Have You Tried Restarting It?”

Why Rebooting Your Computer Is More Important Than You Think 

There’s an old IT joke that never seems to get old—“Have you tried turning it off and on again?” It’s so common, it’s practically the universal anthem of tech support. But here’s the thing: it’s not just a meme-worthy punchline. Restarting your computer is one of the easiest, most effective ways to prevent tech headaches before they start. 

In the workplace, where every minute of downtime can affect productivity, skipping regular restarts is like never changing the oil in your car—eventually, things are going to seize up. So, whether you’re the office power user or someone who hasn’t shut down their laptop since the last fiscal quarter, this blog is your go-to guide on why—and how—you should make restarting part of your routine. 

Why Restarting Your Computer Matters 

1. Clears Out System Clutter (Think of It Like a Brain Reset)
   Throughout the day, your computer is constantly running processes in the background. Every app, tab, and update contributes to memory usage and system drag. Over time, this “digital clutter” builds up—leading to slow performance, software glitches, or the dreaded frozen screen.

A simple restart clears your RAM, resets software states, and gives your operating system a clean slate to work with. 

2. Installs Critical Updates and Security Patches
   Businesses often rely on managed updates pushed by their IT team or MSP (Managed Services Provider). Many of these updates don’t fully install until the computer restarts. Delaying a reboot can leave systems vulnerable to security threats or cause software to malfunction.

In short: skipping a restart could mean skipping important patches that keep your business safe. 

3. Prevents Needless Tech Support Calls
   One of the most common support tickets received by IT companies? “My computer is acting weird.” Often times, the issue resolves itself with a restart. By making rebooting a regular habit, employees can avoid unnecessary calls and service visits—freeing up time for your IT team to focus on the bigger stuff (like keeping your network secure or deploying new systems).

The Business Case for Routine Restarts 

If your team isn’t restarting their computers at least once a week, you’re likely losing time and efficiency across the board. Multiply a slow boot-up, lagging app, or crashing system by five employees—or fifty—and you’ve got a serious productivity sinkhole. 

Plus, every avoidable support call adds cost. Restarting regularly reduces downtime, eliminates redundant troubleshooting, and improves overall system performance. It’s a win-win for both users and IT departments. 

Best Practices for Restarting Business Computers 

How Often Should You Restart? 

• Minimum: Once a week 

• Recommended: 2–3 times a week, especially for heavy users 

• Mandatory: After updates, installs, or weird system behavior 

Step-by-Step Restart Guide (Windows): 

1. Click the Start Menu (bottom-left corner). 

1. Select the Power icon. 

1. Click Restart (not Shut Down—Restart ensures your session fully resets). 

Step-by-Step Restart Guide (Mac): 

1. Click the Apple Menu (top-left corner). 

1. Select Restart. 

1. Confirm if prompted. 

Pro Tip: Don’t just close your laptop lid and call it a day. Sleep mode is convenient, but it doesn’t replace a full restart. 

Common Myths (and Why They’re Wrong) 

“But I haven’t restarted in weeks and everything seems fine…”
Sure, today might be fine. But slowdowns often build quietly until you hit a wall—like your email freezing mid-presentation. Don’t wait for the crash. 

“Restarting takes too long.”
If your computer takes more than a couple of minutes to reboot, that’s a red flag in itself. Restarting regularly can actually speed things up over time. 

“I Shut down everyone night, so I’m all set.” 

By default, Windows has a feature called “Fast Startup” enabled, which means that selecting “Shut Down” puts the computer in a state like Hibernation where it is saving information to disk to accelerate startup. If you have a corrupt state of memory when you shut down, you may be persisting that for your next session. 

“My apps will close, and I’ll lose my work!”
Autosave is your friend. Most business apps (Word, Excel, Chrome, Teams) have built-in recovery features. Just make sure to hit save before you reboot or better yet, ensure that you are using cloud storage like Microsoft OneDrive and have Autosave enabled in your office apps. 

Encourage a Restart Culture in Your Workplace 

MSPs like Simpleworks recommend that businesses encourage a “restart culture” in the office. This could be as simple as setting weekly reminders, educating users during onboarding, or even tying reboots to your update policy. 

It’s a small change with a big impact: fewer support tickets, smoother operations, and a longer lifespan for your company’s devices. 

Reboot to Refresh 

Think of restarting your computer like giving it a good night’s sleep. Just like we need rest to perform at our best, so do our machines. And when something goes wrong, the restart is often the simplest (and most overlooked) first fix. 

So, the next time you feel a freeze coming on or your apps start acting like they’ve had one too many coffees—take a deep breath, save your work, and hit restart. Your computer—and your IT team—will thank you.