When you need to safely restart your computer (whether it's Windows or Mac), read the instructions in this article.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Restarting in Windows 10, 8 or 8.1
Step 1. Press Ctrl+Atl+Del on your keyboard
A screen with various security options (Lock, Switch User, Logout and Task Manager) will appear; if the system is slow, it may take a while to display.
If you are remotely connected to the PC using Remote Desktop, the shortcut will not work. If the client supports it, there is a way to “send” the key sequence or open a command prompt on the remote machine and run the following command: shutdown -r -f -t 0
Step 2. Click on the Energy icon, a circle with a vertical line in the center
It is in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Choose Restart
If any programs are open, it may be necessary to close them before restarting.
Step 4. Perform hardware reset
When the computer is locked, it will be necessary to use this form of restart, but only if the previous steps did not work. Follow the guidelines below:
- Press and hold the computer's power button until it shuts down. It should be near the keyboard, on notebooks, or on the front of the case, on desktops.
- Then press it once to turn on the machine
Method 2 of 3: Restarting in Windows 7 and Vista
Step 1. Press Ctrl+Atl+Del on your keyboard
A screen with various security options (Lock, Switch User, Logout and Task Manager) will appear; if the system is slow, it may take a while to display.
If you are remotely connected to the PC using Remote Desktop, the shortcut will not work. Open a command prompt on the remote computer and run the shutdown –r command
Step 2. Click the arrow next to the “Power” button, which is red and is in the lower right corner of the screen
Step 3. Choose Restart
It may be necessary to close open programs for it to restart.
Step 4. Hard reset when the previous steps do not work
You can do this by pressing the computer's power button, but it's a feature you should only use if it doesn't otherwise restart.
- Press and hold the computer's power button until it shuts down. The button is located near the keyboard, on notebooks, or on the front of the case, on desktops.
- Press it again to turn on the computer.
Method 3 of 3: Restarting a Mac
Step 1. Press Control+⌘ Command+⏏ Eject to close all open programs and restart your Mac
You will need to save all your work before restarting; if the system is slow, it is normal for the process to take a few minutes.
- Another way to do this is to open the "Apple" menu (top left corner of the screen) and choose "Restart".
- When you are remotely connected to the computer, use the sudo shutdown -r now command to restart it.
Step 2. Force a hardware reset, but only if the other methods don't work
This technique should only be used as a last resort as it can lead to data loss.
Press and hold the power button in the upper right corner of the keyboard (on desktops, it will be on the back of the Mac) until the system shuts down. Press the same button to turn it on again
Tips
- Always save or back up your work before restarting or shutting down your computer, as there is usually no way to automatically save material.
- When the computer does not even respond to hardware reset commands, unplug it from the wall outlet (if desktop) or remove the battery (notebook). The machine must be shut down immediately; then reconnect the power supply and turn it back on.