“Have you tried turning it off and on again?”
Bet you’ve heard that one before
Yes, it’s the oldest trick in the book, and it’s still one of the most effective ways to fix unexpected tech issues.
Whether it’s your laptop, printer, phone, Wi-Fi router, or something else acting moody, a proper restart is often the fastest way to clear it up. Here’s why.
Why Restarting Actually Works
When you fully restart your device (sometimes called ‘power cycle’) three important things happen:
- It clears out temporary memory and background clutter. Your device is constantly juggling tasks behind the scenes. Over time, things pile up, and a restart gives it a fresh slate.
- It lets updates install properly. Some updates won’t complete until after a restart. Without it, your system can end up half-updated and confused.
- It resets your network and device connections. Wi-Fi not connecting? Printer offline? Restarting often re-establishes these connections cleanly.
But Isn’t Sleep Mode Enough?
Nope. Sleep mode or just closing the lid isn’t the same.
When you put a device to sleep, it preserves everything exactly as it is, including the glitches. What you want is a proper Restart or Shut Down using the menu. Let it fully power off, wait five seconds, then turn it back on.
If it’s a device like a Wi-Fi router, you can just turn it off or unplug it for a minute, then plug it back in.
It’s the digital equivalent of a deep breath and a cup of tea.
How Often Should You Restart?
We recommend restarting at least once a week. It’s a simple habit that can prevent a lot of frustration later.
Also restart:
- After installing updates
- After a power outage
- If something just seems “off” and you’re not sure why
- If there’s a full moon 🌝
When Restarting Doesn’t Work
Restarting fixes a lot of glitches, but it won’t fix everything. If you still have the issue after it’s back, there could be something deeper going on. No worries, if something’s not right on your machine, let us know and we’ll hop on and figure it out.
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