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UPDATE 1/19: Microsoft has rolled out a fix for a bug that prevents some users from shutting down or putting their Windows 11 computer to sleep.
The update, titled KB5077797, was released by Microsoft on Jan. 17 to address the ongoing issues. You can find the new patch in the Windows Update Catalog to fix your device, and Microsoft has shared steps for anyone who has an issue installing it.
Original Story 1/16:
A new bug introduced in Windows 11 earlier this week may prevent you from shutting down your computer or putting it to sleep. Instead, the devices restart, potentially causing some users to lose progress on ongoing projects.
Microsoft confirmed the issue today in a Windows release health update, as spotted by Bleeping Computer. The problem stems from a bug in the KB5073455 update that began rolling out on Jan. 13, but it affects only Windows 11 Enterprise or IoT editions.
The user must also be using a security feature called System Guard Secure Launch to be impacted. Secure Launch is a protection feature first introduced in Windows 10. It uses Dynamic Root of Trust for Measurement tech during startup to better protect against firmware-level threats.
If you have been affected by this bug, Microsoft shared a workaround to try while it works on a future update to fix the problem. Before attempting it, be sure to save any ongoing work you may not want to lose, as this process will shut down your computer.
Microsoft suggests typing cmd into the Search bar and selecting Command Prompt from the results. Enter shutdown /s /t 0 in the Command Prompt window to allow your computer to shut down normally.
There’s no workaround to use hibernation mode on a Windows 11 device with this bug onboard. You’ll have to wait for Microsoft to manually fix the problem; it's unclear how long that will take.