windows-itpro-docs/windows/keep-secure/shutdown-allow-system-to-be-shut-down-without-having-to-log-on.md

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Shutdown Allow system to be shut down without having to log on (Windows 10)	Describes the best practices, location, values, policy management and security considerations for the Shutdown Allow system to be shut down without having to log on security policy setting.	f3964767-5377-4416-8eb3-e14d553a7315	security	W10	deploy	library	brianlic-msft

Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on

Applies to

• Windows 10 Describes the best practices, location, values, policy management and security considerations for the Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on security policy setting.

Reference

This policy setting determines whether a device can be shut down without having to log on to Windows. If you enable this policy setting, the Shut Down option is available on the logon screen in Windows. If you disable this policy setting, the Shut Down option is removed from the logon screen. This configuration requires that users are able to log on to the device successfully and that they have the Shut down the system user right before they can perform a shutdown. Users who can access the console locally can shut down the system. Attackers or misguided users can connect to the server by using Remote Desktop Services, and then shut it down or restart it without having to identify themselves. A malicious user might also cause a temporary denial-of-service condition by walking up to the local console and restarting the server, or shutting down the server and thus rendering unavailable all its applications and services.

Possible values

• Enabled The shut down command is available on the logon screen.
• Disabled The shut down option is removed from the logon screen and users must have the Shut down the system user right before they can perform a shutdown.
• Not defined

Best practices

1. On servers, set this policy to Disabled. You must log on to servers to shut them down or restart them.
2. On client devices, set this policy to Enabled and define the list of those with the right to shut them down or restart them with the User Rights Assignment policy Shut down the system.

Location

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options

Default values

The following table lists the actual and effective default values for this policy. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.

Server type or GPO	Default value
Default Domain Policy	Not defined
Default Domain Controller Policy	Not defined
Stand-Alone Server Default Settings	Disabled
DC Effective Default Settings	Disabled
Member Server Effective Default Settings	Disabled
Client Computer Effective Default Settings	Enabled

  ## Policy management This section describes features and tools that are available to help you manage this policy. ### Restart requirement None. Changes to this policy become effective without a computer restart when they are saved locally or distributed through Group Policy. ### Group Policy For info about the User Rights Assignment policy, **Shut down the system**, see [Shut down the system](shut-down-the-system.md). ## Security considerations This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation. ### Vulnerability Users who can access the console locally could shut down the device Attackers who have access to the local console could restart the server, which would cause a temporary DoS condition. Attackers could also shut down the server and leave all of its applications and services unavailable. ### Countermeasure Disable the **Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on** setting. ### Potential impact You must log on to servers to shut them down or restart them. ## Related topics [Security Options](security-options.md)