How to Fix Task Host Window Prevents Shut Down on Windows?

Windows Troubleshooting
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Originally published at: How to Fix Task Host Window Prevents Shut Down on Windows?

Task Host is a vital Windows system program that ensures all previously running programs are properly closed to prevent data and program corruption before a system shutdown. This function is crucial for maintaining the health of your system, as it safeguards against potential damage to programs and loss of data. For instance, if you have…

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Hi, and thanks for your help.
For me the solution was to disable the hibernate (or hybrid) shutdown option in the power management settings.
Last year i enabled that option, and everything was fine up to now.
For some reason (new software, new microsoft update…?), that option would now prevent me to shut down my PC and i would need to force the shutdown everytime.
If that option is “hidden”, it is probably because Microsoft know it can cause trouble…
I keep the fast start enabled, as recommanded by Microsoft.

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All of the method doesnt work! i need help, they keep appearing again aft 15 shutdown attempts…

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Thank you for this solution! Jesus H., I never realized I’d have to become a tech person, but without you and others like you, I’d throw my laptop out the window for good. Perfect solution to what I somehow knew was not a virus, but couldn’t figure out how to fix. Not a great way to start a Sat. Disabling the fast start up has made my computer start up faster. Go figure. Thanks again!

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Hi all, Had this problem for a quite a while, after much checking I found this solution in the forums, for me so far appears to work.

See below this text solution posted by AymanAskar on Dec 3rd 2017. Obviously dont mess with the registry unless you are confident with doing this.

Or…Another temporary solution, easier if you dont like registry edits, seems to work for most users with this problem, sign out as a user then sign back in. Do not restart or turn off. Then see if back to normal, on the downside you need to do this after each start. Below solution works until next Windows update which should correct the issue for all I hope.

AymanAskar quote:
Finally I GOT IT - I found a solution that fixed the issue for me and I think it should work for you and all who suffer from the problem. It is very easy.
Just by these steps :

1- Right click on start menu and click on Run. “For those who the start menu does not respond with right click, right click on taskbar - click on Task Manager - from File menu on the left upper
corner select Run new task”.

2-Write the command regedit and click Enter.

3- Go to path [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesWpnUserService].

4-Double click on Start from the right side.

5-Change the value data to 4 then OK.

6-Reboot.

That’s it.

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So you are saying that this option is to be turned off to fix this?

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I ran into this issue after updating to the Fall Update (1709) for both my Personal Desktop and my Work Dell Laptop. The only work around I found was to restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager or signing out and back in. When I signed out I would get
the “Task Host Window: microsoftwindowsplug and playdevice install reboot required”. After searching this I found a dutch (?) website (Problem bei der Anmeldung: Meine Anmeldeinfos verwenden, um die Geräteeinrichtung einem Update oder Neustart automatisch abzuschließen - Deskmodder.de).
Apparently Microsoft added a new option in the Accounts section in 1703 (Settings -> Accounts -> Sign-In Options) called “Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart.”. The dutch website says (according the google
translate) the option doesn’t really work and to turn this option off and it should fix the task bar/start menu issue. I am testing this on my desktop at the moment, shutting off/restarting my Desktop, and haven’t ran into the task bar/start menu issue yet.

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https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_desktop-insiderplat_pc/task-host-window/c47b5fca-cc6d-405e-b563-5ba0a4c82892?auth=1

Post By:- NguyenDex

Apparently Microsoft added a new option in the Accounts section in Windows 10 1703

(Settings -> Accounts -> Sign-In Options) called “Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart.”.

the option doesn’t really work and to turn this option off and it should fix the task host / task bar/start menu issue.

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Milliseconds, but you are correct in that it is a Time Value

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I guess the value at method 3 is in seconds…?

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Uninstalling KB5012170 fixed it for me. But now this update has reappeared in Windows Updates, so not sure whether to risk installing it again.

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If you recently installed Microsoft Office, remove it. Use Libra Office instead. Removing Microsoft Office immediately ended this problem for me.

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Yes!

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It is not a solution, you simply turned off the notifications, these for many users are necessary

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Thank you so much for your input! We will add this to our article soon.

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Correction to my last post: the solution was not to disable the hibernate option, but to disable the fast start option, reboot the PC and re enable the fast start option…I believe it resets the parameters of the fast start that is stuck with some dead link.

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Try This:
1- Right click on start menu and click on Run. “For those who the start menu does not respond with right click, right click on taskbar - click on Task Manager - from File menu on the left upper
corner select Run new task”.

2-Write the command regedit and click Enter.

3- Go to path [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesWpnUserService].

4-Double click on Start from the right side.

5-Change the value data to 4 then OK.

6-Reboot.

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I updated the article, see the last method. Thank you for the tip.

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Correct