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Driver Booster

Keep drivers always up-to-date.

How to Restart Computer with Keyboard or Commands in Windows 11/10

Learn how to restart computer with keyboard, commands, or shortcuts in Windows 10, and find out why it restarts on its own in this complete guide with step-by-step solutions.

Highlights

What Does Restarting Computer Mean

Why Does My PC Restart Suddenly Without Noitice

How to Restart a PC Normally

How to Restart PC with Keyboard

How to Restart Computer from Command Prompt

Has your computer ever restarted on its own, or do you simply not know how to restart it without a mouse? Don't worry! In this article, we’ll explore how to restart computer with keyboard or commands, and even look at why your computer might be restarting without warning. Whether you're using Windows 10 or any other version of Windows, this guide will walk you through the process step by step.

Restarting vs. Shutting Down

Restarting your PC is not the same as shutting it down. While shutting down cuts off power completely, restarting closes all processes and immediately turns the system back on. It is useful when installing software, updating the system, or resolving temporary errors.

Hardware Issues

A failure in the power supply, motherboard, or RAM can cause unexpected restarts. Even processor overheating is a sufficient cause.

Software or Operating System Issues

System errors, corrupted files, or faulty drivers can also trigger sudden restarts. Windows often attempts to "protect itself" this way.

Automatic Restarts Due to Updates

Do you notice your PC restarting after an update? It is completely normal. By default, Windows triggers an automatic restart after installing certain security patches.

Hidden Malware or Viruses

Some viruses are designed to restart the system without your knowledge. It is important to have reliable, up-to-date antivirus software.

Auto Restart After a Driver Update

Some driver updates also require or trigger a fresh initialization, restarting your computer. Major updates like GPU driver updates, chipset driver updates, etc., generally demand a reboot.

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  • Click the Start button

  • Select Shut down or sign out

  • Choose Restart

Restart Computer


Very simple, but please note that doing it this way allows Windows to close all processes correctly. Apart from rebooting from the Windows menu, you can also use keyboard shortcut to restart computers.

Keyboard Shortcut to Restart PC in Windows 10

Check how to restart pc with keyboard shortcuts.

  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Del

  • Press the Tab key until you select the power button in the bottom-right corner

  • Use the arrows to select Restart and press Enter

Windows Security Screen

Forced reboot from the device

If your PC has frozen completely, try:

  • Laptop: Press and hold the power button for 5-10 seconds

  • Desktop PC: Use Ctrl + Alt + Del first. If it doesn't respond, press the physical button.

Useful Shortcuts for Emergency Situations

  • Alt + F4 on the desktop opens the shutdown menu

Alt F4 to Open Shutdown Menu

Windows + X, then U and R to quickly restart

  • Windows + X, then U and R to quickly restart

Restart PC from Start Menu

These are all feasible methods on how to restart pc with keyboard shortcuts.

Tip: Check if all the keys on your keyboard are working correctly using our online test.

If your PC stuck on boot screen after restarting, check the troubleshooting blog to fix it.

Check how to restart computer from Command Prompt and PowerShell.

Using CMD (Command Prompt)

You can open CMD with administrator privileges and type: shutdown /r /t 0

  • /r: restarts

  • /t 0: waits 0 seconds

This is how you restart a computer from Command Prompt.

Restarting with PowerShell

You can also use commands to restart computer in PowerShell: Restart-Computer

Ideal for advanced users or administrators.


Conclusion

You now know how to restart computer with keyboard and commands in various scenarios and how to identify why it might be restarting on its own. Restarting a PC seems like a simple task, but there can be many underlying variations and causes. Whether it involves a command, a keyboard shortcut, or an unexpected issue, knowing how to proceed is key to keeping your system running smoothly. Plus, you might use the best driver scanner and updater to manage your driver updates more regularly and methodically.

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