The 8 Different Ways to Restart Your Windows Computer

Restarting your Windows computer is one of the most popular ways to fix any temporary system glitches. At times, you may also need to restart your system to install a Windows Update or apply registry changes.

Whatever the case may be, restarting your Windows PC is quite easy, as it should be. And it is a good idea to learn all of the methods, as a Windows error or glitch may sometimes prevent you from using a specific method, forcing you to take another route Here we show you eight different ways to restart your Windows computer.

The easiest and most well-known way to restart a Windows computer is through the Start menu. Here are the steps you need to follow.

And voila! Your PC will reboot.

Boy in Red Shirt Sitting on Chair in Front of Computer Screen

TheWindows Power User menuprovides quick access to some of the most important features and utilities. It also gives you the option to restart orshut down your Windows PC.

To restart Windows using the Power User menu:

As soon as you do this, your PC will reboot.

Another way to restart your Windows PC is through the Ctrl + Alt + Delete menu. It’s likely your best option if theStart menu is not working.

Start by pressingCtrl + Alt + Deleteon your keyboard to open the options screen. Then, click thepowericon in the bottom right corner, and selectRestartfrom the list. Your PC will restart immediately.

4. How to Restart Windows With the Alt + F4 Shortcut

You can also restart your PC easily by accessing the Shut Down Windows dialog. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Aside from the above, you can also use the Shut Down Windows dialog to put your PC to sleep, shut it down, or hibernate it.

Restart Windows From Ctrl Alt Del Screen

5. How to Restart Windows via the Command Prompt

If you’re an avid Windows user who’s familiar with the command prompt utility, you can also restart your PC by running a command. Here’s how:

When the warning message appears, clickClose. Your PC will shut down and restart in 60 seconds.

If you want to cancel the restart at any point during the 60-second period, use the following command:

If you’re interested in learning more about such tricks, be sure to check outthe Windows Command Prompt commands you must know.

You don’t necessarily have to sign in to your Windows computer to restart it. Windows also gives you the option to restart your PC from the login screen or lock screen.

When you are on the Windows login or lock screen, click thepowericon in the bottom right corner and selectRestartfrom the menu that appears.

7. How to Create a Desktop Shortcut to Restart Windows

You may be using desktop shortcuts on Windows to quickly access your applications, files, and folders. But did you know you could also create a desktop shortcut to restart your computer? It’s actually quite simple to set up.

Once you have created a desktop shortcut, you can double-click it to quickly restart your computer. Optionally, you can change the icon for your newly created shortcut to make it more distinguishable. Check out our guide onhow to customize icons on Windowsfor more information on this.

8. How to Use the Emergency Restart Feature in Windows

Windows also provides a secret Emergency restart option that can be useful if your PC freezes or if the above suggestions do not work. Microsoft recommends using this option only as a last resort.

To use the Emergency restart feature on Windows:

Once you complete the above steps, your PC will reboot.

How Do You Prefer to Restart Your Windows PC?

Now you know several ways to restart your Windows PC. All of them are quick and easy to execute. You can pick the one that is most convenient for you.

In addition to the aforementioned methods, you’re able to also remotely restart your Windows computer.

Left your computer running but now need to reboot the system remotely? Use these tips for remotely restarting a Windows computer.

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The 8 Different Ways to Restart Your Windows Computer