Laptop Keeps Shutting Down and Startup - Why & How to Fix

Larissa updated on May 20, 2024 to Computer Instruction | How-to Articles

If your laptop keeps shutting down and startup, there are multiple reasons you need to address. The post tells you the potential reasons for the random shutdown and startups and discusses working ways to fix the problem.

👨‍🔧"Hi, my PC keeps shutting down and restarting by itself. It used to shut down and start once or twice a week, but now I can't even open my PC. As soon as it boots, it goes off and restarts by itself. Help me fix this?" 

Laptops usually shut down and startup if you are due updates over a long time. But if the computer keeps shutting down and starting randomly, it could be for multiple reasons. At first, it feels like a common problem; if it persists, it could lead to data loss. The post tells you the potential reasons and solutions to fix the laptop that keeps shutting down and startup issues.

What Causes Laptop Keeps Shutting Down and Startup

If the computer turns off randomly, there could be one or more reasons leading to it. We cannot find the exact reasons, but here are a few reasons that could trouble the startup cycle of your Laptop.

  • ♨️Overheating: Overheating is a bane for laptops, as the heat gets stuck around the laptop and takes time to go.
  • 💻Hardware issues: If your motherboard or any hardware is damaged, the functions dependent on it tend to malfunction.
  • 💾Corrupt or outdated Device Drivers: Device drivers act as a communication medium between the hardware and software. Any tampering or damage likely leads to issues.
  • 🔋Battery: Laptops require batteries with specific ratings and voltage. If you are using adapters with low or high voltage, they will damage the battery.
  • 🚀Fast Startup: Fast Startup is enabled by default on laptops to reduce booting time. However, it can cause random Windows 10 shutdown issues.
  • 🦠Malware or Virus: If your device is affected by a virus or malware, it can cause errors on the laptop. Run a full scan using Windows Defender to remove the virus on the device.

👍Bonus Tip: Backup Your Laptop to Prevent Any Data Loss

Most of the reasons for the malfunctioning of the laptop can potentially result in data loss if you don't protect it. Creating a system image backup and keeping it on another hard drive or cloud helps you retrieve it in an emergency. However, data backups are sensitive, and you need reliable software like EaseUS Todo Backup to create copies safely.

Todo Backup is a free backup solution that protects Windows users' data. Advanced backup methods, bootable USB drives, safe cloning, and more. If your laptop shuts down frequently, download and protect your data now with EaseUS Todo Backup.

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It is always a good idea to back up Windows before any Windows operation.

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Working Ways to Fix Laptop Keeps Shutting Down and Startup

Now that we know why laptops behave abnormally, let's examine ways to tackle and solve these issues based on causes.

1. Broken Fans/Overheating

Overheating is a common issue and a bane to computers. That is why all computers have built-in mechanisms to shut down if hardware components become too hot. Do not overwork your hardware components, especially while playing games to avoid overheating.

Also, ensure the laptop/computer fans are in good working condition. If the heat has nowhere to go, it will impact the working. First, check out what is responsible for the heat not dissipating from the PC.

If you hear your fans squealing, clean the video card, processor, and case fans to see if they remove the heat properly. Replace the broken ones, clear the laptop vents, and try to limit the usage of the system to reduce heat generation.

2. Hardware Issues

Hardware tends to underperform over the years and is likely to be damaged if the pressure is more than it can handle. Hardware failures are pretty standard, especially on refurbished computers. An excellent way to check for hardware faults is to open the Device Manager. If you see any errors, start looking for solutions to resolve them. You can either replace or repair the hardware. Physical damage to the internal components of laptops can also be an issue. 

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3. GPU or CPU Overclocking

If Overclocking is ON on your laptop, it will destabilize the system for intensive activities requiring more CPU resources. It will directly affect gaming, video processing, and opening too many tabs or apps. Disable GPU/CPU overclocking on your computer and check if the random shutdown disappears.

4. Fault or Outdated Device Drivers

Laptops and PCs have many components, and the one factor that binds the hardware and software to perform activities on the device is drivers. If your device drivers are outdated or faulty, laptops keep shutting down and starting. The computer will permanently shut down if the drivers are incompatible, defective, or crashing.

If you think the drivers are outdated, you need to update them. Download the latest drivers from official manufacturers like Nvidia or AMD. Here's how to update the drivers on your laptop/PC.

Step 1: Open Device Manager on your laptop/PC.

Step 2. You can find all the device drivers here, from display adapters to firmware and network adapters. 

Step 3. Expand the drivers, right-click on the driver you want to update, and click Update driver.

🧩Related Post: What to Do If Computer Turns Off and On Repeatedly

5. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup helps the PC boot faster after the shutdown, but the feature is known to cause many issues on Windows 10, such as random shutdowns. Rather than completely shutting down the PC, the fast startup keeps the current system state in the hibernation file. On startup, it does not use the kernel, system files, or drivers but will directly read the file to reduce the boot time.

While the feature is designed to boot up, the approach keeps the OS working restlessly, causing several issues on the PC, such as computers boots randomly. We can disable the Fast Startup to see if the laptop keeps shutting down and the startup disappears.

Step 1: Open the Control panel with Windows search.

Step 2. Open Power Options and click Choose what the power buttons do.

Step 3. Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable and disable the Turn on fast startup.

Step 4. Click Save Changes.

6. Faulty Charger, Battery or Power Supply

If you game a lot or do creative work involving heavy video processing and your laptop shuts off randomly, the problem could be a charger or power connector. All the devices have recommended charging ranges. Any charger with a high or low-voltage source will cause the device to malfunction. 

Games and editing are the parameters most discussed when testing the processors and overall PC performance. The laptop behaves abnormally if the power supply or laptop battery fails to aid the performance. A similar thing can be observed on PCs with damaged power supply.

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Sum Up

Many times, we force laptops and PCs to overwork. Even for high-end PCs, laptop shutting down and startup issues cannot be overlooked. The post details the reasons and working fixes to solve the problem and get your computer back to working like normal.

Data loss is a significant setback for users whose laptops randomly shut off. To keep data secure, one must back up data with advanced options. EaseUS Todo Backup intends to do that with advanced backup solutions and instant recovery.

EaseUS Todo Backup

It is always a good idea to back up Windows before any Windows operation.

Free Download

Secure Download

FAQs about Laptop Keeps Shutting Down and Startup

1. How do I fix my laptop from restarting randomly?

If the laptop keeps restarting, check out the things below:

  • 1. Disable fast startup.
  • 2. Check the power connection.
  • 3. Update the drivers.
  • 4. Turn off Automatic Restart.
  • 5. Download the latest Windows OS.

2. Can faulty RAM cause random reboots?

Yes, RAM causes random reboots. Issues like blue screens of death, screen freezing, file corruption, and restarts result from bad RAM.

3. How to tell if the power supply is bad or the motherboard?

An inadequate power supply and a faulty motherboard have similar symptoms, like random shutdowns and the computer not turning on. If you see any physical damage, hear sounds, or see error messages on the PC, it is due to the motherboard. For the power supply, random reboots are clear indications.