Restart Your ASUS Laptop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your ASUS laptop is freezing up, running slow, or just acting weird. The first thing anyone should tell you? Try restarting it. Seriously. It sounds simple because it is, but knowing how to restart laptop ASUS devices properly—whether you’re doing a soft restart, hard restart, or troubleshooting a frozen screen—can save you hours of frustration and keep your machine running smoothly. This guide walks you through every method, from the basic approach to emergency fixes when your laptop won’t cooperate.

The Basic Soft Restart Method

Let’s start with the most straightforward approach. A soft restart—also called a normal restart—is the safest way to refresh your ASUS laptop. It gives Windows time to close all running programs gracefully, save any pending data, and shut down cleanly before powering back up.

1. Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen (the Windows logo).
2. Click the Power icon (it looks like a circle with a line at the top).
3. Select “Restart” from the menu that appears.
4. Wait for your laptop to shut down. You’ll see a black screen with a message like “Shutting down…” or a loading spinner.
5. Your ASUS laptop will power back on automatically. The boot-up process typically takes 30-60 seconds, depending on your hardware and how many programs you have set to launch at startup.

That’s it. Your laptop has now restarted. All your programs have closed, your RAM has been cleared, and your system is running fresh. This is the method you should use 90% of the time—it’s gentle on your hardware and prevents data loss.

Pro Tip: Before restarting, save any open documents or files. Even though Windows will try to recover unsaved work, it’s not guaranteed. Hit Ctrl+S on any open documents first.

One thing to note: if you have updates pending, Windows might install them during the restart process. This can take longer than usual, sometimes 5-10 minutes. Don’t panic and don’t force shut down—let it finish. Interrupting updates can cause serious problems.

Restarting via the Start Menu

This is essentially the same as the basic method, but with a bit more detail for those who want to see exactly what’s happening. The Start Menu is your command center on any ASUS laptop running Windows.

1. Click the Start button (Windows logo in the bottom-left).
2. Look at the bottom-left of the Start Menu. You’ll see the Power button icon.
3. Click the Power icon. A small menu will pop up with three options: Sleep, Shut down, and Restart.
4. Click “Restart.”

Your ASUS laptop will now go through the restart sequence. You’ll see a notification that says “Your PC will restart in a few seconds” or similar language. The screen will go black, and the restart process begins.

If you want to restart your ASUS laptop but need a few minutes to finish something first, you can click “Restart” and then immediately click “Cancel” if you see a prompt asking to save work. This gives you a grace period (usually 10-30 seconds) to prepare.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Sometimes the graphical method feels slow or your mouse isn’t responding well. Keyboard shortcuts are faster and more reliable. Here are the main ones:

• Alt + F4: Closes the current window. If all windows are closed, it may prompt you to shut down or restart.
• Windows Key + X: Opens the Power User menu (sometimes called the Quick Link menu). From here, select “Shut down or sign out” and then “Restart.”
• Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Opens the Security Options screen. Click “Power” in the bottom-right corner, then select “Restart.”

The Windows Key + X method is probably the fastest if you’re comfortable with keyboard navigation. It’s just two key presses, then arrow keys to navigate to Restart.

Real Talk: Keyboard shortcuts are lifesavers when your touchpad is acting up or your mouse batteries are dead. Memorize Windows Key + X—it’s genuinely useful.

If you’re on an older ASUS laptop or one running a different Windows version, check your Windows version to confirm which shortcuts work. Most modern ASUS laptops (Windows 10 and 11) support all three methods above.

The Hard Restart (When Nothing Else Works)

Sometimes your ASUS laptop becomes completely unresponsive. Programs won’t close, the mouse is frozen, and nothing you click seems to work. This is when you need a hard restart—also called a force restart or force shutdown.

Warning: A hard restart is a nuclear option. It’s like yanking the power cord out of the wall. Use it only when your laptop is completely frozen and won’t respond to any input.

1. Press and hold the Power button on your ASUS laptop. Don’t just press it once—hold it down for 10-15 seconds.
2. Keep holding until the screen goes black and the laptop powers off completely. You might see the ASUS logo disappear, and all lights on the laptop will turn off.
3. Wait 10 seconds (this is important—it lets capacitors drain and clears residual power).
4. Press the Power button once to turn your laptop back on.
5. Wait for Windows to boot up. This might take a bit longer than normal because Windows may run a disk check or recovery process.

