How to restart your Windows computer

To avoid unnecessary computer issues, it's recommended to restart your computer from time to time. Restarting the computer can help you resolve software issues or apply changes that you've made to the computer. 

Aside from restarting your computer via the start menu, there are nine other ways to restart your computer, including restarting the computer using Command Prompt, PowerShell, or by pressing "Ctrl+Alt+Del".

In this post, we will demonstrate ten different ways to restart your Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 8, or Windows 10 computer.

Method 1: Restart Windows using the Start menu

Restarting your Windows computer using the start menu is the most common and official Microsoft method.  

1. Click on Start in the taskbar.
2. Click the I/O icon. A menu that provides multiple different power options will appear.
3. Select Restart from the menu. Your Windows computer will restart.

Method 2: Restart Windows using the Power User menu

There is also an alternative way to perform a normal restart of your Windows computer using the power user menu. 

1. Right-click the Start button or press the Windows key and the X key simultaneously.
2. Select Restart. Your Windows computer will automatically restart.

Method 3: Restart Windows using "Alt + F4"

When no application is open, and you can see your desktop, you can also open the shutdown menu by pressing the "Alt + F4" keys on your keyboard. 

Method 4: Restart Windows using Command Prompt (CMD)

If you prefer command-line interfaces, you can also restart Windows 10 with Command Prompt or PowerShell.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Run.
2. Typ CMD and press Enter on your keyword.
3. Typ the command "shutdown /s" (without the quotation marks) and press Enter on your keyboard.

Windows 10 will restart within a few seconds, and a window appears informing you that it will "shut down in less than a minute." Note: closing this window will not cancel the restart process.

You change the command parameter from /r to /s ("shutdown /s"), and your Windows computer will shut down instead.

Method 5: Restart Windows using PowerShell

PowerShell is a more advanced version of Command Prompt. It is a command interface and a scripting language used to make administrative tasks easier to complete.

1. Open PowerShell via the Start menu. 
2. Typ the command "Restart-Computer" and press Enter.

All applications will close, and Windows will restart automatically.

Method 6: Restart Windows from the lock screen

You can also shut down Windows from the lock screen, which appears before logging in or when you lock your device.

1. Press the I/O icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

2. Select Restart from the menu. Your computer will restart.

Method 7: Restart Windows using "Control + Alt + Delete" 

If you have a keyboard, you can access the power options by pressing "Control + Alt + Delete." 

1. Press the "Ctrl+Alt+Del" keys on your keyboard at the same time.
2. Click or tap the I/O icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. The standard shutdown menu will appear. 
3. Click Restart to restart your computer.

Method 8: Restart Windows using the "slidetoshutdown" command

The slidetoshutdown command is an unknown Windows feature. It inserts your lock screen image from the top, taking up half of your screen. 

1. Type "slidetoshutdown" into Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Run window. Then press Enter or click OK.
2. Drag the image to the bottom of your screen. Windows will shut down.
3. As soon as your computer has shut down, use the Power button to start the computer.

Method 9: Restart Windows using the power button

The power button is probably the fastest way to restart your computer. 

1. Press the Power button to shut down your computer. 
2. Once the computer is completely off, press the Power button again to start the computer.

Note: if the computer doesn't shut down when you press the power button, you will need to change the power button behavior in the Power Settings.

If you're running Windows on a touchscreen device, such as a laptop or tablet, you can restart your computer similar to the "slidetoshutdown" command.

1. Press and hold your device's Power button (the on/off switch)
2. Drag the image to the bottom of your screen. Windows will shut down.
3. As soon as your device has shut down, use the Power button to start Windows.

Method 10: Restart Windows using Task Scheduler

In Windows 10, you can schedule a shutdown using Task Scheduler. The Task Scheduler utility in Windows allows you to run programs or perform specific actions on a schedule.

1. Open Task Scheduler via the Start menu. 
2. Click on Create a Basic Task in the Actions pane on the right.
3. Name the task "Restart" and click Next.
4. Specify the shutdown trigger and click Next.
5. Select a recurring event on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, or you can opt for a one-time event.
6. Click Next to configure the Action in the Action configuration screen.
7. Select Start a program and then click Next. 
8. Type shutdown in the Program/script field.
9. Enter "/r /t 0" (without the quotation marks) into the Add arguments box.
    
   
   You can change the number 0 to a different number (for example, 60, which will restart the computer after 60 seconds. By using "0 seconds," the timer expires immediately.
   
10. Click Next to save your work. 

When you click the Finish button, the task will be enabled automatically. You can now be confident that your device will restart automatically at the specified time, allowing you to keep tasks running even if you leave your computer unattended.