How to Reboot Computers Operating on Windows, Linux, and macOS?

Rebooting a computer device simply means restarting it. This can be done in different ways depending on the operating system of your device. You may need to reboot your computer after installing a new update or when the system is not working properly.

So, if you are wondering how to reboot computers or what is the shortcut to reboot computers on Windows, Linux, or macOS, you are at the right place. Additionally, if you’re dealing with a “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device” error, don’t panic — there are many troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue/error.

In this quick and helpful guide, I will go through simple steps to reboot a computer properly using different methods. I will also cover the best practices to safely reboot or restart your system.

How to Reboot a Computer on Windows 11, 10, and 8?

For starters, let’s see how to reboot my PC on the latest versions of Windows 11, 10, and 8. The easiest way is using the start menu:

1. Click the Start button and access the Start menu.

   

2. Now, select the power icon at the bottom for Windows 10 and 11 users and the top for Windows 8 users.

   

3. Finally, just choose the Restart option and your device will start the process of restarting.

   

Another method to learn how to reboot your computer is using the Power User Menu. This one is faster than the Start menu method. Here are the steps:

1. Press the Windows + X key or right-click the Start button.

   

2. Go to ‘Shutdown or sign out’ and click on the Restart button.

   

How to Restart a Computer Running on Windows 7, Vista, and XP?

Learning how to reboot PCs on earlier operating systems like Windows 7, Vista, or XP is pretty easy and fast. Here is the step-by-step process to make things even more simple for you:

1. Click on the Start button located on the taskbar.
2. Now, click on the small arrow next to the Shut down button if you are using Windows 7 and Vista.

   Shut down > Restart”>

3. For Windows XP users, click on the Turn Off Computer button.

   

4. At last, just click on the Restart button.

   

This is how simple it is to reboot a device on the older versions of Windows using the Start menu. Moving on, let’s find out how you reboot your computer using keyboard shortcuts.

How to Restart Your PC With Keyboard?

Keyboard shortcuts are a faster way to give commands to reboot PCs. It may also come in handy when your computer freezes. You can simply use the Ctrl + Alt + Del shortcut to restart the device.

Pressing these keys together brings up a blue screen giving you the option to lock your PC, restart, switch users, log out, or shut down the computer. Follow the given steps to access the restart option:

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del at the same time.

   

2. On the next screen, click on the Power button in the bottom-right corner.

   

3. Now, choose Restart from different options, and your system will start rebooting.

   

Another method to restart the PC using the keyboard is by using Alt + F4. Let’s take a look at the steps involved:

1. Firstly, close all open windows and make sure you are on the desktop.

2. Now, press Alt +F4 together.

3. A dialog box will appear, select the Restart option and click on OK

   

How Do I Reboot My Computer Using Command Prompt? 

You can also reboot the computer from the Command Prompt. Windows Command Prompt commands offer great functionality to Windows users.  Just follow the given steps to learn the process:

1. Launch the Command Prompt by searching for cmd in the search bar. You can also do so by using the Windows + R shortcut and searching cmd in the Run window.

   

2. Once the Command Prompt launches, type ‘shutdown /r’ (the cmd reboot command) and press Enter.

   

Now, your computer will restart automatically despite typing shutdown in the prompt. It is because the /r part used in the command tells the system to reboot. 

How to Reboot Your Computer on a Linux System?

You have learned all the possible methods of the Windows system. But, how can I reboot my PC working on a Linux system? Look at the following steps to learn the process:

1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and click on the ‘Open in Terminal’ option from the menu. 

   

2. In the terminal window, type reboot or sudo systemctl reboot and press Enter.

   

3. Now, the system may ask for your password to confirm the action. After entering the password, the computer will start the rebooting process.

   

Everyone using the system will be notified about the process, and no new logins will be allowed. Also, Linux will safely close all files and stop programs before rebooting the system.

How to Reboot My Computer on macOS?

Mac devices are completely different from other operating systems.  You can learn how to restart a PC running on macOS with the help of 2 simple ways.

The first method is to restart a Mac from the Menu Bar:

1. Click on the Apple log in the top left corner of your device.

   

2. Now, choose the Restart option from the dropdown menu.

   

3. If you don’t want your apps to reopen, uncheck the box that says ‘Reopen windows when logging back in’ and again click on Restart.

   

The second method to restart a Mac involves using a keyboard shortcut. You just need to press and hold the Control + Command + Power button until your screen goes dark and you hear the restart sound. This method even works if your Mac is unresponsive.

Useful Tips for Rebooting Computers

Now that you have learned different ways to reboot your computers, it is also important to follow some best practices to safely reboot a system. Here are some tips for you:

• Make it a habit to always save open files and close running apps to prevent data loss.

• You should also Task Manager for Windows, Force Quit for macOS, and Kill commands on Linux to close frozen windows before restarting.

• You should regularly reboot your computer to clear temporary files and refresh system memory. This will help in managing the performance of your device.

• Never interrupt the rebooting process; allow the system to completely shut down and reboot to avoid errors.

Furthermore, you should try to unplug all the external devices like USB drives and printers before rebooting. These tips will help you prevent crashes and extend the lifespan of your device.

Conclusion

I have tried to cover every possible way to reboot your computer in simple steps. Regular rebooting is important to regulate the speed and performance of your device. Plus, it may also be required to perform in case you experience a frozen screen.

I hope that you now completely know how to reboot computers on different operating systems. Please share it with your friends and family as well.