Microsoft Finally Fixes Windows 11 Bug Causing PCs to Auto-Restart Instead of 'Update and Shut Down'

Windows 11 users are likely familiar with the system’s habit of prompting a restart after automatically installing updates. If one chooses not to restart immediately, the shutdown options at the end of the day often include “Update and restart” or “Update and shut down.”

In theory, selecting “Update and shut down” should install the pending updates and then power off the machine — allowing the remaining installation phases to complete upon the next boot. However, since at least 2023, this feature has not functioned as intended. Instead of shutting down after updates, the system restarts automatically, effectively behaving the same as the “Update and restart” option.

Many users have reported that after selecting “Update and shut down” at home, their computers unexpectedly power back on during the night, with the fans spinning loudly. The reason is simple: Windows 11 cumulative updates often fail during installation. Once the system reboots instead of shutting down, it detects idle conditions and attempts the installation again, triggering another restart. During this process, both CPU and disk usage spike dramatically, causing the fans to ramp up for cooling.

Microsoft has finally decided to address this long-standing issue. In Windows 11 Dev Build 26220.6760 and later, the company notes that it has fixed a potential problem preventing PCs from fully shutting down after choosing “Update and shut down.” Following this update, the feature should now function as originally intended.

For now, this fix is only available in Windows Insider preview builds, meaning users of stable releases such as Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 may still experience the unwanted restart behavior. However, Microsoft is expected to roll out the patch to official builds soon.

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