Mystery app preventing Windows 10 shutdown after update.

you know what, on XP and 7, on occasion, I had that happen, it eventually stopped. I just spent that split 1/2 second to press the button force them/it closed and didn't give it another thought.

That analogy for the car to this, is a little off kilter. But I understand the point you are making.

Thank you for sharing your memories of similar (but nevertheless only occasional) experiences with XP and 7 and for regaling us with the tale of your almost Buddhist-like acceptance in the face of minor adversity.  Happily for you, the occasional experiences eventually stopped. Perhaps you have failed to understand that my experience with this issue is consistent and on-going. It is NOT "occasional" and it has NOT "eventually stopped".

I am mystified by your comment that my analogy is "a little off kilter". In both cases an operation which had formerly required one operation now requires two operations.

I'd be interested to know how many others have experienced this issue with Microsoft's system update of approximately one month ago.  If there are no others, perhaps the fault lies in my computer. If there are others, the fault lies with the update.

Alan,

I am having the exact same issue (including all of your screenshots and the exact same icon you show in your picture).  I completely agree that it is not only annoying, but it hinders any updates or other processes that require a restart. This issue subsequently holds up the restart and shutdown process which at times I have requested in advance through an installation or update process.  Instead of me coming back to my computer with the process completed, I instead have to click the "Shut Down/Restart Anyway" button which should NOT be necessary, and then sit and wait for something that should have been done if this error had not occurred.  This has actually in turn wasted hours of my time so far, and prevented me from both getting tasks done in a reasonable amount of time and even kept me up late at night multiple times when I could have already gone to sleep.  It's not just a "half-a-second", one extra step issue.

As for those that want to waste their time constantly repeating back with how it's no big deal, I request they stop wasting their time and ours, and stop filling up the resolution discussion forum with a bunch of wasted space of junk filled, worthless babble just to act as though they are somehow superior and above the error (which they aren't even experiencing I might add).  An error is an error.  The software is not working properly, essentially the definition of a system error. This forum is here, at least in part, to discuss and discover a solution to errors that are occurring with Microsoft software.  If you cannot be a part of that solution, I respectfully request that you do not waste everyone's time with your reply. How you FEEL about it is not important, useful, and means NOTHING to those experiencing the error which again, by definition, should not be occurring and should be brought to Microsoft's attention so that it can be fixed for all those experiencing it.

Alan, I hope you and everyone else that responded as having the same problem have been successful at getting the issue resolved.  I am waiting for my computer to do the update which was prevented by this error, and hope this update will finally be the solution needed to resolve it.

Thank you Alan for all of the time and effort you have taken to post about this error, and all of the follow-up screenshots to help get to the bottom of it for all of us experiencing it as well.  I am sorry you had the unnecessary, pointless added annoyance and frustration from those discussed above.

Since a Windows 10 update a few weeks ago, when I go to shut down, it says it is closing and there is an app running  ------- but there is no app running   So I wait for it to close that nonexistent app, and after a few minutes, I am back to the computer being ready to work, not shutting down. When will a new update fix this?  Yesterday's update did not fix this. It is not a serious problem, but it is annoying to have to click "Shut down anyway" to really shut down.  What is this app that hides itself and won't quit?

[Moved from Windows / Windows 10 / Windows update, recovery, & backup]

Alan, I also have had the exact same problem. It also started after one of the Windows Updates. In my case the app that was causing the problem on shutdown is a background process for my Brother printer. Whenever is start windows, about 15 seconds later the Brother Help Window appears in the lower right of my screen. If I close that little window before shutting down Windows I don't get the message. If I do not close the Brother help window before shutting down I do get the message.

