Windows 11 23H2: Problems with Sleep and Shutdown after January Patch Day

Microsoft has admitted to problems with computers running Windows 11 23H2 after the installation of the January Patch Day Windows security updates. These may prevent them from shutting down or switching to power-saving modes.

Microsoft has now published this in the Windows Release Health notes. “After installing the January 13, 2026, Windows security updates for Windows 11 23H2, PCs with 'Secure Boot' enabled may no longer be able to shut down or enter sleep mode,” the developers write. “Instead, the devices will restart.” The “Secure Boot” uses virtualization-based security to protect the system from firmware-level threats during the boot process.

According to Microsoft, the update causing the issue, with Knowledge Base number KB5073455, is exclusively offered in the Enterprise and IoT versions of Windows 11 23H2. The KB entry does mention changes affecting 'Secure Boot' – however, these are related to the distribution of new certificates for 'Secure Boot'.

Microsoft names temporary workaround

To shut down the computers successfully nonetheless, affected users should open a command prompt, for example, by typing “cmd” in the search bar or start menu and clicking on “cmd” in the results, according to Microsoft. There, entering the command shutdown /s /t 0 will shut down the computer as desired. Microsoft explicitly has no workaround for sleep mode. Until the problem is resolved, affected users should ensure they save their work and shut down the computer in a controlled manner after work to prevent, for example, the device's battery from draining instead of the device going to sleep.

This is already the second error confirmed by Microsoft that the January updates can cause on Windows computers. It became known on Thursday that Windows app connections to Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 are disrupted after the installation of the security patches.

(dmk)