How to Restart Your Computer

Press the key combination Ctrl+Alt+Del. A screen displaying multiple options (Lock, Switch User, Sign Out, Task Manager) will appear. This screen may take a moment to load if your computer is running slowly.

• If you are remotely connected via Remote Desktop, this shortcut will not work. If the remote desktop client supports it, you can send this key combination or open the command prompt on the remote computer and execute the following command: shutdown -r -f -t 0

Click on Restart. Your computer will reboot. If any programs are open, the system will prompt you to close them before shutting down.

Perform a hardware restart. If your computer is frozen, you may need to restart the hardware. Only proceed with this step if the previous methods fail. Here’s how:

• Hold down the power button on your computer until it turns off. This button is typically located on the side of a laptop or the front of a desktop tower.
• Press the power button again to turn the computer back on.

Press the key combination Ctrl+Alt+Del. The lock screen will appear. This may take a moment if your computer is running slowly.

• If you are connected remotely via Remote Desktop, this shortcut will not work. If the remote desktop client supports it, you can send this key combination or open the command prompt on the remote computer and execute the following command: shutdown –r.

Click the arrow next to the power button. This red button is located in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Click on Restart. Your computer will reboot. If any programs are open, the system will prompt you to close them before shutting down.

Perform a hardware restart. If the previous steps don’t work, you’ll need to use the power button to restart your computer. Only use this method if the computer fails to restart normally.

• Hold down the power button on your computer until it turns off. This button is typically located on the side of a laptop or the front of a desktop tower.
• Press the power button again to turn the computer back on.

Press Control+⌘ Command+⏏ Eject. This command will close all open programs and restart your Mac. If there are unsaved sessions, the system will prompt you to save them before restarting. It may take a few minutes for the system to reboot if the computer is running slowly.

• Another way to restart your Mac is to open the Apple menu (located in the top-left corner of the screen) and click Restart.
• If you’re connected remotely, restart the computer using the command sudo shutdown -r now.

Force a hardware restart. Only proceed with this step if you’re unable to restart the computer normally. This is a last resort as it may result in data loss.

• Hold down the power button located at the top-right corner of the keyboard (or on the back of a desktop) until the computer turns off. Then, press the power button again to turn it back on.

• Always remember to save or back up your work before restarting or shutting down your computer. In most cases, the computer won’t automatically save your session.
• If the computer remains unresponsive even after attempting a hardware restart, you can force a shutdown by unplugging a desktop or removing the laptop battery. The computer will power off immediately. Afterward, reconnect the power source and turn the computer back on.