To reboot a Windows 11 PC, select Start, select the Power button, and then select Restart. Windows closes your apps, shuts down, and starts again on its own. “Reboot” and “restart” mean the same thing here.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 6, 2026.
Before you restart
A restart closes every open app, so anything you have not saved can be lost. Take a moment to get ready:
- Save open documents, and finish or pause downloads and file copies.
- If you are copying files to or from a USB drive or external disk, wait for the copy to finish.
- On a laptop, plug in the charger if the restart is going to install updates, because an update restart can take longer than a normal one.
- If only one app is frozen, you may not need to restart at all. Try to force close the app on Windows 11 first.
If you only need to close a few stuck apps, you can end those tasks in Task Manager instead of restarting.
This is the method Microsoft documents for Windows 11, and it is the right choice for everyday use.
- Save your work and close the apps you are using. A restart closes everything that is open.
- Select Start on the taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard. The Start menu opens.
- Select the Power button in the Start menu. A short menu of power choices appears.
- Select Restart. Windows signs you out, shuts down, and starts back up without you pressing anything.
- Wait for the sign-in screen, and then sign in as usual.
If updates are waiting, the same menu can show Update and restart and Update and shut down. Choose Update and restart when you want Windows to finish installing updates during this reboot. To keep update restarts from interrupting your work, see how to stop automatic shutdowns and restarts in Windows 11.
The Quick Link menu is the list that opens when you right-click the Start button. It is handy when the Start menu itself is slow to open.
- Press Windows key + X, or right-click Start. Microsoft describes both as the same action.
- Select Shut down or sign out. A submenu opens beside it.
- Choose the restart option in that submenu. The PC restarts right away.
Restart with the keyboard
If your mouse or touchpad has stopped working, you can reach the shutdown prompt from the desktop with two shortcuts.
- Press Windows key + D to show the desktop. This matters because the next shortcut acts on whatever window is active.
- Press Alt + F4. With an app window active, this shortcut closes that window. With no windows open, Windows shows a shutdown prompt instead.
- In the prompt, choose the restart option from the list of actions and confirm it.
If you press Alt + F4 and an app closes, nothing is wrong. Press it again once the desktop is in front.
Restart with a command
Windows includes a shutdown command that works in the Run box, Command Prompt, and PowerShell. It helps when menus will not open, and it lets you add a delay.
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- In the Open box, type shutdown /r /t 0
- Select OK. The PC restarts immediately.
Here is what each part of that command means, according to Microsoft’s command reference:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| /r | Restarts the computer after shutdown. |
| /t | Sets the wait in seconds before the restart. The default is 30 if you leave it out, so /t 0 means no wait. |
| /f | Forces running apps to close without warning. Unsaved data can be lost. |
| /a | Cancels a pending shutdown or restart while the timer is still counting down. |
| /o | Used together with /r, restarts into the advanced boot options menu. |
For example, shutdown /r /t 3600 restarts the PC in one hour. If you change your mind, open the Run box again and enter shutdown /a before the hour is up. Be aware that Microsoft notes the /f behavior is implied whenever the wait is longer than 0 seconds, so save your work before you start a timed restart.
In PowerShell, the equivalent is Restart-Computer, which restarts the local computer. Adding -Force forces an immediate restart. Both commands need an account that is allowed to shut down the system.
Restart to finish Windows updates
Many updates are only completed by a restart. You can restart from the Start menu as shown above, or pick a time that suits you:
- Select Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Schedule the restart and choose a time when you will not be using the PC. Look for this option when an update is waiting for a restart.
- To stop automatic restarts during your working day, go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours and set the hours you normally use the device.
Microsoft says that, starting with updates released on or after July 28, 2026, Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 group updates that need a restart into one monthly restart, so you should be asked to reboot for updates less often than before.
Restart into recovery or startup options
Sometimes you need a restart that opens the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), a set of built-in repair tools, instead of your desktop. Use this when you want safe mode, Startup Repair, or your PC’s UEFI firmware settings.
- Select Start, and then select the Power button.
- Press and hold the Shift key while you select Restart.
- When the recovery screen appears, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options to see the tools.
You can reach the same place from Settings > System > Recovery by selecting Restart now next to Advanced startup. From there, Startup Settings leads to safe mode; our guide on how to start Windows 11 in safe mode walks through those screens. To leave safe mode later, Microsoft says a normal restart should be enough.
