Restarting your Windows computer is one of the most popular ways to fix any temporary system glitches. At times, you may also need to restart your system to install a Windows Update or apply registry changes.

Whatever the case may be, restarting your Windows PC is quite easy, as it should be. And it is a good idea to learn all of the methods, as a Windows error or glitch may sometimes prevent you from using a specific method, forcing you to take another route Here we show you eight different ways to restart your Windows computer.

1. How to Restart Windows via the Start Menu

The easiest and most well-known way to restart a Windows computer is through the Start menu. Here are the steps you need to follow.

  1. Click the Start icon on the taskbar or press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Click the power icon in the bottom right corner.
  3. Select Restart from the menu that appears.
    Restart Windows Computer From Start Menu

And voila! Your PC will reboot.

2. How to Restart Windows Using the Power User Menu

The Windows Power User menu provides quick access to some of the most important features and utilities. It also gives you the option to restart or shut down your Windows PC.

To restart Windows using the Power User menu:

  1. Right-click on the Start icon or use the Win + X keyboard shortcut to access the Power User menu.
  2. Select Shut down or sign out > Restart.
    Restart Option in Power User Menu

As soon as you do this, your PC will reboot.

3. How to Use the Ctrl + Alt + Delete Menu to Restart Windows

Another way to restart your Windows PC is through the Ctrl + Alt + Delete menu. It's likely your best option if the Start menu is not working.

Start by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard to open the options screen. Then, click the power icon in the bottom right corner, and select Restart from the list. Your PC will restart immediately.

Restart Windows From Ctrl Alt Del Screen

4. How to Restart Windows With the Alt + F4 Shortcut

You can also restart your PC easily by accessing the Shut Down Windows dialog. Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Press Win + D to quickly navigate to your Desktop.
  2. Press Alt + F4 on your keyboard to summon the Shut Down Windows dialog.
  3. Use the drop-down menu to select Restart and click OK.
    Shut Down Windows Dialog Box

Aside from the above, you can also use the Shut Down Windows dialog to put your PC to sleep, shut it down, or hibernate it.

5. How to Restart Windows via the Command Prompt

If you’re an avid Windows user who’s familiar with the command prompt utility, you can also restart your PC by running a command. Here’s how:

  1. Click the search icon on the taskbar to open the search menu.
  2. Type cmd and select Run as administrator.
  3. Run the following command in the console to restart your PC: 
            shutdown -r

When the warning message appears, click Close. Your PC will shut down and restart in 60 seconds.

Restart Windows Computer Using Command Prompt

If you want to cancel the restart at any point during the 60-second period, use the following command: 

        shutdown /a

If you're interested in learning more about such tricks, be sure to check out the Windows Command Prompt commands you must know.

6. How to Restart Windows From the Login Screen

You don’t necessarily have to sign in to your Windows computer to restart it. Windows also gives you the option to restart your PC from the login screen or lock screen.

When you are on the Windows login or lock screen, click the power icon in the bottom right corner and select Restart from the menu that appears.

Restart Windows Computer From Login or Lock Screen

7. How to Create a Desktop Shortcut to Restart Windows

You may be using desktop shortcuts on Windows to quickly access your applications, files, and folders. But did you know you could also create a desktop shortcut to restart your computer? It's actually quite simple to set up.

  1. Right-click on an empty spot on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
  2. In the Create Shortcut window, type Shutdown -r -t 00 in the text field.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Enter a suitable name for your shortcut and click on Finish.
    Create Desktop Shortcut to Restart Windows Computer

Once you have created a desktop shortcut, you can double-click it to quickly restart your computer. Optionally, you can change the icon for your newly created shortcut to make it more distinguishable. Check out our guide on how to customize icons on Windows for more information on this.

8. How to Use the Emergency Restart Feature in Windows

Windows also provides a secret Emergency restart option that can be useful if your PC freezes or if the above suggestions do not work. Microsoft recommends using this option only as a last resort.

To use the Emergency restart feature on Windows:

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard.
  2. Press and hold the Ctrl key and click the power icon in the bottom right corner.
  3. Click OK when the Emergency restart prompt appears.
    Perform an Emergency Restart on Windows

Once you complete the above steps, your PC will reboot.

How Do You Prefer to Restart Your Windows PC?

Now you know several ways to restart your Windows PC. All of them are quick and easy to execute. You can pick the one that is most convenient for you.

In addition to the aforementioned methods, you can also remotely restart your Windows computer.