Restart Shortcut (Mac & Windows)
Restart a Mac with ⌃⌘⏏ (Control-Command-Eject/Power); on Windows press Win+X, then U, then R. Both reboot without a confirmation dialog.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restart (reboot) | ⌃⌘⏏ (or ⌃⌘ + Power) | Win+X, U, R | |
| Restart dialog | ⌃⏏ then Return | Alt+F4 (desktop) → Restart | |
| Shut down | ⌃⌥⌘⏏ | Win+X, U, U | |
| Force restart | Hold Power 10s | Hold Power 10s | |
| Sleep | ⌥⌘⏏ | Win+X, U, S | |
| Lock screen | ⌃⌘Q | Win+L |
Restart from the keyboard
On a Mac press ⌃⌘⏏ (Control-Command-Eject) — or ⌃⌘ + the Power button — to restart immediately without a prompt. On Windows there is no single key, but Win+X then U then R opens the power menu and reboots.
Force restart a frozen machine
If the computer is unresponsive, hold the Power button for about 10 seconds on either platform to force a hard restart. Use this only when a normal restart won't respond, as unsaved work is lost.
FAQ
What is the restart shortcut on Mac?
Press ⌃⌘⏏ (Control-Command-Eject), or ⌃⌘ plus the Power button, to restart immediately.
How do I restart Windows with the keyboard?
Press Win+X, then U, then R to open the power menu and reboot.
How do I force restart a frozen computer?
Hold the Power button for about 10 seconds on either a Mac or a Windows PC to force a hard restart.