How to restart Microsoft Windows

Restarting your computer is necessary for many common tasks, including installing new software and performing Windows Updates. This page contains multiple methods for restarting Windows. To proceed, select the method you would like to use from the list below or read through each section individually.

If the computer is frozen or the keyboard and mouse do not work, press and hold down the power button until the computer turns off. Once the computer is off, you can turn the computer back on to restart the computer.

If the computer has a blue screen or another error, try the Ctrl + Alt + Del shortcut method of rebooting.

Restarting from the Windows desktop

In any version of Windows, navigate to the desktop and press Alt + F4 on your keyboard. Doing so brings up a menu similar to the one displayed below. Click the down arrow for the drop-down list, select Restart, and click OK.

Restarting through the Start menu

Windows 10

The Start menu returns in Windows 10, allowing users to easily access the power options again.

1. Click Start in the lower-left corner of the screen.
2. Click the Power option.
3. In the Power menu, select the Restart option.

Windows 8 and 8.1

Neither of these versions of Windows has the Start menu. However, with the 8.1 update, Microsoft added the power options button to the upper-right corner of the Start screen that allows users to restart their computer quickly. Click the power options icon (squared in red in the image below) and select Restart from the drop-down menu that appears.

Windows Vista and 7

In both Windows Vista and Windows 7, users may restart their computer through the Start menu using the following steps:

1. Click Start in the lower-left corner of the Windows desktop.
2. Locate and click the right arrow (shown below) next to the Shut down button.
3. Select Restart from the menu that appears.

Windows XP and prior versions

1. Click Start in the lower-left corner of the screen.
2. Click the Shut Down button.
3. Select Restart in the drop-down menu that appears.
4. Click OK.

Using Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restart

If you press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys on your keyboard simultaneously, it brings up an administrative menu. This menu differs between versions of Windows, but each one allows users access to the Restart function. Instructions for each version are shown in the following sections.

If the computer has a blue screen or another error, try the Ctrl + Alt + Del method of rebooting.

Windows 10

In Windows 10, pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del takes you to the Windows lock screen. To restart Windows:

1. Locate and click the power icon in the lower-right corner of the lock screen. It should be the icon furthest to the right.
2. Select Restart from the menu that appears.

Windows 8

Users of the Windows 8 will be taken to the Windows lock screen upon pushing Ctrl + Alt + Del . To restart Windows:

1. Locate and click the black power button in the lower-right corner of the screen.
2. Select Restart from the menu that appears.

Windows Vista and 7

In Windows Vista and 7, pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del takes users to the Windows lock screen containing several options. In the lower-right corner, there is a red button with an arrow next to it. Clicking this button opens a list of shutdown options, as you can see in the image. To restart your computer using this menu:

1. Click the red arrow to open the menu.
2. Select Restart to reboot your machine.

Windows XP and prior

In Windows XP and earlier, Ctrl + Alt + Del brings up the Windows Security screen. To restart:

1. Click the Shut Down button.
2. In the new window that appears, click the down arrow and select Restart from the drop-down menu.
3. Click OK.

Using the Windows command line

You can shut down or restart a Windows computer using the Windows command prompt by following the steps below.

1. Open the Windows Command Prompt.
2. To shut down Windows, type shutdown -s and press Enter .
3. To restart Windows, type shutdown -r and press Enter .

If you are accessing Windows on a computer through a remote desktop connection and execute the shutdown or restart command, the remote desktop connection will be terminated. If you executed the restart command, you can reconnect to that computer once it has restarted. If you executed the shutdown command, you can’t reconnect to and start up that computer remotely.

How to reboot from an error message

If the computer encounters an error, you can reboot or restart the computer by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys all at the same time. If these keys do not work, you can also perform the physical restart mentioned below.

Physical restart with button on computer

You can use the computer’s power button to restart. Press the power button once and wait for the computer to shut down. Press the power button again to turn the computer back on.

If your computer is frozen or does not turn off, press and hold the power button for five seconds to shut the computer off. This action is known as a hard reset and should only be done if all of the above options do not work.

Some computers also have a reset button next to or below the power button.

How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC

Note: For information about this topic in Windows 10, see Recovery options in Windows 10.

If you’re having problems with your PC, you can:

Refresh your PC to reinstall Windows and keep your personal files and settings. Refresh also keeps the apps that came with your PC and the apps you installed from the Microsoft Store.

Reset your PC to reinstall Windows but delete your files, settings, and apps—except for the apps that came with your PC.

Restore your PC to undo recent system changes you’ve made.

If you’re having trouble starting (booting) your PC, see Windows Startup Settings (including safe mode), and go to the “Get to Windows Startup Settings in the Windows Recovery Environment” section. You can refresh, reset, or restore your PC from the Windows Recovery Environment.

If you want to back up and restore your personal files using File History, see Set up a drive for File History.

Before you start to refresh or reset your PC

In most cases, once you start to refresh or reset your PC, it’ll finish on its own. However, if Windows needs missing files, you’ll be asked to insert recovery media, which is typically on a DVD disc or thumb drive. If that happens, what you’ll need depends on your PC.

