A handy trick that most users should learn is how to restart Chromebook, as it’s a useful skill to be able to perform whether it’s for an OS upgrade or for any other reason. Normally a Chromebook has very few issues in its lifetime but knowing how to handle it when there is one is very important.
While not everyone can afford the best laptop, whether it’s the best thin and light laptops or the best student laptops, getting a more affordable Chromebook and then learning how to maintain it is a smart strategy.
Chromebooks are more than suitable for most people’s needs, as they’re not likely to use all the features in more complex laptops and PCs. Even the best Chromebook doesn’t have a dedicated reset or restart option or buttons, unlike a traditional PC or Mac. And resetting a Chromebook the wrong way can cause you to lose your work or damage it.
However, there are proper methods of How to Restart Chromebook, which we’ll explore in more detail below. This article explains how to restart your Chromebook to apply software updates or resolve issues like a frozen Chromebook. Here’s how to restart safely and how to perform a hard reset if your Chromebook malfunctions.
Read Article: How to Change Airdrop Name?
How to Restart Chromebook?
If your Chromebook encounters minor issues, such as struggling to connect to Wi-Fi, this method might help resolve them.
- Find the Power key on the keyboard, most likely in the upper-right corner.
- Some devices, such as those with a tablet mode, may have the key in a different location.
- Press and hold the Power key for about two seconds until the screen goes dark.
- If a Power Off option appears, select that instead.
- Press the Power key again to boot up the Chromebook.
Update
If your Chromebook downloaded an update to its software, restart the device to apply the update. Use the following steps to make sure the update is successfully installed:
- Click the notification panel to display the quick settings menu in the lower-right corner of the screen.
- The Chromebook Notifications panel.
- If an update is available and downloaded, you’ll see a button that says Restart to Update. Select this button.
- Wait for the Chromebook to shut down and power back up.
Hard Reset
If you have more serious issues with the hardware, a hard reset may solve the problem. Performing a hard reset on your Chromebook may delete files from your Chromebook’s Downloads folder. These files aren’t recoverable, so make sure to download or back up the files you want to keep.
- Press and hold the Power key until the Chromebook shuts down.
- Locate the Refresh key. It looks like a circular arrow and should appear in the top row of the device’s keyboard, next to the back and forward arrow keys.
- Simultaneously press and hold the Refresh key and Power button.
- When the Chromebook starts, release the Refresh key.
Shut Down
The normal way to restart your Chromebook is to use its ‘Shut down’ option: tap the notification area (the section with the Wi-Fi, power and time) and press the top ‘Shut down’ icon. This will save your current status and work, and power off your Chromebook.
This option fully powers down your Chromebook, so you can manually restart it with the power button. The ‘Shut down’ option here fully logs you out of your Google account before powering off, so you don’t have to worry about losing any work or any of your open Chrome tabs.
If you’re at all worried about this process then follow the last step that takes you through manually logging out first and using the ‘Shut down’ option that’s on the Google account screen, which we explain in a bit.
Using the power button
If you hold the Chromebook’s power button for three seconds it will automatically log out of your Google account, saving your work and status as it does, and safely power down the Chromebook. This enables you to then restart your Chromebook using the power button as normal.
There is an alternative mode, however. Hold the power button for just a second, and it will display the ‘Power’ menu. This provides the following options: ‘Shut down’, ‘Log off’, ‘Lock your Chromebook’ and ‘Provide feedback’.
Hard reset your Chromebook
Performing a hard reset will lose any unsaved work, so ideally, if possible, perform a manual log out before do so, or at least close all the Chrome tabs you can. The fastest way to log out manually is hold the Ctrl and Shift keys and press Q twice.
Alternatively, tap the notification area and select the ‘Sign out’ button. Most Chromebooks don’t have a dedicated ‘reset’ button (some provide other options we’ll cover in a moment) the default method is to hold the ‘refresh’ button and tap the power button.
