Microsoft has built a secret restart into Windows. It’s well hidden because it allows you to reboot your system while bypassing all security systems. In some emergency situations, this can save you from a “cold reboot.”
Windows has a hidden key for emergency restart in case everything goes wrong. Microsoft introduced this switch back with Windows Vista. That was 16 years ago.
The emergency restart is designed to rescue your computer from a situation where an application or software has blocked your computer so severely that you cannot restart your PC normally.
Emergency restart as a last resort when (almost) everything is stuck
In a normal restart, Windows tries to close all programs before restarting the system. The emergency restart, on the other hand, shuts down your PC immediately without further warning, then starts it up again, bypassing the problems.
However, there is one problem: Your system must still be somewhat usable; otherwise, the emergency restart won’t work. If you can no longer click on menus or if CTRL + ALT + DEL doesn’t work, then this “tip” won’t help you much.
This is how you use the emergency restart in Windows:
- First, press the classic combination CTRL + ALT + DEL.
- In the bottom right, you now have three small icons for network and accessibility options and a power icon.
- If you hold down the CTRL key and click the power icon, you’ll get a new screen.
- This is the screen for the emergency restart. If you click OK, the computer will restart directly and without detours.
However, note that with this type of restart, the system is restarted completely without saving data. If you have your tax return open and haven’t saved it for 2 hours, then it will likely be gone after a restart.
Did you know about this option in Windows or is it new to you? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
You’ll find more helpful tips and tricks about the Windows operating system and your gaming PC in the following article on MeinMMO:
7 tools and programs you should definitely delete from any gaming PC