If your PC came with Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, you’ll need the discs or thumb drive that came with your PC. Check the info that came with your PC to see if your PC manufacturer provided these discs or media. In some cases, you might have created them when you first set up your PC.

If you don’t have either of those, you can make them if you have a USB thumb drive of 16 GB or larger. Having a recovery drive can help you troubleshoot and fix problems with your PC, even if it won’t start. For more info, see Create a USB recovery drive.

If you upgraded your PC to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 with a DVD, use that disc. If you don’t have Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 media, contact Microsoft Support.

Refresh, reset, or restore

Select any of the following for more detailed info.

If your PC isn’t performing as well as it once did, and you don’t know why, you can refresh your PC without deleting any of your personal files or changing your settings.

Note: If you upgraded your PC from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 and your PC has a Windows 8 recovery partition, refreshing your PC will restore Windows 8. You’ll need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after the refresh has finished.

Warning: Apps you installed from websites and DVDs will be removed. Apps that came with your PC and apps you installed from Microsoft Store will be reinstalled. Windows puts a list of removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.

To refresh your PC

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.

Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, tap or click Get started.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

If you want to recycle your PC, give it away, or start over with it, you can reset it completely. This removes everything and reinstalls Windows.

Note: If you upgraded your PC from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 and your PC has a Windows 8 recovery partition, resetting your PC will restore Windows 8. You’ll need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after the reset has finished.

Warning: All of your personal files will be deleted and your settings will be reset. All apps that you installed will be removed. Only apps that came with your PC will be reinstalled.

To reset your PC

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.

Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Note: You’ll be asked to choose whether you want to erase data quickly or thoroughly. If you choose to erase data quickly, some data might be recoverable using special software. If you choose to erase data thoroughly, this will take longer but it makes recovering data less likely.

If you think an app or driver that you recently installed caused problems with your PC, you can restore Windows back to an earlier point in time, called a restore point. System Restore doesn’t change your personal files, but it might remove recently installed apps and drivers.

System Restore isn’t available for Windows RT 8.1.

Windows automatically creates a restore point when you install desktop apps and new Windows updates, if the last restore point is older than 7 days. You can also create a restore point manually at any time.

To restore your PC to an earlier point in time

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.)

Enter Control Panel in the search box, and tap or click Control Panel.

Enter Recovery in the Control Panel search box, and then tap or click Recovery.

Tap or click Open System Restore, and then follow the instructions.

If you need additional help refreshing, resetting, or restoring your PC, check out the Repair and Recovery community pages in the Windows forum for solutions that other people have found for problems they’ve experienced.

How can I restart Windows 10 without updating?

Please give your customers the option to restart or shut down their Windows 10 laptop without updating. Why?

Sometimes I have trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi so i have to restart my laptop real quickly to connect to the Wi-Fi but it seems like Microsoft never wants us to be able to be productive. In fact, I am currently typing this post over mobile because my laptop is stuck updating Windows since I couldn’t use my Wi-Fi so I had to restart. And this time, I have been waiting for at least 30 minutes for the «Getting Windows Ready» screen. What if I had an assignment for college due? What if I was trying to show someone something on my laptop?

It’s a good thing my Android does not force me to wait for updates, or else I would never be able to make any phone calls or reply to any emails. Do I really have to spend extra money on a Mac so that it doesn’t force me to wait for updates? Do I really have to become tech-savvy just so I can use Linux and not have to wait for updates?

Also, why is this website so slow on mobile? All other websites run fine even with all of the advertisemenrs? Even my Google Docs run faster despite having more text. Fix your stuff Microsoft. I know Microsoft doesn’t read these forum posts but that’s also why most everyone hates Microsoft and Windows.

And yes, this post is a question. Please at least tell me an easy way to disable updates or allow me to restart without updating. It should not be this hard. Windows didnt even tell me that it would be updating this time either. At least be more transparent. Or is Microsoft scheming to make their users buy two computers? One for updating and the other for work?

Reinstall Windows 10 without CD and without losing data

So I have an issue with my laptop and I was told to resolve that issue, I’d need to reinstall Windows 10. Sadly, I don’t recall where I put my CD. I have my product key though so I think that should be sufficient.

My second issue is, if I reinstall Windows 10, will it delete the data on my laptop or do I have to back it all up into a hard drive.

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum topic.***

Replies (4) 

If you can get into Windows, press the shift key whilst clicking Restart to get to the Windows Recovery Environment

If you cannot get into Windows, start your PC, then just as Windows attempts to load, press and hold Power Button for 5 — 10 seconds to perform a hard shut down

Do this twice

On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt . . . etc.

Go to Troubleshoot — Advanced Options — Reset this PC

You will then have 3 options:

1. Keep my files and Apps
2. Keep my files
3. Keep nothing

Select the option that suits your needs and click Reset

For best results make sure your device is not connected to the Web and unplug all USB devices . . .

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 — 17.3″, i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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