Are you faced with the “Task Host is stopping background tasks” message while attempting to shut down or restart your Windows device? Take a breath, mate! This is a classic Windows issue that has affected a number of users. It usually crops up when some malicious apps or resource-hungry programs try to block the operating system from shutting down properly.
Though things like misconfigured system settings, corrupted system files, and conflicting third-party apps are the major reasons why it occurs, there are several other nefarious culprits that contribute to this vexing error. In this in-depth troubleshooting guide, I’m going to break down the 17 thoroughly tested solutions to fix Task Host is stopping background tasks” in Windows 11. Keep reading to…
Fix Task Host is Stopping Background Tasks in Windows 11
To begin with, take a close look at the major reasons why the “Task Host is Stopping Background Tasks” Issue raises its head on a Windows device.
- Pending Windows updates
- Corrupted system files
- Fast Startup enabled
- Background processes running
- Outdated device drivers
- Malware or virus infections
- Third-party software conflicts
- Power settings misconfiguration
- Startup program interference
- Automatic maintenance tasks
- Group policy restrictions
- Hybrid sleep mode enabled
When attempting to troubleshoot a problem, it’s better to have a clear understanding of the roadblocks so that you can look for ways to either circumvent the hurdles or eliminate them.
1. Restart Your Computer
Be aware of the fact that temporary glitches or incomplete shutdowns may force Windows to keep certain background processes active. Restarting your computer will help immediately remove the temporary cache and reset system states. Moreover, it will also allow your Windows device to close pending tasks without any hiccups.
- On your PC, navigate to the Start menu > Power > Restart.
- Now, make sure to wait for your PC to reboot and check if the issue is gone.
2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
Bear in mind that the issues with pending or incomplete Windows updates have a long history of preventing the system from shutting down properly by keeping services running. But fret not! This is where the builtin Windows Update troubleshooter comes in handy in detecting and resolving such conflicts automatically.
- On your Windows 11 device, launch the Settings app > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find and run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
- Then, be sure to follow the on-screen instructions in order to eliminate the detected threats.
3. Disable Fast Startup
Fast Startup is super handy in speeding up the boot time by partially hibernating the system. However, in some cases, it might stop the background processes from closing properly, resulting in persistent shutdown issues. Therefore, disabling it might allow a full shutdown process on your PC.
- Open the Control Panel and head over to Power Options.
- After that click “Choose what the power buttons do.”
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
- In the end, do not forget to click Save changes and restart your computer.
4. Check for Windows Updates
Outdated system files might be interfering with the background processes, leading to improper shutdowns. Hence, updating your system will ensure compatibility.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- Download and install any available updates.
- Once you have installed the latest update, restart your computer.
5. End Background Processes Manually
At times, certain programs, such as antivirus tools or third-party apps, do not close automatically, which hinders the system from shutting down. In such a situation, manually ending tools/apps can ensure a clean shutdown.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Under the Processes tab, locate running apps.
- Then, right-click unnecessary processes and hit the End Task button at the top.
6. Perform a Clean Boot
Never fail to keep a close eye on third-party services and startup programs as they love to interfere with Windows processes. Performing a clean boot can let you diagnose and remove the non-essential applications that are causing shutdown delays.
- To get going, press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Then, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
- Navigate to the Services tab.
- Check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
- Go to the Startup tab in Task Manager and disable startup apps.
- Restart your computer.
7. Scan for Malware
We all know that malware infections excel in manipulating system processes and blocking the path of background tasks as well as preventing them from closing. Hence, scanning for malware can be the need of the hour as it will help remove harmful files affecting shutdown.
- Open the Settings app on your PC > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
- Click Quick scan, or choose Full scan for a deeper check.
- After that, go ahead to wipe out any detected threats and restart your PC.
8. Run System File Checker (SFC) Scan
Note that the corrupted system files may prevent Windows from terminating processes correctly. The SFC scan can enable you to check and restore missing or corrupted files.
- Launch the Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
- Next up, wait for the process to complete, and then reboot your computer.
9. Run DISM Commands
DISM is blessed with the exceptional ability to repair Windows images and resolve system inconsistencies caused by corrupted Windows updates or installations. Running these commands ensures a healthy system state.
- On your computer, fire up the Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Up next, run the following commands one by one.
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Restart the computer once you have successfully run all the above commands.
10. Update Device Drivers
Outdated or incompatible drivers have the habit of causing the hardware-related services to stay active, which often comes in the way of the full shutdown. Thus, updating drivers will help resolve such conflicts.
- Right-click the Start menu and launch Device Manager.
- Now, expand each hardware category (e.g., Display Adapters, Network Adapters).
- Next, you need to right-click and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
11. Modify Power Plan Settings
Wrongly configured power settings might conflict with system shutdown protocols, causing tasks to linger. Hence, resetting the power plan settings to the default state will ensure proper shutdown behavior on your PC.
- Open Control Panel > Power Options > Balanced (recommended).
- Click Change plan settings > Click Restore default settings and confirm the action > Reboot your Windows PC.
12. Turn Off Hybrid Sleep
Hybrid sleep mode is designed to seamlessly combine sleep and hibernate functions. While it’s a pretty useful feature, it can, at times, prevent shutdown by keeping processes active in memory. That’s why disabling it can play a vital role in avoiding conflicts.
- Open Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
- Now, expand Sleep and choose “Allow hybrid sleep”.
- Next, set it to Off.
13. Disable Automatic Maintenance
Windows automatic maintenance tasks work efficiently and run in the background to ensure your ongoing work is not affected. If this feature is active, try turning it off in order to keep the unwanted interference at a fair distance.
- Open Control Panel > Security and Maintenance > Change maintenance settings.
- Now, you have to uncheck Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time.
14. Check Event Viewer Logs
On Windows 11, Event Viewer offers logs related to shutdown errors, allowing you to recognize and troubleshoot the cause effectively.
- To check the event viewer logs, press Win + X and select Event Viewer.
- Navigate to Windows Logs > System.
- Find the errors related to the shutdown. Identify the conflicting elements and remove them.
15. Disable Startup Programs
It’s worth pointing out that some startup programs (especially the greedy ones that wish to eat into a lot of resources) may conflict with Windows processes and block the proper shutdown. Hence, entirely disabling redundant apps and programs can help resolve this issue.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and head into the Startup tab.
- Right-click on the useless apps and select Disable.
16. Check Group Policy Settings
Note that Group Policy settings might bring into effect certain policies that delay or block shutdown operations on Windows 11. Therefore, I would recommend you thoroughly review settings in order to spot the culprits and eliminate them.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog and type gpedit.msc. Then, press Enter.
- After that, head over to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Shutdown Options.
- Next, make sure that the policies allow shutdown without delays on your PC.
17. Reset Power Settings to Default
Bear in mind that the ill-configured power settings are equally responsible for this chaos as they tend to prevent the closing of background tasks. But bother not, resetting the power settings to the default state ensures normal power behavior.
- On your PC, open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type: powercfg –restore default schemes and press Enter.
- Now, restart your computer.
Wrapping up…
That’s pretty much it! I hope the task host is no longer blocking the background tasks on your PC. Feel free to share your feedback and the solution that has managed to drive away this super annoying error for you.
