Windows 8 does not shutdown - what to do?

In this guide, we explain what you can do if Windows 8 does not shut down.

Windows 8: Shutdown not possible - you can do that

• Before trying to shutdown your Windows 8 PC, you should first close all programs manually.
• Some programs may be idle or create invisible processes in the background. Check this using the Task Manager and end the relevant processes and applications.
• Remove connected USB devices such as external hard drives and USB sticks from your PC, as these can sometimes prevent the shutdown.
• Disable the hybrid boot. To do this, open the Control Panel, click on "System and Security" and select "Power Options". Select "Choose what to do when the computer closes" and then "Some settings are currently unavailable". Under "Shutdown Settings" remove the check mark at "Activate quick start".
• Uninstall tuning tools and other software that has or could make changes to your system.
• Open the console with the key combination Windows key + R and try to shutdown the PC with "shutdown -s -t 1".
• Use a program such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to scan your computer for potential malware that may prevent shutdown.
• If your Windows 8 computer still does not shut down, contact Microsoft customer service directly and describe your problem in detail.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to uninstall programs in Windows 8.