Microsoft released its first Patch Tuesday updates of 2026 earlier this week. The update brought security and bug fixes for Windows 10 and Windows 11. For Windows 11 users, the updates arrived as KB5073455 for version 23H2 and KB5074109 for versions 24H2 and 25H2. As usual, the update was meant to improve system security, but it also brought an unexpected problem for some users.
Soon after the update went live, users started reporting that their Windows 11 PCs were not shutting down properly. Instead of powering off, affected systems were restarting when the shutdown option was selected. Complaints first appeared on online forums and quickly spread across platforms like Reddit, Microsoft Community forums, and tech discussion boards.
Microsoft has now confirmed the issue. According to the company, the problem mainly affects Windows 11 23H2 systems that have Secure Launch enabled. Secure Launch is a security feature that protects the system during startup by checking for low-level threats before Windows fully loads. Devices with this feature enabled are often referred to as Secured-core PCs.
Along with shutdown problems, some users also reported that their systems could not enter hibernation mode after installing the update. Microsoft has acknowledged this issue as well. Unlike the shutdown problem, there is currently no workaround for the hibernation failure.
To help affected users shut down their PCs, Microsoft has shared a temporary solution. Users can open the Command Prompt and run a shutdown command manually to force the system to power off.
shutdown /s /t 0
However, this is only a short-term fix. Microsoft has advised users to save their work regularly, especially on laptops, to avoid data loss if the battery drains unexpectedly.
Some users said uninstalling the update fixed the problem, while others confirmed the issue returned after reinstalling it. Enterprise users and IT administrators have also raised concerns because they use Secure Launch on work and business systems.
Microsoft says it is actively investigating the problem and is working on a permanent fix. Until then, users running Windows 11 23H2 with Secure Launch enabled may need to rely on the workaround and be cautious with power management.