Restart versus shut down, sleep, and hibernate
These options are easy to mix up, and they do different jobs:
- Restart fully shuts Windows down and loads it again. Use it for updates, driver installs, and odd behavior.
- Shut down turns the PC off. On PCs that can hibernate, a feature called Fast Startup is on by default, and Microsoft explains that it puts the computer into a hibernation state instead of a full shutdown. That makes the next start quicker, but it also means some updates are not finished until you choose Restart from the Power menu. To turn the PC off and keep your open apps, use Hibernate instead.
- Sleep uses very little power and returns you to where you left off. It does not reload Windows.
- Hibernate, where available, saves your session to disk and powers off. It also does not reload Windows.
So if someone tells you to “turn it off and on again” to fix a problem, Restart is the option that actually does it. If you would rather have a full shutdown every time, see how to disable Fast Startup in Windows 11.
How to confirm the restart worked
A completed restart ends at the sign-in screen, and your apps are closed when you sign back in. If you restarted to install updates, open Settings > Windows Update and check that it no longer asks for a restart. If you started a timed restart by mistake, shutdown /a cancels it as long as the timer has not run out. A restart that has already begun cannot be undone, which is why saving first matters.
If Windows 11 will not restart or is frozen
The screen is frozen or black
Work through these in order, from gentle to forceful:
- Press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. Microsoft lists this shortcut as a way to reset the graphics driver, which can bring a blank screen back.
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete. If the security screen appears, open Task Manager from it. You can also press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly.
- In Task Manager, restart Windows Explorer. This reloads the taskbar and desktop without rebooting the whole PC, and it is often enough to make the Start menu respond so you can restart normally.
- As a last resort, press and hold the physical power button for about 10 seconds until the PC turns off, wait a few seconds, and press it again to turn the PC on. Microsoft’s guidance for Surface devices is to hold the button until the device shuts down and restarts, which takes about 20 seconds.
Holding the power button cuts the session off without saving anything. Microsoft’s own advice is to shut down the standard way whenever possible, so keep this for a PC that truly will not respond.
The Restart option is missing or does nothing
On a work or school PC, your organization can control power options and restart timing. If the choice is missing there, ask your IT department instead of trying to work around it. On a personal PC, try the Quick Link menu or the shutdown /r /t 0 command, because they do not depend on the Start menu.
A command restart is refused
Microsoft notes that an account must have the “Shut down the system” user right to use the shutdown command. On a managed PC that right may have been removed, and only an administrator can change it.
The PC restarts by itself or keeps restarting
An unexpected restart with an error screen is called a stop code error. Microsoft says that in most cases the restart itself resolves the problem. If it keeps happening, its basic steps are to remove any newly added hardware, start in safe mode, check Device Manager for flagged devices, make sure the drive has 10 to 15 percent free space, install the latest Windows updates, and use a restore point if needed. If Windows cannot finish starting several times in a row, it opens the automatic repair screen, where Advanced options takes you to the recovery tools. To keep that error screen visible long enough to read, see how to disable automatic restart in Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
Is rebooting the same as restarting?
Yes. Microsoft’s own help page is titled “Restart (reboot) your PC”, and both words describe shutting Windows down and starting it again in one step.
Will I lose my files when I restart Windows 11?
Saved files are not affected. Only unsaved changes in open apps are at risk, so save before you restart. A forced restart, such as the /f option or holding the power button, skips the chance to save.
How do I restart Windows 11 using only the keyboard?
Press Windows key + D to show the desktop, press Alt + F4, choose the restart option, and confirm. You can also press Windows key + R, type shutdown /r /t 0, and press Enter.
Why does Windows ask me to restart after an update?
Microsoft’s update guidance says your device needs to restart to finish installing an update. Until you restart, the update is not fully installed. Use Schedule the restart in Windows Update if now is a bad time.
How do I restart into the BIOS or UEFI settings?
Hold Shift while you select Restart, and then open Troubleshoot > Advanced options. Windows RE includes a UEFI Firmware Settings tool on PCs that support it.
How often should I restart my PC?
There is no fixed rule from Microsoft. Restart when Windows Update asks, after installing drivers or software that request it, and whenever the PC starts behaving strangely. Because shutting down with Fast Startup does not fully reload Windows, an occasional real restart is worthwhile even if you turn the PC off every night.
For most people the Start, Power, Restart route is all you need. Microsoft’s short reference is here: Restart (reboot) your PC. If a single program keeps freezing after a reboot, deal with that app next instead of restarting again.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.