccup during installation, such as a temporary file lock or driver conflict, the system would default to a restart rather than a clean shutdown. Overnight, idle detection kicked in, prompting another installation attempt and creating a cycle of unwanted reboots.
User complaints painted a vivid picture of the annoyance. Home users described coming downstairs in the middle of the night to find their desktops humming loudly, with fans whirring at full speed to cool spiking CPU and disk activity.
Office workers reported interrupted workflows, as machines that should have been off instead cycled through updates during off-hours, potentially exposing sensitive data or draining power unnecessarily.
The issue wasn’t universal but affected a significant portion of Windows 11 devices, especially those on older hardware, where update failures were more common due to compatibility quirks.
Microsoft’s Patch in Preview Builds
Microsoft acknowledged the problem in its Windows Insider preview blog on September 29, 2025, detailing Build 26220.6760 for the Dev Channel. The release notes simply state: “Fixed an underlying issue which could lead ‘Update and shutdown’ to not actually shut down your PC after.”
This fix targets the core mechanics of the shutdown sequence, ensuring that pending updates no longer trigger automatic restarts if a shutdown is explicitly requested.
Testing in the Insider program has shown promising results, with early feedback indicating that PCs now properly power off as intended, halting the disruptive cycle.
The company highlighted that this is part of broader efforts to refine Windows Update’s reliability. Preview builds like this one allow Microsoft to iron out issues before they hit the stable release, expected in a future monthly update.
For now, Insiders in the Dev or Beta channels can access the fix by enabling the toggle in Settings > Windows Update. Microsoft advised non-Insiders to hold off, as preview software carries risks like instability.
This resolution brings much-needed relief to the Windows 11 community, where the bug had eroded trust in the update process.
Power users and IT administrators, who rely on scheduled shutdowns for maintenance, stand to benefit most, avoiding the manual interventions that previously mitigated the problem.
As Windows 11 approaches its fourth year, such fixes underscore Microsoft’s commitment to polishing the user experience amid competition from macOS and Linux distributions.
Looking ahead, experts predict this could pave the way for smarter update controls, like customizable shutdown behaviors or AI-driven failure predictions.
For everyday users, the immediate takeaway is simpler: the next time an update prompts “update and shut down,” it should finally mean what it says. With the fix now in testing, a stable rollout could arrive by late 2025, restoring peace to late-night computing.
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