Summary

Is your Windows laptop or PC shutting down unexpectedly?

If you’re frustrated by this problem, try these solutions.

Using a PC?

A woman using a laptop with a blue screen that appears when windows randomly shut down and an alert symbol on the front of the laptop

Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek |Alex Photo Stock/Shutterstock

Therefore, check that the power cable is securely plugged in at both ends.

If you use a UPS to manage power outages, ensure it’s not faulty and supplies stable power.

Also, if you’reoverclocking your CPU, turn off overclocking, as it could lead to similar issues.

Person holding a removable laptop battery

Jordan Gloor / How-To Geek

If the problem doesn’t occur when using a direct power supply, the battery is probably faulty.

Try some of the remaining fixes instead.

This happens because computers have a protection mechanism that kicks in to prevent damage to hardware components.

Disabling Fast Startup in Control Panel

To confirm that overheating is the issue, run less intensive tasks that don’t cause overheating.

You cansee which program is using up system resourcesin the Task Manager.

By doing so, you could prevent the recurrence of the same problem.

Windows 11 Update Drivers window highlighting ‘Browse my computer for drivers’ option.

Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a handy feature that accelerates gadget boot speed.

You should temporarily turn it off to rule out Fast Startup as the primary culprit for random shutdowns.

To do so, typeControl Panelinto the Windows Search bar and open it.

Windows 11 Edit Plan Settings window highlighting ‘Change advanced power settings’ option.

To check this,calculate the wattage draw of your computerbased on the specifications of installed components.

If this required wattage is less than your PSU’s wattage, you’re fine.

However, if it exceeds your PSU’s capacity, you need toupgrade your PSU.

Changing the low battery action in power settings.

you might do this byperforming a jumper test.

If the PSU isn’t working as it should, you’ll have to replace it.

Also, if the storage drive housing your operating system is faulty, it could cause the same problem.

So,run a S.M.A.R.T.

testto check its health and ensure it’s working as it should.

Update Drivers

Faulty drivers could also cause random shutdowns.

To rule out this possible, typeDevice Managerin Windows Search and open gear Manager.

So, you oughta update it or reinstall it from scratch.

To do that, download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

If the driver comes as an executable file, simply run it to install.

Otherwise, manually update the driver via equipment Manager.

Right-choose the driver and select “Update Driver.”

To do this, typeControl Panelin the Windows Search bar and open it.

Then, hit “Change Advanced Power parameters.”