What is the Elara App, and Why Does it Prevent Windows from Shutting Down?

When the Elara App prevents Windows from shutting down, users typically see a message indicating that the app is blocking the system from shutting down or restarting. This error means the Elara App, linked to touchpad drivers on many laptops, is running and obstructing the shutdown process.

The main cause of this issue is the ApntEx.exe process from the Alps Pointing-device Driver, which may hang or fail to close properly. Additional causes can include software conflicts or corrupt driver files.

In this article, we’ll clarify the purpose of this app and why it may interfere with the shutdown process.

What is the Elara App?

PC makers integrate various small parts from different suppliers. Some of these parts, like those in the touchpad of laptops, are commonly used across brands like HP, Samsung, Dell, etc.

The Elara App manages touchpad functions and comes pre-installed on laptops. It is located in the Program Files directory alongside the touchpad driver. In the Task Manager, it appears as ApntEx.exe. It is usually part of the touchpad driver package provided by the laptop maker.

Why Does the Elara App Prevent Windows from Shutting Down?

The Elara App may prevent Windows from shutting down because it is running in the background and considered vital by the OS. When shutting down, Windows tries to close all apps and background processes. If a process doesn’t respond or fails to acknowledge the shutdown command in time—possibly due to a task in progress, a hang, or an update—it can delay Windows’ shutdown.

For the Elara App, which manages the touchpad, Windows may identify it as crucial to save settings or operations before closing. This safety measure prevents data loss or corruption. The OS then warns users that Elara App is preventing shutdown, indicating that not all processes have been safely terminated.

Can it be Disabled?

Users have reported that ending the task via Task Manager or uninstalling the touchpad driver has no negative effects. However, one user noted losing the ability to disable the touchpad with the “Fn” keys. Based on this, we recommend ending the task from the Task Manager without expecting any harm to your computer.

You might consider uninstalling the touchpad driver to remove bloatware and check if the touchpad still works. Results may vary with different manufacturers. We recommend downloading the latest driver from your laptop maker’s website before uninstalling. If any functionality is lost, you can reinstall the driver by initiating a hardware scan, which will reinstall the driver.

Temporary Fix: End the Touchpad Process

Here, we show the simplest way to end the Elara App task via Task Manager. Note that this action could affect your touchpad’s functionality, so have a mouse available as a backup.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard.
2. In the Task Manager window, go to the “Details” tab.

   

3. Find “ApntEx.exe” and click “End Task”.

   

4. This action will temporarily close the Elara App, letting your computer shut down without interruption.

While ending the Elara App task via Task Manager is a quick fix, there are more permanent solutions and preventive measures users can consider. In this section, we’ll look at other ways to stop the Elara App from causing shutdown problems again.

Fix 1. Update the Driver

Since this issue originates from the touchpad driver, reinstalling or updating the driver can resolve the problem. This will allow you to shut down your computer normally.

1. Press Windows + X key and select “Device Manager”.
   
2. Expand “Mice and other pointing devices” section.
   
3. Right-click your touchpad driver and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

If that doesn’t resolve the issue, we can reinstall the driver:

1. In Device Manager, right-click your touchpad driver and select Uninstall device.
2. Restart your computer. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically.

Fix 2. Clean Boot your Windows

Sometimes, other software can conflict with the Elara App. To make sure this isn’t the issue, you can perform a clean boot of Windows and see if it shuts down properly afterwards.

1. Press the Windows + R keys together to open the Run utility in Windows.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter.
   
3. Go to the “Services” tab and check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services”.
   
4. Click the Disable All button on the right side, then press Apply, and finally press OK.
5. Restart your computer and check if the issue still happens.

If the issue is resolved, it means a program on your computer is conflicting with Elara. To find out which program is causing the problem, restart your computer, open the msconfig utility again, and enable the disabled services one by one until the issue reappears.

Fix 3. Edit Registry (Advanced Users)

For advanced users, you can modify the Windows Registry to kill the process automatically during shutdown. This method requires caution as incorrect changes can affect system stability.

1. Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Then, type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
   
2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

   To do this, you can expand each folder by clicking the arrow next to it.

3. Once you’ve reached the Memory Management folder, right-click on an empty space in the right pane. Then, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   
4. Name this new value AutoEndTasks. After naming it, double-click the new value and set its data to 1. Click OK to save.