Windows 10: soui_dummy_wnd

While Restart or shutdown Windows Laptop/PC getting This app is preventing shutdown Windows 10? Or an unknown app preventing shutdown windows 10 PC every time While restarting or shutdown. Normally when you shut down your system, Task Host ensures that programs previously running were closed properly to avoid data and program corruption. If due to any reason still any application running on background this will prevent Windows 10 from shutdown with showing following message like:

Closing apps and shutting down/restarting

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

This app is preventing shutdown.

The options are Shut down anyway and Cancel.


This app is preventing shutdown windows 10
Fix This app is preventing shutdown Windows 10

Technically, it is recommended to close all running programs before you initiate shutdown/reboot. However, if you feel that no programs were running prior to you shutting down, And this occurs every time, then follow the steps/methods below.

Run Power troubleshooter: First run the build in windows power troubleshooter, to check and fix if any power related bug prevents windows form shutdown. This is optional but sometimes its very helpful. Simply type Troubleshoot in start menu search and hit enter key. Scroll down and look for Power, Click on it and run the Troubleshooter. This will check and fix if any Power related problem causing the issue.

Run System file checker: Again if system files get corrupted, This may cause unnecessary services/ applications to run on the background which prevents windows from shutdown and display message like unknown app preventing shutdown windows 10. Simply run the SFC utility to make sure corrupted system files not causing the issue. To do this open command prompt as administrator type sfc /scannow and hit enter key. Wait until 100% complete the scanning process, After that restart windows and check. If SFC scan results unable to repair corrupted system files then run the DISM command which scan and repair system image. After that again run SFC utility.

Clean Boot: Putting your system in Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue.

Disable Fast Startup: Press Windows + R, type powercfg.cpl and click ok to open power options. Click on Choose what the power buttons does from the left pane. Then choose Change settings that are currently unavailable. Click Yes if the User Account Control warning appears. Now in the Shutdown settings section, clear the check next to Turn on fast startup (recommended) to disable it. Click the Save changes button, And restart windows check there is no more app preventing shutdown windows 10.

Modifying Account Settings ( Applicable windows 10 V1709 and later only ): Press Windows + S to launch the search bar. Type “account” in the dialogue box. Open the first relevant result which comes forth. Once in the account settings, navigate to “Sign-in options” and uncheck (turn off) the option “Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart”. Restart your computer and check if the problem has solved.

Tweak registry editor to fix unknown app preventing shutdown
If all above methods fail to fix the issue and still getting unknown app preventing shutdown windows 10 on every shutdown/restart. Let’s tweak windows registry to fix this problem.

Tweak 01:

Press Windows + R, type regedit and ok to open windows registry editor. First Backup registry database and navigate to following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control. In the right pane, double-click on WaitToKillServiceTimeout. Set the Value data to 500 or less. Click OK to save changes. Restart windows and check.


registry Tweak to fix this app is preventing shutdown
Tweak 2

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. In the right pane, right click the empty space and choose New >DWORD Value. Rename the newly created DWORD (REG_DWORD) as AutoEndTasks. Double click on it and change its value 1 As show image below.


registry Tweak to fix this app is preventing shutdown
That’s all, Close registry editor and restart windows, Check there is no more App preventing shutdown windows 10. Still, have any query, suggestion feel free to discuss in comments below. Also, read BSOD Bug Delay windows 10 spring creators update v1803 !!!