Whether you’re a new Windows user or an advanced one, you may come across a situation where you might need a different method to restart your laptop or PC. These situations could be rebooting your PC when it freezes, restarting without logging into Windows, or simply wanting a one-click restart option. So here are different ways to restart your Windows computer based on various scenarios and preferences.
Table of Contents
How to Restart Windows From Start
Let’s start with something simple and well-known method, i.e. restarting your PC from Start. If you’re already familiar with this method, you can skip to the next section.
1. Start Menu
The most widely used approach to restart a Windows PC is through the Start menu. You just have to click on the Start menu, hit the Power icon, and select the Restart option. That’s it.
2. Power User Menu
The Power User menu or WinX menu is another great way to reboot your computer. Simply right-click on the Start menu, click the Shut down or sign out option and hit Restart.
How to Restart When Your Windows PC Freezes
Many of us have been in a situation where our Windows app or game freezes unexpectedly, leaving us completely stuck on the screen. To deal with such a situation, you can use the following method to restart your PC.
1. Ctrl + Alt + Delete Shortcut
When your computer freezes, it’s always a good idea to restart the system. However, if you’re unable to restart from the Start menu, you can simultaneously press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard.
This will open up a new screen. Now click on the Power icon in the bottom right corner and hit Restart.
2. Use the Power Button
If the above method doesn’t work, you can press and hold the Power button until your PC shuts down, and the Windows boot-up screen appears.
3. Lock Screen
Another alternative you can try is restarting your Windows from the lock screen. Here’s a quick guide:
1. Use Windows Key + L shortcut to lock your PC.
2. Now from your login screen, click on the Power icon in the bottom right corner and select the Restart option.
Tip: Learn how to disable ads everywhere on Windows 11
How to Quickly Restart Windows Using Shortcuts
Are you sick of navigating through menus just to restart your laptop/PC? Worry not. In this section, you will learn a few new shortcuts that will help you reboot your Windows system in no time.
1. Desktop Shortcut
Lots of folks rely on desktop shortcuts on their Windows computers to quickly access their files, games, and apps. In fact, you can even add a restart shortcut on your desktop to instantly reboot your Windows PC. Here’s how to create a restart shortcut:
1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and then navigate to New > Shortcut.
2. In the text field, enter “Shutdown -r -t 00” and hit Next.
3. Give a name to your shortcut and click Finish.
That’s it. Now all you need to do is double-click the shortcut icon and it will restart your computer.
2. Alt + F4 Shortcut
This keyboard shortcut is one of the oldest methods for shutting down or restarting a Windows PC.
1. When you’re on the Windows desktop, simply press Alt + F4 on your keyboard, and a small window dialog will appear.
2. Now all you need to do is click on the drop-down menu or use the Down Arrow key and then select the Restart option.
3. Now hit the OK button or Enter key to restart your Windows.
Pro Tip: Use the Down Arrow key and hit the Enter key to quickly restart the PC.
3. PowerToys Search
You can also try Microsoft’s PowerToys app, which comes with hundreds of features, and among them is the PowerToys Run. It is similar to the MacOS Spotlight feature and also lets you quickly restart your PC from anywhere. Simply hit the Alt + Space shortcut to invoke PowerToys Run and type restart and then hit Enter key.
How to Restart Windows From Command Line
If you’re looking to restart your computer from the command line, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this section, we will demonstrate how to do it using both CMD and PowerShell.
1. Command Prompt
To reboot your PC using Command Prompt, follow the below steps:
1. Open the Windows Search (Windows Key + S) and search Command Prompt.
2. Once found, right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.
3. After that, type the following command and hit Enter.
shutdown -r -t 00
Pro Tip: You can set a timer for restarting by replacing the ’00’ seconds with the desired number of seconds.
2. PowerShell
To restart your computer using PowerShell, follow these steps:
1. Open Windows Search and look for PowerShell.
2. Once found, simply right-click and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Next, enter the following command and press Enter.
Restart-Computer
Tip: Learn the major difference between Command Prompt and PowerShell
Reboot Windows PC in Any Circumstance
Knowing only one way to restart the computer is sufficient, but being familiar with multiple methods can be crucial in different situations. We hope the above guide provides you with a comprehensive understanding of various restart techniques to suit your specific needs.
