Did you know that Windows 11 has a secret restart method? Here's how to access it

5 hours ago 3
Microsoft Surface Laptop
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Usually, whenever a caller diagnostic comes retired for Windows, Microsoft advertises it wide successful a blog station to fto everyone know. Or if they don't, radical observe the diagnostic soon aft an update. However, a adjuvant diagnostic sometimes slips done the cracks, lone to beryllium unearthed years later.

Also: How to wide the cache connected your Windows 11 PC (and wherefore you shouldn't hold to bash it)

That was my absorption erstwhile I recovered this obscure Emergency Restart method for Windows 11 aft stumbling crossed a station connected the Sysadmin subreddit. Reddit idiosyncratic '-Steets-' shared the accusation successful 2022, though different comments assertion the method was contiguous connected Windows XP, which came retired implicit 20 years ago.

To entree Emergency Restart, property the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys connected your Windows PC -- a beauteous mean action. However, this time, clasp down the CTRL cardinal and click the powerfulness fastener successful the bottom-right country of the screen.

Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 now

This enactment leads to a connection connected surface stating that you're attempting an Emergency Restart, adding "Click OK to instantly restart. Any unsaved information volition beryllium lost." The connection concludes, "Use this lone arsenic a past resort." Click "OK", and your machine volition crook disconnected and backmost connected arsenic normal.

windows-11-emergency-restart.png
Screenshot by Cesar Cadenas/Microsoft

You mightiness wonderment astir the quality betwixt this exigency method and a regular restart. The reply goes backmost to the last word -- "last resort". As BetaNews explained successful 2023, the method is "an alternate to a hard reset." The method is the closest happening to holding down the on/off fastener connected your PC without having to property it.

This exigency restart is utile erstwhile your machine whitethorn person frozen to the constituent wherever thing goes through, and it doesn't respond to thing different than CTRL + ALT + DEL. The method is besides adjuvant connected laptops lacking a carnal powerfulness button.

There aren't immoderate drawbacks to utilizing Emergency Restart. I did it connected my desktop and aggregate laptops -- everything was fine. Again, this method is simply a last-ditch effort for definite situations, though thing stops you from utilizing it arsenic often arsenic you want.

Also: One of the astir almighty ultraportable laptops I've tested isn't a MacBook Pro oregon ThinkPad

If you privation different method, motorboat the Command Prompt and benignant "shutdown /r" to restart your machine. Instructions for different shutdown methods tin beryllium recovered connected Microsoft's Learn website.

Editorial standards
Read Entire Article