How to Perform an Emergency Restart (Win 10/11)

To perform an emergency restart of a Windows computer, you can use these steps. This type of restart bypasses the standard shutdown process and forces the system to reboot immediately, which can be useful if the computer is unresponsive or in an unusual state.

Method 1: Using Ctrl + Alt + Delete

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard.
2. In the bottom-right corner, hold down the Ctrl key and then click on the Power icon.
3. While still holding Ctrl, select Restart.

This forces an immediate restart, bypassing normal shutdown procedures and stopping any applications or processes without saving.

Method 2: Using PowerShell or Command Prompt

If you have access to PowerShell or Command Prompt, you can execute this command to force an immediate restart:

shutdown /r /f /t 0

• /r: Restarts the computer.
• /f: Forces any open applications to close without warning.
• /t 0: Sets the timer to 0 seconds, making the restart instant.

Method 3: Using Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to File > Run new task.
3. Type shutdown /r /f /t 0 in the box and press Enter.

Method 4: Physical Button (if the system is entirely unresponsive)

1. Press and hold the Power button on your computer for 5-10 seconds until it turns off.
2. Wait a few seconds, then press the Power button again to turn it back on.

Warning: Emergency restarts can cause unsaved data loss and might risk system corruption if applications are open. It’s best to use this method only when necessary.