Ed --- Thanks for your reply. In my case, I'm not hooked up to a Brother printer (or any printer, for that matter), but my problem was solved when I reinstalled windows 10  in response to another (and unrelated) problem, which turned out to be caused by a defective mouse --- it's amazing the problems that can be caused by defective mice or even keyboards. In any case, it looks like windows updates can have unforeseen consequences which haven't been thought through by the "developers"

Since a Windows 10 update a few weeks ago, when I go to shut down, it says it is closing and there is an app running  ------- but there is no app running   So I wait for it to close that nonexistent app, and after a few minutes, I am back to the computer being ready to work, not shutting down. When will a new update fix this?  Yesterday's update did not fix this. It is not a serious problem, but it is annoying to have to click "Shut down anyway" to really shut down.  What is this app that hides itself and won't quit?

[Moved from Windows / Windows 10 / Windows update, recovery, & backup]

Alan, I also have had the exact same problem. It also started after one of the Windows Updates. In my case the app that was causing the problem on shutdown is a background process for my Brother printer. Whenever is start windows, about 15 seconds later the Brother Help Window appears in the lower right of my screen. If I close that little window before shutting down Windows I don't get the message. If I do not close the Brother help window before shutting down I do get the message.

Hello Crossword667,

As discussed in this thread, an unknown background program is preventing your Windows 10 system from shutting down. That being said, I'll need more information to properly address your concern. Please verify the following:

• Can you tell me all of the troubleshooting steps you've tried so far? Kindly list down the steps you've done so far so we can avoid repeats.
• Is your Windows 10 device up to date?
• Can you tell me the current OS Build of your Windows 10 device? You can find this information by clicking the Start button, type About your PC, press Enter, and then scroll down to Windows specifications.

If you haven't tried it yet, I advise performing a clean boot to determine which background program is causing the issue. This operation starts your Windows device by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you shut down your computer. I included the article on how to perform a clean boot in my previous response last April 15.

Let us know how it goes.

We appreciate you getting back to us with the added information.

The app that prevents your device from shutting down is most likely part of the updated system or could also be part of the security certificates that was installed after you performed Windows Update. We can determine which specific app is that by ending the task of the same icon in the Task Manager. However, let's try to run the System File Checker tool first to fix and correct any improper settings in your computer system. Please note of the result.

We would like to ask for the screenshot of the shut down page where it says that there's an app which prevents you from shutting down, and also the screenshot of your Task Manager under the Process tab. This is for us to have a better picture of the issue and determine the appropriate advice.

Additionally, we also suggest that you run Power troubleshooter for possible help. To do that, simply type troubleshoot in the search field or Cortana, click on it in the search result, click on Power, then click on the Run the troubleshooter button.

Any update from you is highly appreciated.

Thank you, Lawrence Lib, for your reply.

I would first of all like to repeat (for the 3rd time) that the task manager does NOT reveal the name of this mysterious anonymous app. The only app listed as running is the Task Manager itself. Attaching screen shot of this.

Thanks also for your suggestion on using the System File Checker tool. Here is the result:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.16299.248]

(c) 2017 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 10.0.16299.15

Image Version: 10.0.16299.248

[==========================100.0%==========================] The restore operation completed successfully.

The operation completed successfully.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Thanks also for suggesting the Power Troubleshooter. The results are here:

As for a screenshot of the Shutdown screen, you may not be aware of this but the normal manner of obtaining a screenshot ("Printscreen") does not work on a Shutdown screen. If there is another method, please let me know. In the meantime, here is a transcription of that screen:

"Closing 1 app and shutting down.

To go back and save your work,click cancel and finish what you need to do.

This app* is preventing shutdown

Shutdown anyway (clickable rectangle) Cancel (clickable rectangle)"

Neither the System File Checker tool nor the Power troubleshooter had any effect. I still have the same annoying problem.

*(As I've mentioned mentioned before, no right or left clicking or hovering reveals the named of "this app").

I am having the SAME problem as AlanD1948 and I am frustrated that when I receive updates  they never install automatically since they are set to do overnight and the system does not seem to be able to shut itself down without me being available to tell it to restart anyway when the mystery running app does not close. AlanD1948 sent you a great deal of information in his last post in February and there seems to be no additional response from Microsoft. Did I miss something. This is very frustrating as it happens both on my laptop and my work computer.