How to Fix ‘Someone Else Is Still Using This PC’ Error in Windows

Do you know how to Fix ‘Someone Else Is Still Using This PC‘ Error in Windows? When attempting to shut down or restart their computer, a number of Windows users have been contacting us with questions after they have encountered the error message “Someone else is still using this PC.” It has been reported by the majority of users who are affected that the problem persists even when they attempt to log in using a different user account. It has come to light that the problem is not unique to Windows 11/10, as it has also been observed on Windows 8.1.

Although it might appear to be the simplest thing in the world to turn off your computer, there are times when Windows makes things a little more complicated than they should be. You might, for instance, come across an odd message that reads “Someone else is using this computer” when you turn off your personal computer, even if you are the only person who uses it. Here, we will discuss some troubleshooting methods how to Fix ‘Someone Else Is Still Using This PC’ Error in Windows. If you want to know more information about this issue visit Microsoft Official Website.

Causes of the ‘Someone Else Is Still Using This PC’ Error in Windows

1. Remote Desktop Sessions: If another user is logged in to the system remotely via Remote Desktop, it can trigger this error message.
2. Fast User Switching: If multiple users are logged into the same system and one user tries to log in while another is still active, Windows might display this error.
3. Locked Screen: If a user locks the screen instead of logging out, it can prevent other users from accessing the system and trigger the error message.
4. System Maintenance: During system maintenance tasks such as Windows Update installations or system scans, Windows might temporarily lock the system, leading to this error.
5. Corrupted User Profile: If the user profile is corrupted or experiencing issues, it can prevent other users from logging in and result in this error.
6. Domain Environment: In a domain environment, policies or configurations enforced by the network administrator might restrict concurrent user sessions or cause conflicts leading to this error.
7. Third-Party Software: Certain third-party software or security tools may interfere with user sessions and cause this error to appear.

How to Fix ‘Someone Else Is Still Using This PC’ Error in Windows

Use Task Manager to Identify Processes

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Navigate to the Users tab.
3. Check if there are any active sessions listed for other users.
4. If you find any unexpected or unknown user sessions, select them and choose Sign Out or End Task to terminate those sessions.

Verify User Accounts

1. Open Control Panel and go to User Accounts.
2. Ensure that there are no additional user accounts logged in.
3. If there are unauthorized accounts, remove them or change their permissions accordingly.

Check for Windows Updates

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Check for and install any pending updates.
3. Reboot your computer if prompted.

Run System File Checker (SFC)

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the command: sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Let the scan complete, and follow any prompts to fix corrupted system files.

Perform a Clean Boot

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
3. In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
4. Check Hide all Microsoft services and then click Disable all.
5. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
6. Disable all startup items by right-clicking and selecting Disable.
7. Close Task Manager and then click OK in the System Configuration window.
8. Restart your computer.

Reset Windows Store Cache

1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Type the following command and press Enter: WSReset.exe.
3. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your computer.

Check for Malware

1. Run a full system scan using your preferred antivirus software.
2. Quarantine or remove any detected malware or suspicious files.

Perform System Restore

1. Type System Restore in the Windows search bar and select Create a restore point.
2. In the System Properties window, click System Restore.
3. Follow the prompts to choose a restore point and initiate the restoration process.

Conclusion

The perplexing message has been reported to have been seen by a significant number of users. This personal computer is still being used by someone on their Windows 10 devices. This message appears whenever you attempt to shut down or restart your personal computer, which can be an extremely frustrating experience.

This error also suggests that if you do not save your work on the other account, it will be lost. Because of this, some users who experience this error end up not restarting or shutting down their personal computer for a period of time that spans several months. In turn, this causes your personal computer to run more slowly overall, which in turn causes you even more stress.

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