Closing 1 App and Shutting Down in Windows 11/10 (Fix)

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

Are you having trouble shutting down your PC? Does your screen get stuck at the message “Closing 1 App and Shutting Down” every single time? This article will explain what it means and how to fix the issue on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

See also: This App is Preventing Shutdown or Restart (No Name)

Closing 1 App and Shutting Down Windows 11/10

What does the “Closing 1 app and shutting down” message mean?

When you see the “Closing 1 app and shutting down” message, it means that your Windows operating system is trying to close one or more apps or programs that are running before shutting down. If Windows successfully closes these apps, the shut down process will continue automatically.

However, if Windows fails to close the app or program, the shut down process will be halted, and you will need to click on the “Shut down anyway” button to force it to shut down. In some cases, the shut down process will fail entirely, and you will be returned to your desktop as if nothing has happened.

In most cases, the problem lies with the app or program that Windows is unable to close and terminate. This app is preventing your Windows PC from shutting down.

Related issue: Windows 11 Won’t Shut Down (How to Fix)

How to fix the problem?

The solution is straightforward: fix or remove the program or app that is preventing Windows from shutting down.

When the “Closing 1 App and Shutting down” screen appears, you should see the icon of the app that is causing the problem, along with a message that says “This app is preventing shutdown.” There are two different scenarios:

  • Windows shows the app icon that is preventing shutdown.
  • Windows does not show the problem app’s icon. Instead, it shows a blank icon, which sometimes appears as a task host window with little to no information about the app that Windows is unable to close.

If you know which app is preventing shut down

If you can see the app icon that is preventing shutdown, simply close the app entirely before clicking “Shut Down” in Windows 10 or Windows 11. If the problem persists, you can decide what to do with the problem app, whether to remove it or investigate why it’s not closing correctly.

Closing 1 app and shutting down screen shows task host window or no icon

If you see a blank app icon or the task host window and have no idea which app or program is causing the issue, the only solution is to check the Event Log in Windows. Here’s how to view it:

Windows 10/11 Closing 1 App and Shutting Down task host window

  1. Go to the Start menu in Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  2. Search for “Event Viewer” or “Event Log” and open it.
  3. On the left pane, expand “Windows Logs” and click on “Application.”
  4. Look for the “information” that matches the date and time when you last saw the “Closing 1 app and shutting down” screen, with “Winsrv” as the source.
  5. Double-click on it, and you should see the name of the app or program that Windows failed to close on your last shut down attempt.
  1. Check which app is preventing shut down

Now that you have the .exe name of the application that is causing the issue, you can decide if you want to remove it or manually close the app every time before you shut down your PC.

Use Task Manager to force close unresponsive apps

If a problematic app is unresponsive and won’t close, you can use the Task Manager to force it to close.

  1. Press the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” keys to open the Task Manager.
  2. Look for the app that is causing the issue in the “Processes” or “Details” tab.
  3. Select the app and click on “End task” or “End process” to force it to close.

Once the app is closed, try shutting down your PC again to see if the problem has been resolved.

Useful tip: How to Force Close Program in Windows 11 without Task Manager

Check for Malware and Viruses

Malware and viruses can also cause issues with shutting down your PC. Make sure you have a good antivirus program installed and scan your PC for any threats.

  1. Open your antivirus program and run a full system scan.
  2. If any threats are detected, follow the instructions to remove them.
  3. Restart your PC and try shutting it down again to see if the problem has been resolved.

Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

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