The new year has brought another post–Patch Tuesday headache for some Windows users. Microsoft has confirmed a bug in Windows 11 version 23H2 that prevents certain systems from shutting down or entering hibernation after installing the January 2026 security update.
According to Microsoft’s official Windows 11 health dashboard, the issue appears after installing cumulative update KB5073455, released on January 13, 2026. On affected machines, selecting Shut down results in a restart instead. In some cases, hibernation fails, leaving systems running when they should be powered off.
Who is affected
The problem is limited in scope but serious for those impacted. It affects Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and IoT editions that have System Guard Secure Launch enabled. These configurations are common in corporate environments, kiosks, and industrial or embedded devices, but are rarely used on consumer Home or Pro editions.
System Guard Secure Launch is part of Windows’ virtualisation-based security framework. It is designed to protect the boot process against low-level threats such as firmware and UEFI attacks. However, after the January update, this security layer appears to interfere with normal shutdown and hibernation behaviour.
Temporary workaround
Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and provided a temporary workaround while it prepares a permanent fix. Administrators and users can force a shutdown by opening Command Prompt and running:
shutdown /s /t 0
This command powers off the system immediately, avoiding the restart loop.
At this time, there is no workaround for hibernation on affected devices. Microsoft advises users to manually shut down their systems, particularly on laptops or battery-powered devices, to prevent unnecessary power drain.
What to expect next
Microsoft has not yet announced a timeline for a corrective update. For now, the company stresses that the bug is narrowly targeted and does not affect consumer PCs running Windows 11 Home or Pro.
Even so, organisations using Windows 11 23H2 in enterprise or IoT deployments should be aware of the issue, especially in environments where reliable shutdown or hibernation is critical. As with many Patch Tuesday issues, this one underscores the importance of closely monitoring updates in managed IT environments.
