Usually, while trying to shut down Windows, if a program remains unclosed, the operating system pops up a window asking to close the program or Shut down anyway. We could use either of the options to proceed. However, in some situations, a specific internal process could be prohibiting the shutdown/restart, and the user gets the error:
Task Host Window, Task Host is stopping background tasks
This usually occurs when there is an update file is preventing your PC from updating.
The tough part here is that that a Clean Boot cannot be attempted to troubleshoot the issue since the system cannot be restarted unless we force shut down it.
Task Host Window, Task Host is stopping background tasks
If Task Host Window prevents shutdown, these suggestions will help you fix the problem.
1] Try Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Click on the Start button and then on the gear-like symbol to open the Settings page.
- Select the option for Updates and Security and then click on the Troubleshoot tab to open the Troubleshooters Page.
- Scroll to find the Windows Update Troubleshooter in the list and run it.
If it fixes the issue, well and good, else proceed to the next step.
2] Restart InstallService Service
- Open Services Manager, scroll down and locate InstallService Service.
- Right-click on it and select Restart.
- Reboot your computer.
3] Change Sign-in option
Open Settings > Accounts. Now go to ‘Sign-In Options’ and scroll down to find ‘Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart’ under ‘Privacy’. Turn off this feature and see if it that works for you.
4] Turn Off Hybrid Shutdown/Fast Startup
While the Hybrid Shutdown/Fast Startup is used to speed up Windows, it might cause the issue mentioned here. Try the following steps to turn off Hybrid Shutdown/Fast Startup:
- Press Win+R to open the Run window and type the command powercfg.cpl.
- Among the options on the left-hand side, select “Choose what the power button does.”
- The click on the option “Change settings that are currently unavailable.”
- Uncheck “Turn on fast startup.”
5] Reduce shutdown time
Should all the solutions mentioned above fail, you could do the following:
Press Win + R to open the Run window and type the command regedit. Press Enter to open the registry editor.
Navigate to the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control
Right-click WaitToKillServiceTimeout in the right pane and change the value to 5000.
Now navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop
Again, right-click WaitToKillServiceTimeout in the right pane and change the value to 5000.
Setting this to a lower four-digit value, (say 5000) will make your PC shutdown faster, but you could end up losing data or cause possible disk corruption, so use this tweak judiciously. Remember, Windows does not, in any case, recognize a 3-digit numeral here.
The steps mentioned above should help resolve your issue.
What does it mean Task Host is stopping background tasks?
When you see “Task Host is stopping background tasks,” it indicates that Windows is completing tasks in the background before shutting down. This is a normal process where the system ensures all tasks are concluded safely. If it takes too long, you may need to intervene to close pending tasks manually.
What is Background Task Host suspended?
The “Background Task Host suspended” message refers to a state where the Background Task Host process in Windows, often tied to apps like Microsoft Store, becomes inactive or paused. This suspension usually reduces network activity and system resources usage, allowing the system to allocate resources to more active tasks and optimize performance.
