How to Restart Chromebook to Fix Common Issues

A Chromebook is a laptop that runs on Google’s Chrome OS operating system. Chromebooks are designed to rely primarily on the internet, with most applications and documents living in the cloud. Restarting your Chromebook can help resolve issues, apply updates, and clear out temporary files taking up device storage.

Knowing the various ways to restart your Chromebook can save you time and frustration. This guide will walk through when you should restart your Chromebook, the step-by-step methods for a simple restart, restarting to apply updates, performing a hard reset, and what to do if restarting does not resolve your issues.

Restarting a Chromebook is easy and generally does not result in any data loss. There are a few methods you can use:

Restarting from the shutdown menu

The newest version of ChromeOS introduces a dedicated restart function that can be used easily:

1. Click the clock icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Expand the shutdown icon menu.
3. Select Restart.

This will restart your Chromebook immediately.

Restarting using the power button

The standard way to restart your Chromebook is similar to restarting any computer:

1. Press and hold the power button until your Chromebook fully shuts down. The screen should go black.
2. Press the power button again to turn your Chromebook back on.

This will completely restart the device and usually only takes less than a minute.

Restart to finish software update

If you receive a notification that updates are available for your Chromebook:

1. Click on the notification panel in the shelf at bottom right of your screen.
2. Select “Restart to Update.”
3. Your Chromebook will automatically shut down and restart itself to install the updates.

Allow several minutes for the updates to complete once your device powers back on.

Hard Reset Chromebook ⚠

If your Chromebook is unresponsive or acting irregularly and a normal restart does not help, you may need to do a hard reset. Please note that a hard reset will wipe out any files.

Only proceed if you know what you are doing:

1. Press and hold the power button until your Chromebook fully shuts down.
2. While the device is off, press and hold the “Refresh” key, which is where F3 key is located on most Chromebooks.
3. With “Refresh” key pressed, briefly press the Power button as well and then release the Refresh key.
4. Your Chromebook should power back on, which completes the hard reset process.

Restarting your Chromebook is an important basic troubleshooting step that every user should know how to perform.

Additional Tip: Restarting Specific Chromebook Components

Restart your Chrome browser for quick fixes

Sometimes, you don’t need to restart the entire Chromebook to resolve minor issues. If your browser is acting up, you can restart it without affecting other apps or settings.

1. Press Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Locate “Browser” in the list of processes.
3. Select it and click “End Process.” The browser will automatically restart.

This method is perfect for resolving sluggish tabs or temporary glitches while keeping your workflow uninterrupted.

Consider useful accessories for a smoother experience

Enhance your Chromebook’s usability with practical accessories. For instance, a Logitech MX Anywhere 3 Mouse offers precision and comfort for extended use. Check it out on Amazon for a versatile addition to your setup.