How to Fix Node20.exe Application Error When Shutdown

What Is Node20.exe

Node20.exe is a JavaScript runtime that the OpenJS Foundation uses that allows users to run JavaScript code outside a web browser. It is a part of the Node.js runtime, which is an open-source JavaScript runtime environment that executes the JavaScript code server-side.

However, a lot of users encounter the node20.exe error on Windows shutdown? According to user reports from different communities, I found that the error is related to the Steam Deck program. The node20.exe is used by the plugins of the Steam Deck. The error can occur if Steam Deck or the plugin process is not terminated properly when shutting down the computer.

Don’t worry. Here, I summarize several proven ways to get rid of the error. If you are in the same boat, move down to the following part.

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How to Fix Node20.exe Application Error When Shutdown

After viewing extensive user comments from Reddit and Microsoft communities, I found 6 effective methods to fix the error. For that:

Fix 1. Uninstall Steam Deck

Many users have tested that uninstalling the Steam Deck software and installing the latest version can get rid of the node20.exe error when shutting down. For that:

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu at the bottom and select Apps & Features.

Step 2. Navigate to Steam Deck, click on Uninstall, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Step 3. Once uninstalled, visit the official website of Elgato, download the latest version of Steam Deck, and install it on your PC. After that, check if the node20.exe application error when turning off is gone.

Fix 2. Run Node20.exe and SteamDeck.exe in Compatibility Mode

For some users, running SteamDeck.exe and Node20.exe in compatibility mode can solve the Node20.exe error on Windows shutdown.

Step 1. Right-click the SteamDeck.exe and select Properties.

Step 2. Go to the Compatibility tab, check the box beside Run this program in compatibility mode for, and select Windows 8 or an older version.

Step 3. Click on Apply > OK to save the change. Then run node20.exe in compatibility mode by referring to the same procedure.

Fix 3. Rename or Delete Node20.exe

In addition, you can try renaming the node20.exe file to fix the node20.exe error when shutting down. Here’s how:

Step 1. Open the File Explorer by pressing the Win + E keys and navigate to the Steam Deck installation folder.

C:\Program Files\Elgato\StreamDeck

Step 2. Find node20.exe in the folder, right click it and select Rename, and change it to node20old.exe.

Step 3. Restart Steam Deck and see if the node20.exe application error when turning off persists. If so, try deleting the node20.exe from the Steam Deck folder.

Fix 4. Delete or Rename Volume Control from the Steam Deck Folder

Some users found that the node20.exe application error when shutdown is related to the Volume Controller plugin. To get rid of the error, you can try deleting or renaming the plugin. Just go to the following path, locate the Volume Controller plugin, and delete/rename the file.

C:\Program Files\Elgato\StreamDeck\Distributables

Fix 5. Run an SFC Scan

Sometimes, corrupted system files can trigger the node20.exe error on Windows shutdown as well. You can run an SFC scan to repair system files.

Step 1. Type cmd in the search bar, and then right-click the Command Prompt app and select  Run as administrator from the context menu. Then click on Yes.

Step 2. Type the sfc /scannow command in the pop-up window and hit Enter. Then SFC tool will scan and try to repair the corrupted system files automatically.

Fix 6. Reinstall Windows

If none of the above methods can solve the node20.exe error when shutting down, you may have to reinstall Windows 11/10. This can delete all corrupted system files and remove all conflicting software and compatibility issues responsible for the error. However, it will also format the hard drive and delete everything on your system disk.

Thus, I highly recommend you make a backup of all important data beforehand. MiniTool ShadowMaker is an expert backup and cloning utility that can back up the system, personal data, partitions, and the whole disk to another location. It’s worth having a try.

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However, if you accidentally formatted the hard drive due to the error, don’t worry. MiniTool Partition Wizard can recover formatted hard drive data easily. Moreover, it can partition a hard drive, convert MBR to GPT without data loss, clone hard drives, change cluster size, measure disk performance, and so forth.

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The End

How do I fix the node20.exe application error when turning off? Now, I believe you have solved the problem with the methods in the post. By the way, you can share it with your companions if you like this blog post.