How to Restart MacBook: Menu, Keyboard Shortcut & Force Restart

If your MacBook is lagging, glitching, or some apps have stopped working, then restarting your Mac helps your system clear active memory, fix slow performance, stop hidden background glitches, and more.

By knowing how to restart MacBook, you can simply help its system return to working condition in minutes. Go through this whole article and learn the 3 ways by which you can restart MacBook.

How to Restart Your MacBook: 3 Primary Ways

There are a total of three steps by which you can restart your MacBook: The normal restart, the keyboard shortcut, and the force restart if your screen freezes for some reason.

Here is how to restart macBook in brief:

The Normal Restart

This is the standard and most well-known method by which you can restart your MacBook.

Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
Select Restart from the drop-down menu.
If you want a clean start without any open apps, uncheck “Reopen windows when logging in”.
Click Restart again.

The Keyboard Shortcut

This is the simplest way to restart your device by just pressing a few buttons on your keyboard.

Come back to your home screen on the Mac.
Press Control + Command + Power Button on your keyboard.

After following this, the laptop will automatically restart.

Force Restart

If your screen gets stuck and is not going back and forth, then the only option left is a force restart of your MacBook. Check out the steps for how to force restart Mac.

The steps are:

Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds on your keyboard.
Wait for the screen to go completely black.
Wait for 5 seconds.
Press the power button again to turn your Mac on.

Final Thoughts

Restarting your MacBook might help you get rid of the lagging problems, frozen screens, and minor system bugs, but it might not help you with major hardware health or software glitches.

If you are still facing problems after trying all the 3 methods, consult an expert for guidance. Similarly, for other troubleshooting problems, visit the GetAssist you tube channel.

FAQ

Q1. What should I do if my Mac freezes during the restart process?

You should disconnect all external accessories like USB drives and hubs, then hold the power button down for 10 seconds to force a shutdown. Wait for 10 seconds, and then turn it back on. If it continues, boot into Safe Mode.

Q2. How often should I restart my Mac?

You should not restart your Mac every day. MacOS handles sleep mode well. However, restarting once a week or once every two weeks helps clear temporary cache files, apply pending security updates, free up active system memory, and keep your computer performance fast and smooth.

Q3. Why does my Mac restart automatically on its own sometimes?

The automatic restart is often caused by a kernel panic, which is a critical system error. It can be the result of faulty third-party hardware, corrupted software drivers, or an external device conflict. Check your Energy Saver or Battery settings to make sure automatic power-sharing or power nap features are not misconfigured.