Usually, when a new feature is available for Windows, Microsoft communicates largely to announce it to everyone. However, it happens that a useful feature goes unnoticed, to be discovered years later.
Thus, I discovered an obscure emergency restart method for Windows 11 after there came across an article on the Subreddit Sysadmin. The Reddit user “-teets-” shared information in 2022, but other commentators claim that this method was present on Windows XP, released over 20 years ago.
To access the emergency restart, press the CTRL + ALT + delete keys on your Windows PC, a fairly common action. However, this time, hold the CTRL key pressed and click the power button at the bottom right of the screen.
The last option when your PC no longer responds at all
This action leads to the display of a message indicating that you are trying to restart, with the mention ” Click OK to restart immediately. All unregistered data will be lost ». The message concludes: ” Use this option only last resort. ” Click on OK And your computer will go out and then turn back normally.
This emergency restart is useful when your computer is blocked to the point that nothing works more and that it only responds to the combination of CTRL + alt + delete keys. This method is also useful on laptops with physical power button.
Emergency restart has no drawbacks. I did it on my desktop computer and several laptops: everything went well. Again, this method is a last resort for certain situations, but nothing prevents you from using it as often as you wish.
If you want another method, launch the command prompt and enter “Shutdown /R” to restart your computer. Instructions for other stop methods are available on the Microsoft Learn website.
