Restarting

Restarting is the process of stopping and starting again a device, program, or system. It is used to restore normal operation, apply updates, or recover from faults. The term is often used interchangeably with reboot, though some contexts distinguish between restarting software and performing a full hardware reset. A warm or soft restart reinitializes software while preserving most hardware state, whereas a cold or hard restart powers the device down completely and then boots it again.

Restarting can target a single application, a background service, or an entire computer or network device. In computing, common reasons include resolving performance problems, applying updates or configuration changes, recovering from crashes, or clearing accumulated temporary data.

Procedures vary by platform. On desktops, a software restart is usually chosen from a menu or by issuing a command such as reboot or shutdown -r now on Unix-like systems, or selecting Restart on Windows or macOS. Some embedded devices or appliances provide a physical reset button or a recessed pinhole to initiate a restart. Network equipment and servers may use management interfaces or service supervisors to perform restarts without manual intervention.

Risks and best practices: save work before initiating a restart; avoid restarting during critical operations to prevent data loss. A graceful restart is preferred to a forced reset. After restarting, verify that services are running and logs show normal operation. If problems recur, a restart may only be a temporary fix and should be accompanied by further troubleshooting.

See also: reboot, power cycle, reset, uptime.