Windows won’t restart when expected—it’s frustrating, but usually fixable. If the computer doesn’t restart, the most common causes are power settings, pending system activity (updates or hung apps), driver or system-file corruption, or background software blocking the shutdown sequence. This article explains why Restart doesn’t work in Windows 10 and shows step-by-step fixes so you can get your PC rebooting reliably.
Key Takeaway
The quickest reliable fix is to disable Fast Startup, run SFC and DISM to repair system files, and perform a clean boot to isolate third‑party software; these steps resolve most causes when Restart doesn’t work in Windows 10.
Quick Fix Guide
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Fast Startup / Hybrid shutdown | Disable Fast Startup in Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do. |
| Pending or stuck Windows Update | Run Windows Update troubleshooting and restart the Windows Update service, then apply updates. |
| Background apps or hung processes | Close unresponsive apps via Task Manager or use shutdown /r /t 0 to force restart. |
| Corrupted system files | Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. |
| Faulty or outdated drivers | Update or roll back drivers in Device Manager; especially display, network, and storage drivers. |
| BIOS/UEFI or ACPI power issues | Update BIOS/UEFI firmware and check Power Options/ACPI settings. |
| Third-party software (security/virtualization) | Perform a Clean Boot to find and remove the conflicting program. |
| Corrupted user profile or system services | Test with a new user account and repair/restore Windows or use System Restore if available. |
Detailed Fixes for “Restart doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1) Fast Startup / Hybrid shutdown
Why this causes the problem:
Fast Startup uses a hybrid hibernate to speed boot times. It can leave some drivers or services in a state that prevents a full restart.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Control Panel (type “Control Panel” in Start).
- Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
- Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left.
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) and click Save changes.
- Restart the PC normally.
Notes/Tips:
- If you need hibernation features later, you can re-enable it; but disabling often fixes restart hang-ups.
- You can also disable fast startup using an elevated command prompt: powercfg -h off (this also disables hibernate).
2) Pending or stuck Windows Update
Why this causes the problem:
Windows Update may be applying updates, or the update service can get stuck, blocking restart or hanging during reboot.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any pending updates.
- If updates are stuck, run the built-in troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.
- To manually reset update components:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start > Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
- Stop services: net stop wuauserv and net stop bits.
- Rename folders: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old and ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old.
- Restart services: net start bits and net start wuauserv.
- Reboot and try updating again.
Notes/Tips:
- Only rename folders; do not delete them until you confirm the issue is resolved.
- If Windows Update repeatedly fails, consider running DISM and SFC (see section 4).
3) Background apps or hung processes
Why this causes the problem:
If an application or service refuses to close or prompts for input, Windows may delay or cancel restart.
Step-by-step solution:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Under Processes, look for apps labeled Not responding or processes consuming high CPU/disk.
- Select the process and click End task.
- If a restart still won’t proceed, force a restart: open an elevated Command Prompt and run shutdown /r /t 0.
- To discover which apps block shutdown, go to Event Viewer: Windows Logs > System and filter for Event ID 6006 / 6008 or look for messages with source USER32 or Kernel-Power.
Notes/Tips:
- Save any important work first; forced restarts will close unsaved data.
- Consider configuring Windows to automatically close applications on sign-out: Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Restart apps toggle.
4) Corrupted system files
Why this causes the problem:
Critical system files required for shutdown/restart can become corrupted, causing unexpected behavior.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Windows PowerShell (Admin) or an elevated Command Prompt.
- Run sfc /scannow and wait until it completes. This checks and repairs protected system files.
- If SFC reports issues it cannot fix, run DISM: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
- After DISM completes, run sfc /scannow again.
- Reboot to see if restart behavior is fixed.
Notes/Tips:
- DISM needs internet access to download replacement files if the local image is corrupted.
- If DISM fails, you may need installation media for repair using the /Source option.
5) Faulty or outdated drivers
Why this causes the problem:
Drivers control hardware shutdown/restart sequences; faulty drivers (especially graphics, chipset, and storage) can block restart.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager).
- Look for devices with a yellow triangle. For suspected devices (video, network, disk controller), right-click > Update driver > Search automatically.
- If problems started after a driver update, roll back: right-click device > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
- For graphics drivers, visit the vendor website (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) and download the latest WHQL driver.
