A quick Windows reboot can be the answer to many Windows errors, whether your PC is slowing down due to too many apps or you’ve just installed new software that requires a restart.
In fact, restarting your computer as a solution isn’t limited to Windows. Because of how it works, it’s used on a wide range of devices, including Android, iOS, Linux, and others. Even after your PC is rebooted, your apps may be restarted separately in Windows.
So, why are you putting so much emphasis on a fresh start?
To put it another way, after running a slew of programs and other system tasks in parallel for a period of time, your computer becomes slowed down by these programs (which have been terminated but are still occupying resources), memory leaks, and other similar issues. A restart works by clearing your RAM, which is responsible for running all Windows tasks, and thus re-starting your computer from a fresh, clean state.
So, here are 5 quick ways to restart Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Restart your Windows 10/11 through Alt + F4
The Alt + F4 method, which is one of my personal favorites, is the most straightforward way to reboot your Windows computer.
Simply press the Alt and F4 keys together to bring up the Shut Down menu, regardless of what you’re doing. From there, select the Restart option from the dropdown list and click OK.
If you’ve already closed all of your other programs and windows, great; if not, the application will do it for you and restart your Windows computer.
Before you proceed, make sure you don’t have any unsaved work.
Restart Windows PC from Start menu
It’s also fine if you prefer a graphical user interface. In that case, as Microsoft explains on their blog, you can restart Windows 10/11 from the Start menu search bar. Here’s what you need to do to get started:
- Navigate to the Start menu search bar and click on the Windows icon.
- From there, select the power button and click on Restart.
Restart your Windows 10/11 with Ctrl + Alt + Delete
This is yet another shortcut method that will come in handy if your computer has been stuck for a long time and you are unable to use other methods, even if you want to.
To begin, press Ctrl + All + Delete at the same time, and the security options menu will appear. From there, select the Restart option from the Power menu in the bottom-right corner.
In a few moments, your computer will reboot.
Restart your Windows with Command prompt
The command prompt is a useful tool for performing lower-level tasks while also giving users more control. Intriguingly, it can also be used to reboot the computer.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the Start menu search bar, type in ‘command prompt,’ and select the Best match.
- Now type shutdown /r in the terminal and hit Enter.
A pop-up will appear informing you that your Windows will shut down in less than a minute. Close the window and wait a few seconds for the restart process to begin.
The /r flag means “reset,” and you can use the Command Prompt to configure shutdown in a variety of ways, check out this list on Microsoft Docs.
Related: How to Backup Files in Windows 11 and downgrade to Windows 10
Use the Windows Key + X Shortcut
Another option is to use a shortcut to restart Windows from the Link menu, which is the last option on our Windows restart guide.
To access the Link menu, press the Windows and X keys together. Navigate to the Shut down or sign out section and select Restart.
That’s all there is to restarting your Windows computer.
Windows Restart is a simple and, most likely, one of the most effective ways to resolve minor issues and bugs on your Windows computer. As we’ve already stated, it’s not without reason that it’s one of the most widely recommended solutions for Windows issues. So, before you try any complicated methods, make sure you do a reboot first. Hopefully, the methods listed here were helpful and you were able to restart your Windows computer without difficulty.
Related: How to switch Command prompt directory in Windows 10/11
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