The quickest way to restart your computer

The fastest restart on Windows is to hold down the Alt and F4 keys at the same time while you are on the desktop (not inside any open program). A small box will appear asking what you want to do. Click the dropdown menu that says "Sleep" and change it to "Restart", then click the blue button. Your computer will close everything and start up again.

On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select "Restart", and click the "Restart" button in the box that appears. You can also hold down the Control key and press the power button on your keyboard, then select "Restart" from the menu.

Both methods take about 30 seconds to a minute for your computer to fully shut down, and another 1 to 3 minutes to start back up, depending on how many programs you have installed.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, press Alt and F4 together on the desktop, change the dropdown from "Sleep" to "Restart", and click the button.
  • On a Mac, click the Apple menu and select "Restart", or hold Control and press the power button, then choose "Restart".
  • A full restart takes 2 to 4 minutes total from the moment you start the process until your desktop is ready to use.
  • Close any open documents before you restart so you do not lose unsaved work.

Using the Start menu on Windows

If Alt and F4 does not work, you can restart through the Start menu instead. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of your screen to open the Start menu. Look for a power icon (it looks like a circle with a line at the top) in the bottom-right corner of the Start menu.

Click that power icon and a small menu will pop up with three options: "Sleep", "Shut down", and "Restart". Click "Restart". Your computer will begin closing all programs and restarting automatically.

Restarting when your computer is frozen

If your computer is not responding to keyboard or mouse clicks, you will need to force a restart. On Windows, hold down the power button on the front or side of your computer for 10 seconds until the screen goes black. Wait 30 seconds, then press the power button once to turn it back on.

On a Mac, hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until you see "Loading startup options" appear on the screen, then release. Click the power icon and select "Restart".

A forced restart can sometimes cause files to not save properly, so use this method only when your computer will not respond to normal restart commands. After a forced restart, your computer may run a disk check the next time it starts up — let it finish, even if it takes several minutes.

What to do before you restart

Before you restart, close any open programs and save your work. If you have a document open in Word, Google Docs, or any other program, save it first. When you restart, anything you have not saved will be lost.

If you have a lot of browser tabs open, consider writing down any important links or closing them before you restart. Some browsers will reopen your tabs automatically when you start back up, but not all of them do.

If you are downloading a file, wait for it to finish before you restart. Restarting during a read can corrupt the file and make it unusable.

Why you might need to restart

Restarting clears your computer's memory and closes any programs that may be running slowly or using too much power. If your computer feels sluggish, takes a long time to open programs, or is running hot, a restart often fixes the problem.

You also need to restart after installing new software or updates. Many programs and Windows or Mac operating system updates require a restart to take effect. If you see a message asking you to restart, do so as soon as you have saved your work.

Restarting on a schedule

If you want your computer to restart automatically at a certain time each week, you can set that up in your settings. On Windows, open Settings, go to "System" and then "Power & sleep", scroll down, and look for "Additional power settings". From there you can create a scheduled restart task.

On a Mac, go to System Settings, click "General", then "Shut Down", and check the box that says "Reopen windows when logging back in". You can then set a specific time for your computer to restart each day or week.

Many people restart their computers once a week to keep them running smoothly. If you use your computer every day, a weekly restart is a good habit to build in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a restart take?

A normal restart takes 2 to 4 minutes from start to finish. The shutdown part usually takes 30 seconds to a minute, and the startup takes 1 to 3 minutes depending on how many programs you have installed and how old your computer is.

Will I lose my work if I restart?

You will lose any work you have not saved. Before you restart, save all open documents. Most programs will warn you if you try to close them with unsaved changes, so pay attention to those warnings.

What is the difference between restart, shutdown, and sleep?

Shutdown turns your computer completely off. Restart shuts it down and turns it back on automatically. Sleep puts your computer in a low-power mode where it can wake up quickly but uses very little electricity. Restart clears your memory and closes all programs; sleep does not.

Can I restart my computer while it is updating?

No. If your computer is installing an update, let it finish before you restart. Interrupting an update can damage your operating system. If an update seems stuck, wait at least 30 minutes before you force a restart.

Why does my computer take so long to restart?

A slow restart usually means you have many programs installed or your hard drive is nearly full. Uninstalling programs you no longer use and deleting old files can speed up restarts. If your computer is more than 5 years old, it may naturally restart more slowly.