How to Restart or Shut Down Windows 11

To reboot Windows 11, select the Start button, select the Power icon, and select Restart. Save your work first, because Windows closes all open apps. If the Start menu isn’t responding, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, select the Power icon in the bottom-right corner, and select Restart.

That’s the same method Microsoft gives on its restart your PC page. Below are faster keyboard options and what to do if the PC is frozen or stuck restarting.

Restart From the Start Menu

1. Save any open files.
2. Select the Start button or press the Windows key.
3. Select the Power icon in the bottom-right corner of the Start menu.
4. Select Restart. If updates are waiting, you’ll see Update and restart instead.

Restart a Windows 10 PC

Save your open work, choose Start > Power > Restart, and wait for Windows to return to the sign-in screen. Sign in again and reopen the app you were troubleshooting. Microsoft’s restart instructions cover both Windows 10 and 11; a restart is different from resetting or reinstalling Windows.

Restart With Keyboard Shortcuts

Power user menu

1. Press Windows key + X.
2. Press U to open Shut down or sign out.
3. Press R to restart.

Ctrl + Alt + Delete

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
2. Select the Power icon in the bottom-right corner (or press Tab until it’s highlighted and press Enter).
3. Select Restart.

This often works when the PC is slow or an app has frozen.

Alt + F4 on the desktop

1. Press Windows key + D to show the desktop.
2. Press Alt + F4.
3. Choose Restart from the list and press Enter.

Run box or Terminal

Press Windows key + R (or open Terminal), type the command below, and press Enter. The PC restarts right away.

shutdown /r /t 0

Restart Windows 10 With the Start Menu and Keyboard

Save your work first. Press the Windows key to open Windows 10’s Start menu, then use Tab, Shift + Tab and the arrow keys as needed until the Power control has keyboard focus. Press Enter to open it, use the arrows to select Restart, and press Enter. Check the highlighted label instead of assuming a fixed number of Tab presses; Start layouts and focus can differ. Wait for the sign-in screen and reopen the needed app to check normal operation. The Windows + X and desktop Alt + F4 alternatives above also avoid the mouse. If Alt + F4 closes an app, it had focus; show the desktop first before using the shutdown dialog. These are normal restarts, rather than a factory reset or a forced power-off.

Shut Down Windows From the Start Menu

Save your open files first, then choose Start > Power > Shut down in Windows 11 or Windows 10. Allow Windows to finish before disconnecting power; if an update option is shown, allow its update to complete. Microsoft documents this shutdown route. Confirm that the computer has powered off rather than merely locked or gone to sleep. Windows does not guarantee that every unsaved document is saved for you, and closing a laptop lid can be configured to sleep instead. The Restart versus Shut Down section below explains Fast Startup; ordinary shutdown and a fresh Windows restart serve different troubleshooting purposes.

Shut Down Windows With the Keyboard

Save open work first. Press Windows+D to show the desktop, then Alt+F4. In the Shut Down Windows dialog, choose Shut down with the arrow keys and press Enter. Check that you selected Shut down rather than Restart or Sign out and let Windows finish. Alt+F4 inside an app can close that app, which is why the desktop step matters. The same power dialog described above offers the shutdown choice; Microsoft’s power-options guide distinguishes shutdown, sleep and hibernation. A shutdown does not guarantee that unsaved documents are saved automatically. Use the frozen-computer procedure below only when normal controls fail, and allow an active update to finish.

Create a Desktop Shutdown Shortcut

Save open work before using a shutdown shortcut. Right-click an empty desktop area, choose New > Shortcut and enter shutdown /s /t 0 as the location. Choose Next, name it clearly, such as Shut down this PC, and select Finish. Right-click the finished shortcut and inspect Properties to confirm its command before using it. Double-clicking normally activates a desktop shortcut; do not describe this as a universal single-click button. /s requests shutdown and /t 0 gives no countdown, as documented in Microsoft’s shutdown command reference.

Use it only when ready to shut down this PC, after saving files and allowing an active update to finish. This example omits /f, which forces apps closed and can lose unsaved data. Microsoft also notes that a positive timeout implies /f, so simply adding a countdown is not a safe-save guarantee. The zero-timeout shortcut has no countdown cancellation window; use the ordinary Start power menu when that is preferable. Optional icon changes are under Properties > Shortcut > Change Icon, followed by Apply and OK. Removing this shortcut later removes only the launcher, not Windows or your documents.

If the Computer Is Completely Frozen

1. Try Ctrl + Alt + Delete first. If that screen appears, restart from there.
2. If the screen is black or frozen but you hear sound, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the display driver.
3. If nothing responds, press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the PC turns off.
4. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it on.

Use a forced shutdown only as a last resort, since any unsaved work is lost.

If Windows Is Stuck on “Restarting”

There is no universal waiting time that proves an update is stuck. Keep the PC connected to power and allow an active update to finish; do not force it off merely because a fixed time has elapsed. If it repeatedly returns to the same screen, record the message and use the recovery guidance below. Forced shutdown can lose unsaved work or interrupt disk writes. Microsoft documents interrupting normal startup twice and allowing the third startup to enter Automatic Repair, but normal recovery entry or compatible recovery media is preferable when available. Never interrupt a firmware update. See Microsoft’s recovery instructions.

Restart vs. Shut Down

Restart fully reloads Windows, which clears out stuck apps and finishes installing updates. On PCs with Fast Startup turned on, Shut down saves part of the system state to make the next startup quicker, so a restart is the better choice when you’re fixing a problem. Microsoft explains the power options in its shut down, sleep, and hibernate guide. See how to turn off your computer in Windows 11 for shutting down, and how to disable Fast Startup if you want every shutdown to be a full one.

If Restart Loops Continue

If you can reach Start or the sign-in screen, save work and hold Shift while selecting Power > Restart. In recovery, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options and select a tool appropriate to the problem. For Safe Mode, choose Startup Settings > Restart, then press 4/F4 or 5/F5 for networking. Have your account password and BitLocker recovery key available. Our Windows recovery guide explains each entry method and how to leave without starting a reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I restart into safe mode?

Hold the Shift key while you select Restart from the Power menu. Windows opens the recovery options, where you can choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and restart into safe mode.

Why does my PC say Update and restart?

Windows has downloaded updates that finish installing during the restart. Selecting it restarts the PC and installs them. It can take longer than a normal restart.

Does restarting delete my files?

No. Restarting only closes open apps. Save your work first, because unsaved changes in open apps can be lost.

Is rebooting the same as resetting?

No. Rebooting restarts Windows and keeps everything. Resetting reinstalls Windows and can remove your apps and files, so only do that on purpose from Settings > System > Recovery.