- After updating, reboot and test restart.
Notes/Tips:
- Use Display adapters, IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, and Network adapters as first checks.
- For stubborn problems, uninstall the device and its driver and reboot—Windows will reinstall drivers automatically.
6) BIOS/UEFI or ACPI power issues
Why this causes the problem:
Incorrect firmware or outdated ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) support can confuse Windows power transitions.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s support site for BIOS/UEFI updates specific to restart/power issues.
- Backup important data and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to update firmware.
- In BIOS/UEFI, check power-related settings (look for ACPI, Sleep states, or ERP) and restore defaults if unsure.
- Save changes and reboot.
Notes/Tips:
- Updating BIOS carries some risk—only update if you have a specific fix in release notes or if guided by support.
- After firmware updates, re-check Windows power settings and drivers.
7) Third-party software (security, virtualization, shell extensions)
Why this causes the problem:
Antivirus, disk utilities, virtualization software, or shell extensions can intercept shutdown calls and block restart.
Step-by-step solution:
- Perform a Clean Boot to isolate the software:
- Press Windows + R, type msconfig and press Enter.
- On the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
- On Startup tab click Open Task Manager, disable startup items, then close Task Manager and click OK.
- Reboot and test whether restart works.
- If restart is restored, re-enable services/startup items one by one or in small groups until the problem returns to identify the culprit.
- Once identified, update, reconfigure, or uninstall the offending software.
Notes/Tips:
- Common culprits: third-party security suites, backup/sync tools, virtual machine software (VirtualBox/VMware), and shell extension tools (TortoiseSVN/TortoiseGit).
- Remember to undo clean boot changes (re-enable services/startup) after troubleshooting.
8) Corrupted user profile or critical system service stuck
Why this causes the problem:
A corrupt user profile or essential Windows service failing to start/stop correctly can block restart actions for that user.
Step-by-step solution:
- Create a new local user account to test:
- Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC > I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account, then create a test user.
- Sign in with the new account and test restart; if it works, your original profile may be corrupted.
- Repair options:
- Use System Restore to revert to a prior restore point: Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore.
- If no restore point, consider moving personal files to the new account and recreate the profile.
- For service issues, open Services (type services.msc) and check for services stuck in the starting/stopping state; right-click and try Restart or check their Properties > Log On credentials.
Notes/Tips:
- Before recreating profiles, backup the C:\Users\
folder. - Services like Windows Event Log or User Profile Service are critical—errors here often indicate broader system corruption.
Additional section: When to use System Restore, Reset, or Reinstall
If you’ve tried the above and Restart doesn’t work in Windows 10, consider escalating:
- System Restore: Use if recent changes caused the issue and a restore point exists (Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore).
- Reset This PC: Keeps your files or removes everything and reinstalls Windows (Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC).
- Clean install: Use when system files are highly corrupted or repeated problems persist—back up data first and use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.
- Professional help: If BIOS updates fail or hardware issues are suspected (failing power supply, motherboard), contact manufacturer or a technician.
FAQ
Q: Will a restart install pending Windows updates?
A: Yes. Windows installs many updates during restart or shutdown; if updates fail repeatedly, troubleshoot Windows Update as described in section 2.
Q: How do I force restart when the screen is frozen?
A: Press and hold the PC’s power button for about 5–10 seconds until it powers off, then press again to power on. This is a last resort because it can cause data loss.
Q: Can malware prevent restart?
A: Yes. Some malware interferes with shutdown/restart. Run a full scan with Windows Defender (Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Full scan) or a trusted anti-malware tool.
Q: How do I restart into Safe Mode if normal restart won’t work?
A: If you can access Windows: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then choose Safe Mode. If not, interrupt boot three times to force Windows Recovery Environment.
Q: Is there a log to check why restart failed?
A: Use Event Viewer (Windows Logs > System). Look for errors from sources like Kernel-Power, USER32, or Event ID 41 for unexpected shutdowns and other related errors.
Conclusion
Most restart failures in Windows 10 are caused by power/hybrid shutdown settings, pending updates, driver or system file issues, or third-party software interference. Follow the structured steps above—especially disabling Fast Startup, running SFC/DISM, updating drivers and firmware, and using a clean boot—to resolve the majority of cases where Restart doesn’t work in Windows 10.