Your ASUS laptop is now running again. The hard restart cleared everything from RAM and forced the system to start fresh. However, any unsaved work in open programs is lost—this is why you should only do this when absolutely necessary.

According to Family Handyman’s tech resources, forcing hardware to restart should be a last resort, much like forcing a stuck door open instead of using the key.

Dealing with a Frozen Screen

A frozen screen is different from a slow screen. If your ASUS laptop screen is frozen—nothing responds to clicks or keyboard input, the cursor doesn’t move, or the screen is completely black—you have a few options before resorting to the hard restart.

Step 1: Try Force-Closing Programs

Before doing a hard restart, try force closing programs on Windows. Even if your screen looks frozen, you might be able to open Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly.
2. Look for programs that say “Not Responding” in the Status column.
3. Click on the unresponsive program and click “End Task” at the bottom-right.

If Task Manager opens, you’ve got a good chance of unfreezing your laptop without a hard restart. Closing the problematic program often restores responsiveness.

Sometimes a frozen screen is temporary. Your ASUS laptop might be processing something intensive (like a large file transfer or system update). Wait 2-3 minutes before taking action. If the screen is still frozen, move to Step 3.

If nothing else works, use the hard restart method described above. Hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the laptop shuts down completely, wait 10 seconds, then power it back on.

Safety Warning: A frozen screen can sometimes indicate a hardware problem (failing hard drive, overheating, RAM issues). If your ASUS laptop freezes frequently—more than once a week—consider running a diagnostic or consulting a technician. Repeated freezing often signals deeper issues.

Restarting in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special startup mode where Windows runs with only essential drivers and services. It’s useful for troubleshooting problems, removing malware, or updating drivers. Here’s how to restart your ASUS laptop directly into Safe Mode:

1. Click the Start button and click the Power icon.
2. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
3. While still holding Shift, click “Restart.”
4. Your laptop will restart and show a blue screen with options.
5. Click “Troubleshoot.”
6. Click “Advanced options.”
7. Click “Startup Settings.”
8. Click “Restart.”
9. Your laptop will restart again. This time, you’ll see a menu with numbered options (usually 1-9).
10. Press 4 or F4 for “Safe Mode” (or press 5/F5 for “Safe Mode with Networking” if you need internet access).
11. Wait for Windows to load into Safe Mode. You’ll notice the screen looks different—it’s simpler, with fewer colors and a “Safe Mode” label in the corners.

In Safe Mode, you can run antivirus scans, uninstall problematic programs, or update drivers without interference from other software. When you’re done, restart normally using the basic soft restart method, and your ASUS laptop will boot back into regular Windows.

Restart vs. Shutdown: What’s the Difference?

People often use “restart” and “shutdown” interchangeably, but they’re different operations that affect your ASUS laptop differently.

• Use Restart when: You’re installing updates, troubleshooting software problems, or want a quick system refresh without completely powering down.
• Use Shutdown when: You’re done for the day, traveling with your laptop, or want to completely power down to save battery and reduce wear on components.

For most daily use, a restart is fine. But if you’re going to leave your laptop unused for hours or days, a full shutdown is better for your battery and overall hardware lifespan.

Preventative Maintenance to Avoid Restart Issues

The best way to deal with restart problems is to prevent them in the first place. Here are some maintenance habits that keep your ASUS laptop running smoothly:

Don’t wait for problems. Restart your ASUS laptop once a week, even if it’s running fine. This clears RAM, closes background processes, and gives Windows a chance to apply small updates. Think of it like rebooting your brain after a long week—everything works better with a fresh start.

Windows updates include security patches and performance improvements. When Windows prompts you to restart for updates, do it sooner rather than later. Updates that sit pending can cause slowdowns and instability. This Old House’s tech guides recommend treating software updates like home maintenance—don’t skip them.

Too many programs launching at startup slow down your ASUS laptop’s boot time. Press Windows Key + R, type “msconfig,” and go to the Startup tab. Disable programs you don’t need running constantly. This speeds up restarts and improves overall performance.

A full hard drive causes slowdowns and restart issues. Aim to keep at least 10-15% of your drive free. Delete old files, uninstall unused programs, and consider moving large files to external storage or cloud services.

Overheating can cause freezes and unexpected shutdowns. Make sure your ASUS laptop’s vents aren’t blocked by dust or blankets. If you use your laptop on soft surfaces (like a bed), place it on a hard surface or laptop pad instead. Clean the vents with compressed air every few months.

