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How to fix shutdown options only showing lock

Corey Noble 0 Reputation points
2025-11-18T17:02:01.4566667+00:00

I have a laptop that I bought a few months ago and it's running on Windows 11.

Recently, I've noticed that the power button after pressing the Windows button only shows the "Lock" option, and not the Shut Down or Restart option as it used to. I don't normally shut my computer down as I am a student and often have assignments open through the night so I can get to it the next morning. I think that it is from respondus lockdown browser because this occurred after an exam I took yesterday

Microsoft 365 and Office | Other
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  1. DaveM121 883.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-18T17:40:28.6166667+00:00

    You are correct the LockDown browser is know to cause this problem.

    1

    If you still need to have that browser installed, on your Desktop, if you press Alt + F4, does that open the Shut Down dialog on your Desktop to allow you to shut the PC down?

    2

    If you no longer need the Lockdown browser installed, uninstall it, force your PC to restart and check if that resolves the problem, if not, please let me know and I will provide you with a solution to restore the settings that browser removed form Windows.

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  2. AI answer

    2025-11-18T17:02:48.3+00:00

    It seems that the issue you're experiencing with the power button only showing the "Lock" option instead of the Shut Down or Restart options could be related to specific policy settings in Windows. Here are a couple of things you can check:

    1. Group Policy Settings: If your laptop is managed by an organization (like a school), there might be group policies in place that restrict access to the Shut Down and Restart options. You may want to check with your IT department or administrator.
    2. Local Group Policy Editor: If you have access to the Local Group Policy Editor, you can check the settings related to the Start Menu and Taskbar. Look for policies that might hide or disable the Shut Down options.
    3. Registry Settings: Sometimes, registry settings can affect the visibility of these options. If you're comfortable with editing the registry, you can check the following key:
      • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
      • Look for values like NoClose or HidePowerOptions and ensure they are set to 0 or deleted.
    4. Respondus LockDown Browser: Since you mentioned that this issue occurred after using the Respondus LockDown Browser, it might have altered some settings. Try restarting your laptop to see if the options return.
    5. System Updates: Ensure that your Windows 11 is up to date, as updates can sometimes resolve unexpected issues.

    If none of these solutions work, you may want to consider performing a system restore to a point before the issue began or contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance.

    References:

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