To restart Windows, click Start, click the Power icon (⏻), and choose Restart. With just the keyboard, press Alt + F4 on the desktop, choose Restart from the list, and press Enter. Another quick option is Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then the power icon in the bottom-right corner and Restart. These work in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Below are all the ways to restart, including from the keyboard, the command line, and when Windows is frozen, plus why Restart and Shut down aren’t the same.
Quick reference
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| Start menu | Start > Power > Restart |
| Right-click Start | Windows + X > Shut down or sign out > Restart |
| Keyboard (desktop) | Windows + D, then Alt + F4 > Restart > Enter |
| Security screen | Ctrl + Alt + Delete > Power icon > Restart |
| Command | shutdown /r /t 0 |
| Frozen PC | Hold the power button for about 10 seconds, then turn it back on |
Method 1: Start menu
- Click Start or press the Windows key.
- Click the Power icon. In Windows 11, it’s at the bottom right of the Start menu. In Windows 10, it’s on the left side.
- Click Restart.
If updates are waiting, you’ll see Update and restart instead. Choosing it installs updates during the restart.
Method 2: Keyboard shortcuts
Alt + F4
- Press Windows + D to go to the desktop. (Alt + F4 closes the active app if one is selected.)
- Press Alt + F4.
- Use the arrow keys to choose Restart, then press Enter.
Windows + X menu
- Press Windows + X.
- Press U to open Shut down or sign out.
- Press R to restart.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, press Tab until the power icon is selected, press Enter, and choose Restart. This also works when some apps are frozen.
Method 3: Command Prompt or Run
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
shutdown /r /t 0and press Enter.
Change 0 to a number of seconds to delay the restart, like /t 60. To cancel a scheduled restart, run shutdown /a. Add /o (shutdown /r /o /t 0) to restart into the Advanced startup menu, handy for Safe Mode.
Method 4: When Windows is frozen
- Try Ctrl + Alt + Delete first and restart from there.
- If nothing responds, press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the PC turns off.
- Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again.
A forced shutdown can lose unsaved work, so use it only when nothing else works. To close just one frozen app, see how to force quit in Windows.
Restart vs. shut down
With Fast Startup turned on (the default on many PCs), Shut down saves part of Windows to disk so it starts faster next time. Restart does a full, fresh start, which is why it fixes more problems and is required to finish many updates. If a troubleshooting guide says to restart, use Restart, not Shut down.
Restart stuck?
- “Restarting” for a long time: Updates may be installing. Give it up to an hour, especially for feature updates.
- An app blocks the restart: Windows lists apps that prevent restarting. Save your work and click Restart anyway.
- Restart doesn’t happen at all: Run
shutdown /r /f /t 0to force apps to close.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I restart my PC?
Restarting every few days, or whenever it feels slow, keeps things running smoothly and lets updates install.
Does restarting delete anything?
No. Only unsaved work in open apps is lost. Save your files first.
How do I schedule a restart for updates?
Go to Settings > Windows Update and choose Schedule the restart when an update is waiting.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.