Restart: How to Turn Off a Personal Computer

This updated guide examines Restart: How to Turn Off a Personal Computer and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 2:

Windows

Through Start

1. Click on the Startbutton. It is in the bottom left hand corner, unless you moved your taskbar. Even then, your start button is located in the bottom left corner on Windows 8, it is just hidden.
2. Click on the powerbutton. This is where you will find a bunch of power options, including to shut down, restart, and sleep, as well as hibernate (Windows 7) and user options.
3. Click on the appropriate option. Here are the options:
   • Shut down - shuts down the computer, and installs any Windows Updates.
   • Restart - shuts down the computer, installs any Windows Updates, and starts your computer again. Useful if your computer is having trouble with hardware and programs.
   • Sleep - turns off your computer's display and temporarily halts any running programs.
   • Hibernate - turns off your computer and saves your data to a hibernation file. Useful for airplanes where devices need to be powered down for a period of time.
4. Confirm that you want to shut down/restart your computer if other users are logged in. This can be done by clicking onShutdown/Restart anywayorYes.
5. Force a shut down/restart if programs are not responding. Click onShutdown/Restart anywayorForce shutdown/restartto force a shutdown or restart.

From the Desktop or Taskbar

1. PressAlt+F4. This will not close your taskbar or desktop, it will bring a popup window.
2. Click on the appropriate option. Here are the options:
   • Shut down - shuts down the computer, and installs any Windows Updates.
   • Restart - shuts down the computer, installs any Windows Updates, and starts your computer again. Useful if your computer is having trouble with hardware and programs.
   • Sleep - turns off your computer's display and temporarily halts any running programs.
   • Hibernate - turns off your computer and saves your data to a hibernation file. Useful for airplanes where devices need to be powered down for a period of time.
3. Click onOK.
4. Confirm that you want to shut down/restart your computer if other users are logged in. This can be done by clicking onShutdown/Restart anywayorYes.
5. Force a shut down/restart if programs are not responding. Click onShutdown/Restart anywayorForce shutdown/restartto force a shutdown or restart.

Through the Taskbar Right-click Menu

1. Locate the start button on the task bar. This is usually in the bottom left corner. Then, right-click.
2. On the right-click menu, choose "Shut down or sign out".
3. In the "Shut down or sign out" menu, choose Sleep, Shutdown or Restart.
4. Confirm that you want to shut down/restart your computer if other users are logged in. This can be done by clicking onShutdown/Restart anywayorYes.
5. Force a shut down/restart if programs are not responding. Click onShutdown/Restart anywayorForce shutdown/restartto force a shutdown or restart.

From Command Prompt or Powershell

1. Open Command Prompt or Powershell. Typecmd.exeorpowershell.exeto start either of the two respectively.
2. Typeshutdown -actionto shutdown your computer. Here are the codes.
   • -s: shuts down your computer.
   • -r: restarts your computer.
   • -h: hibernates your computer.
3. Force a shut down/restart if programs are not responding. Click onShutdown/Restart anywayorForce shutdown/restartto force a shutdown or restart.

From the Settings Charm

1. Open the charms bar. This is available on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, and can be done by swiping left from the right, or by moving your mouse to either of the right corners. Then chooseSettings.
   • You can also find the settings key on your keyboard to do this.
2. ChoosePower. Then choose the appropriate option:
   • Shut down - shuts down the computer, and installs any Windows Updates.
   • Restart - shuts down the computer, installs any Windows Updates, and starts your computer again. Useful if your computer is having trouble with hardware and programs.
   • Sleep - turns off your computer's display and temporarily halts any running programs.
3. Confirm that you want to shut down/restart your computer if other users are logged in. This can be done by clicking onShutdown/Restart anywayorYes.
4. Force a shut down/restart if programs are not responding. Click onShutdown/Restart anywayorForce shutdown/restartto force a shutdown or restart.

From the Lock Screen/Control-Alt-Delete Screen

1. ChoosePower in the bottom right corner. Then choose the appropriate option.
   • To emergency restart (if you ran out of RAM or CPU processing), pressCtrl+Alt+Delete, holdControlwhile clicking power, then click on "Yes".
2. Click on the appropriate option. Here are the options:
   • Shut down - shuts down the computer, and installs any Windows Updates.
   • Restart - shuts down the computer, installs any Windows Updates, and starts your computer again. Useful if your computer is having trouble with hardware and programs.
   • Sleep - turns off your computer's display and temporarily halts any running programs.
   • Hibernate - turns off your computer and saves your data to a hibernation file. Useful for airplanes where devices need to be powered down for a period of time.
3. Confirm that you want to shut down/restart your computer if other users are logged in. This can be done by clicking onShutdown/Restart anywayorYes.
4. Force a shut down/restart if programs are not responding. Click onShutdown/Restart anywayorForce shutdown/restartto force a shutdown or restart.

On InstantGo

1. Hold the power button of your computer for five seconds.
2. Drag the screen down.
3. Force a shut down/restart if programs are not responding. Click onShutdown/Restart anywayorForce shutdown/restartto force a shutdown or restart.

Method 2of 2:

Mac

From the Apple Menu

1. Click on theApple menu, then choose the appropriate option:
   • Shut down - shuts down the computer, and installs any Windows Updates.
   • Restart - shuts down the computer, installs any Windows Updates, and starts your computer again. Useful if your computer is having trouble with hardware and programs.
   • Sleep - turns off your computer's display and temporarily halts any running programs.
2. Confirm that you want to shut down/restart your computer if other users are logged in. This can be done by entering an administrator username and password and clickingShutdown/Restart

From the Login Screen

1. Click on the Shutdown, Restart, or Sleep button.
2. Confirm that you want to shut down/restart your computer if other users are logged in. This can be done by entering an administrator username and password and clickingShutdown/Restart

From Terminal

1. Open Terminal.
2. Typesudo rebootto restart orsudo haltto shut down. You will not be prompted for the shutdown, but may be prompted for an administrator username and password.