Restart and shut down your computer regularly
Regular restarts help Windows complete updates and can clear temporary problems that cause slowness, failed connections, or apps and devices to behave unexpectedly. Closing a laptop lid or choosing Sleep is not a restart.
At the end of the workday
- Save your work and close open apps.
- Unless IT has told you to leave the computer powered on and connected overnight, select Start > Power > Shut down.
- Wait until the computer turns off completely before docking, unplugging, or packing it away.
Do not hold the physical power button to force the computer off unless it is frozen and will not respond. A forced shutdown can lose unsaved work.
Restart at least once each week
Select Start > Power > Restart at least weekly and whenever Windows says a restart is required. Restart is the reliable way to fully refresh Windows and complete pending updates; on some Windows computers, a normal shutdown can use Fast Startup instead of performing a full restart. If the Power menu shows Update and restart, choose that option.
Restart sooner when
- The computer becomes unusually slow or an app stops responding.
- Wi-Fi, sound, monitors, printers, cameras, or other devices stop working normally.
- Windows or an approved application asks you to restart.
If the same problem returns after restarting, submit an IT support ticket and include any error message you saw.
Microsoft guidance: Shut down, sleep, or hibernate your PC and Updates may not install with Fast Startup.