Your Chromebook should instantly restart. On a Chrome OS tablet press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons for 10 seconds. Meanwhile, the Samsung Chromebook 5 Series provides a “reset” button in the base triggered using a paperclip.
Use the Power Button
You’ll find a Power button on the keyboard or side of your Chromebook. Press and hold the Power button for 3-5 seconds until the screen goes off. Press the Power button again to restart your Chromebook.
Reboot from the Power Menu:
Press and hold your Chromebook’s Power button for 1-2 seconds to open the ChromeOS power menu. Select Shut down to turn off your Chromebook. Wait 10-30 seconds for your device to shut down completely and press the Power button to turn it back on.
Reboot From the Lock Screen:
There’s an option to shut down your Chromebook on the sign-in and lock screen.
- Press the Search key + L to lock your Chromebook.
- Select the Shut Down button in the bottom-left corner to power off your Chromebook.
- Wait 1-2 minutes and press the Power button to restart your Chromebook.
Shut Down and Restart from the Quick Settings Panel
There’s a button to shut down your Chromebook in the ChromeOS Quick Settings Panel.
- Select the time or battery icon in the bottom-right corner of your Chromebook’s screen to open the Quick Settings panel.
- Select the Power icon to shut down your Chromebook.
Restart and Update Your Chromebook
Installing a software update is another way to restart your Chromebook. Chromebooks automatically download software updates when connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. So, when ChromeOS downloads an update in the background, you’ll get a notification to restart your Chromebook to install the update.
- Select the time in the bottom-right corner of your screen and tap Restart to update on the “Update available” notification.
- Alternatively, open the Settings app, select About ChromeOS on the sidebar, and select the Restart button.
Hard Restart Your Chromebook
A Hard Restart (also called Hard Reset or Embedded Controller reset) reboots your Chromebook’s hardware—keyboard, screen, touchpad, etc. Performing a hardware restart might fix issues that a regular reboot wouldn’t.
Restarting your Chromebook’s hardware might delete some files in the “Downloads” folder. Backup files in the folder to Google Drive, a USB thumb drive, or a different location on your Chromebook.
The steps to reset your Chromebook’s hardware will vary based on your Chromebook model or type. Unplug external devices or accessories (USB drive, mouse, power cable, headphones, etc.) from your Chromebook before restarting its hardware.
Restart a Chromebook Laptop Hardware:
- Select the time in the bottom corner of your screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Select Shut Down and wait 10-30 seconds for your Chromebook to power off.
- Press and hold the Refresh button on the keyboard and press your Chromebook’s Power button.
- Release the Refresh key when your Chromebook boots up.
Restart a 2-in-1 Chromebook or Chromebook Tablet:
- Tap the time in the bottom-right corner of your Chromebook’s screen and select Shut Down.
- Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons for at least 10 seconds.
- Release both buttons when your Chromebook boots.
Restart Hardware on Chromebook with Removable Batteries:
- If your Chromebook has a removable battery, you can restart its hardware by removing and re-inserting the battery.
- Wait a few seconds and press the Power key to turn your Chromebook back on.
- Ensure you unplug your Chromebook’s power cable before removing its battery or restarting the hardware.
Restart Chromebook Hardware Using Reset Button:
Some Samsung Chromebooks have a reset button in a hole on the bottom case. Pressing the button restarts your Chromebook’s hardware.
- Turn off your Chromebook and insert a paperclip, pin, or SIM card ejector into the hole.
- Keep the pin or paper clip in place, plug your Chromebook into a power source, and press the Power button.
- Remove the pin or paperclip when your Chromebook starts up.
Turn Chromebook Off and on:
These are the six different ways to shut down and restart a Chromebook. If your Chromebook won’t turn on or gets stuck on a black screen, charge it for some minutes and try again. An overheated Chromebook might also fail to come on.
If your Chromebook is hot, leave it to cool for some minutes and try turning it back on. Power wash (factory reset) your Chromebook or contact its manufacturer if the issue persists.
