Restarting a computer can also resolve issues with network drives. This is also true for many software updates or installations, so if you notice any expected changes that have yet to take effect, a reboot may be necessary to complete them. If the issue is still present after the restart, a call to your IT team may be necessary.Īny time you install a Windows update, your computer will need to be restarted. Most commonly, restarting your computer can fix issues with freezing or applications that get stuck at “not responding.” If your computer is frozen and you’re unable to click on the start menu to restart it, you can manually shut it off by pressing the power button, waiting a few seconds after it shuts down, then pressing the power button again to turn it back on.

This works because a reboot will free up memory space and clear temporary files that were stored by various pieces of software. It’s natural for a computer to start running more slowly if it has been left on for a long time, and restarting it will usually speed things up. If you begin experiencing issues and your computer has been up and running for over a week, it’s best to try restarting it before you or your IT team attempt any further troubleshooting. Note that a computer going into sleep mode is not the same as being shut down there are still processes running in the background while it’s in sleep mode. Computers running newer versions of Windows, as well as Mac computers, can be shut down or restarted less frequently. In fact, the longer you leave your computer on without restarting it or shutting it down, the more likely it is to start experiencing issues.Īs a general rule, computers running old versions of Windows should be shut down every night to achieve their best performance. As the stereotype goes, your IT team’s first question when a problem is reported is often, “have you tried restarting your computer?” or “have you tried turning it off and on again?” It’s easy to get offended when this question is asked, but the truth is that many problems can be resolved by a simple reboot.

Windows 10 taking forever to restart