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Kamrul Hasan
Kamrul Hasan

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How to Remotely Shut Down All Computers on the Same Network (Windows 11)

#windows11 #remoteshutdown #sysadmin #techtips

Managing multiple computers on the same local network can be challenging—especially when you need to shut them down remotely for maintenance, security, or power saving.

In this article, I’ll show you built-in Windows methods to remotely shut down multiple Windows 11 computers without using any third-party tools.

✅ Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure the following:

  • All computers are on the same LAN / subnet
  • You have administrator access on target computers
  • File and Printer Sharing is enabled
  • Windows Firewall allows remote administration
  • Target computers are powered on and reachable

🔧 STEP 1: ENABLE REMOTE SHUTDOWN ON ALL PCs

1️⃣ Enable Remote Services

On each target computer:

  1. Press Win + R → type services.msc
  2. Make sure these services are Running:
    • Remote Registry → Startup type: Automatic
    • Windows Management Instrumentation
    • Server

2️⃣ Allow Remote Shutdown in Firewall

  1. Open Windows Defender Firewall
  2. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall
  3. Enable:
    • Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
    • Remote Service Management
  4. Make sure they are allowed on Private networks

3️⃣ Allow Remote Shutdown Permission

  1. Press Win + R, type secpol.msc, press Enter
  2. Navigate to: Local Policies → User Rights Assignment
  3. Open Force shutdown from a remote system
  4. Add:
    • Administrators
  5. Click OK

🧠 STEP 2: FIND COMPUTER NAMES OR IPs

On each PC:

hostname
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🚀 STEP 3: SHUT DOWN ALL COMPUTERS (FROM ONE PC)

🔹Option 1: Shutdown using CMD (one by one)

Open CMD as Administrator on your main PC:

shutdown /m \\PC1 /s /f /t 0
shutdown /m \\PC2 /s /f /t 0
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Or using IP:

shutdown /m \\192.168.1.10 /s /f /t 0
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🔹 Option 2: Shutdown MULTIPLE PCs at once (BEST)

  1. Press Win + R → type: 
shutdown /i
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  1. Click Add
  2. Enter all PC names or IPs
  3. Select Shutdown
  4. Click OK

⚠️ COMMON ERRORS & FIX

❌ Access is denied (5)

🔑 1. Use an Administrator Account (Mandatory)

  • Log in using a local or domain administrator
  • Open Command Prompt / PowerShell → Run as Administrator Verify admin: 
net user
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🔥 2. Disable UAC Remote Restrictions (CRITICAL)

Windows 10/11 blocks remote admin commands by default.

On target PC:

reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
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👉 Restart required

🌐 4. Enable Required Firewall Rules

On target PC:

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)" new enable=yes
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=yes
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Or via GUI:

  • Windows Defender Firewall
  • Allow:
    • WMI
    • File and Printer Sharing
  • Private network ✔

5. Ensure Required Services Are Running

On target PC:

services.msc
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Ensure these are Running:

  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
  • Windows Management Instrumentation
  • Server

🧪 6. Test Network & Credentials

From your admin PC:

ping 192.168.173.155
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Test admin access:

net use \\192.168.173.155\ipc$ /user:Administrator
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If asked, enter admin password.

🚀 7. Try Shutdown Again 

shutdown /m \\192.168.173.155 /s /f /t 0
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✅ This should now work.

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