Mystery app preventing Windows 10 shutdown after update.

I was trying to help but you have, apparently, solved your problem. Good to know.

Thanks PJF, but you've misunderstood my post ---- I have NOT "solved" the problem; I have merely found an explanation.  The "solution" has to be found by Microsoft, whose "update" caused the system to misinterpret a background process as an application  Until that happens, other background processes (besides SMS Listo or Brother printers) will continue to be misinterpreted as applications.

I was trying to help but you have, apparently, solved your problem. Good to know.

Well, actually, the update IS part of the problem ----- the update apparently has confused the system into thinking that a process is actually the whole app.  This misidentification of app is what is causing the erroneous message that an app is running, when it is only a process of that app.  In my case, I had SMS Listo running on my Windows 10 with no problems at all ---- but after the update, a background process of SMS Listo was then considered the whole app, which Windows could not shut down, because it was trying to shut down an app, which, of course, was not running.

I HAD this exact problem - "Closing 1 App . . .". When searching to resolve this annoying issue, I came across your thread and have read it end-to-end. I don't know if my solution will help because I believe mention of attached printers (hardware) is among the many possible causes of the 'running app' message complicating shutting down or restarting one's system. I too labored over the Task Manager listings and some of the many other suggestions listed in your thread. Eventually, I turned to other explanations that might cause this problem which began for me too only recently. I had done only one thing to my system lately - I attached a Brother label printer. As a test, I disconnected it and presto, when I shut down my system, the message was gone.

I'm no computer wizard by a long shot but the Windows updates were not the cause behind the arrival of the pesky 'running app' on my system. The cause was my installing and connecting the Brother label printer. To be more specific, I had a great Brother label printer that I broke. Because I liked it so much, I bought another; same brand, same model. I unpacked it and hooked it up. I took the chance that it would work properly because it was identical to the previous one and it was employing the same drivers and editing app. The printer worked and still works fine. BUT  apparently something must have been amiss as the pesky "Closing 1 App . . ." message arrived when shutting down. I intend to uninstall the existing drivers and follow the expected installation protocols and all should be well. I hope your efforts to resolve this issue on your system prove successful soon. Like you, I love technology - when it works.

Yes, I am having the same non-occasional "App still running...' when ever I shut down my HP laptop shortly after one of Microsoft's Windows 10 updates.  I'm joining this message stream a little late but I agree 100% that we should not have to choose "Shutdown Anyway" when shutting down!

Thanks HSB42 --- Still another report of the same after-update problem.  To get an idea how common this problem is, consider that this thread has had over 6,000 views. It is obvious that Microsoft has introduced some sort of code which interferes with proper recognition of what is an "app" and what isn't ----- don't hold your breath waiting for them to correct it.