Malware can cause restart loops, freezing, and instability. Run a full antivirus scan at least monthly. Windows 10 and 11 come with Windows Defender built-in, which is solid for most users. Bob Vila’s home tech resources recommend treating malware like you’d treat a pest infestation—catch it early.

Failing hard drives cause restart problems. Press Windows Key + R, type “chkdsk,” and press Enter. Let it run a scan. If it finds errors, restart your laptop to let it run a more thorough check at boot time.

Pro Tip: If you have an older ASUS laptop (3+ years), consider upgrading to an SSD (Solid State Drive) if you haven’t already. SSDs are faster, more reliable, and less prone to the mechanical failures that cause restart issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I restart my ASUS laptop regularly?

– Restarting clears RAM, closes background processes, applies pending updates, and refreshes system resources. It’s like giving your laptop’s brain a rest. Regular restarts (weekly or bi-weekly) prevent slowdowns, reduce crashes, and improve overall performance. Think of it as preventative maintenance—much cheaper than dealing with a completely bogged-down system later.

How long should a restart take on an ASUS laptop?

– A normal restart typically takes 30-90 seconds from the moment you click “Restart” until Windows is fully loaded and ready to use. This varies based on how many startup programs you have, whether Windows is installing updates, and your laptop’s hardware (older laptops take longer). If your restart is taking more than 2-3 minutes regularly, you likely have too many startup programs or a failing hard drive.

What’s the difference between Sleep, Shutdown, and Restart?

– Sleep puts your laptop in a low-power state where programs stay open in RAM, but the screen and most hardware powers down. You can wake it instantly by pressing a key or moving the mouse. Shutdown completely powers off your laptop—everything stops, and you must wait for a full boot when you power it back on. Restart powers off and immediately powers back on, going through a full boot cycle. Sleep is fastest for quick breaks, Shutdown is best for end-of-day, and Restart is best for troubleshooting or updates.

Can I restart my ASUS laptop while it’s charging?

– Yes, absolutely. Restarting while plugged in is actually safer than restarting on battery power. There’s no risk of power loss during the restart. If anything, plugging in before a restart ensures the process completes smoothly without battery concerns.

What happens to my open files if I restart?

– If you have unsaved files open when you restart, you’ll lose them. Most modern programs (Word, Chrome, etc.) have auto-recovery features that can recover your work, but it’s not guaranteed. Always save your documents before restarting. Hit Ctrl+S on any open files first.

Is a hard restart bad for my ASUS laptop?

– A hard restart is harsh on your hardware and should only be used when absolutely necessary (your laptop is completely frozen and won’t respond). Doing hard restarts frequently can cause file corruption or damage to your hard drive. Stick with soft restarts for routine maintenance, and reserve hard restarts for emergencies only.

Why does my ASUS laptop restart on its own?

– Unexpected restarts usually indicate Windows updates finishing in the background, overheating, failing hardware, or malware. Check Windows Update settings to see if updates are pending. Make sure your vents aren’t blocked. Run an antivirus scan. If restarts continue, run a hard drive diagnostic or consult a technician—it might be a hardware failure.

Can I restart my ASUS laptop from the command line?

– Yes. Press Windows Key + R, type “cmd,” and press Enter. In the Command Prompt window, type “shutdown /r /t 0” (the /r means restart, /t 0 means restart immediately). Press Enter. Your laptop will restart. You can also use /t 60 to restart in 60 seconds, giving you time to save work first.

What should I do if my ASUS laptop won’t restart?

– If your laptop won’t respond to restart commands, try a hard restart (hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds). If that doesn’t work, your laptop might have a hardware failure. Try removing the battery (if it’s removable) for 30 seconds, then reinserting it and pressing Power. If it still won’t restart, contact ASUS support or a technician—it could be a motherboard or power supply issue.

Do I need to disconnect external devices before restarting?

– No, you don’t need to disconnect USB drives, external hard drives, or other peripherals before a soft restart. Windows will handle them gracefully. However, if you’re doing a hard restart or if a device is acting up, disconnecting it first can help. For external hard drives specifically, safely eject them before restarting if you want to be extra cautious.

How do I know if my ASUS laptop needs a restart?

– Signs your laptop needs a restart: it’s running slowly, programs are freezing, your mouse is sluggish, you see a notification about pending updates, or you haven’t restarted in more than a week. If you notice any of these, a restart usually fixes the problem. It’s the first troubleshooting step tech support always recommends.