4 Ways to Restart or Shut down Windows 10

By Michael | Last Updated July 31, 2025

Need to power off or reboot your Windows 10 computer smoothly? Whether you're troubleshooting, installing updates, or just done for the day, this article introduces four commonly-used methods to restart or shut down Windows 10 computer in detail.

Way 1: Restart or Shut Down Windows 10 in the Start Menu.

Step 1: Tap the lower-left Start button to open the Start Menu.

Step 2: Click the Power Options button on the top middle, and select Restart or Shut down in the list.

Way 2: Restart or Shut Down Windows 10 via Power User Menu (Win + X)

Press Win + X or right-click the Start button to open the Power User menu, tap Shut down or sign out and choose Restart or Shut down in the sub-menu.

Way 3: Restart or Shut down Windows 10 Using Desktop Shortcut (Alt + F4)

Step 1: Close or minimize all open windows to reveal the desktop. Then press Alt+F4 to open the Shut Down Windows dialog box.

Step 2: Click the down arrow, choose Restart or Shut down in the list and tap OK.

Way 4: Restart or shutdown Windows 10 on the Settings Panel.

Step 1: Use Windows+C to open the Charms Menu and select Settings on it.

Step 2: Click the Power button, and choose Restart or Shut down in the pop-up list.

What's the Difference Between Shutdown and Restart?

Shutdown often uses Fast Startup (hybrid shutdown): it partially hibernates the system kernel to speed up the next boot.

Restart always performs a full shutdown and reboot, clearing all RAM and restarting system processes fresh—making it ideal for applying updates or troubleshooting.

FAQs on Windows 10 Shut Down and Restart

Q1: How to shut down or restart Windows 10 using CMD?

You can run the Command Prompt or PowerShell to shutdown or restart the computer.

Command line for Shutdown immediately: shutdown /s /t 0

Command line for Restart immediately: shutdown /r /t 0

Q2: Why use Restart instead of Shut Down sometimes?

Restart performs a complete reset of system processes—ideal for updates or resolving software issues.

Q3: Can I cancel a shutdown in progress?

Yes—open Command Prompt and run: shutdown /a .

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