How to Enable or Disable Shutdown Event Tracker in Windows 10


Shutdown Event Tracker is a tool that prompts users to record a reason why they restart or shut down the computer. This information is available for review in the event log.

When Shutdown Event Tracker is enabled, users cannot shut down or restart the computer without providing a reason. If the computer is shut down or restarted unexpectedly, either as a result of power interruption or hardware failure, the first user to sign in when the computer is started again is prompted to enter a reason in Shutdown Event Tracker.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Shutdown Event Tracker for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Shutdown Event Tracker.

This is an example of a shutdown event log with the selected reason and comment (Alt+F4) given by a user.

 CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Shutdown Event Tracker in Group Policy
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Shutdown Event Tracker using a REG file

EXAMPLE: "Shutdown Event Tracker" from Power menu and Alt+F4

OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Shutdown Event Tracker in Group Policy

Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option TWO below.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System

3. In the right pane of System in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Display Shutdown Event Tracker policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (disable) or step 6 (enable) below for what you would like to do.

 5. To Disable Shutdown Event Tracker

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.

 6. To Enable Shutdown Event Tracker

A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Always in the Shutdown Event Tracker should be displayed drop down, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Shutdown Event Tracker using a REG file

The .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD values in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Reliability

ShutdownReasonOn DWORD
ShutdownReasonUI DWORD

<delete> = Disable
1 = Enable

---

1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

 2. To Enable Shutdown Event Tracker

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_Shutdown_Event_Tracker.reg

Download

 3. To Disable Shutdown Event Tracker

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_Shutdown_Event_Tracker.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Restart the Computer in Windows 10
• How to Shut Down the Computer in Windows 10
• How to Read Shutdown Event Logs in Windows
• How to Play Sound at Shutdown in Windows 10
• How to Allow or Prevent Users and Groups to Shut down System in Windows 10
• How to Automatically Shut Down Computer at Scheduled Time in Windows 10

Windows 11 Tutorials