To restart a Windows computer immediately using the Command Prompt, the most direct method is to type shutdown /r /t 0 and press Enter. This command instructs the operating system to initiate a full reboot without any delay, bypassing the standard 60-second countdown.

The Command Prompt (CMD) remains one of the most powerful utilities within the Windows ecosystem. While the graphical user interface (GUI) provides a user-friendly way to manage power options, there are numerous scenarios where the command line is superior—such as when the Start menu is unresponsive, when managing systems remotely, or when automating maintenance tasks via scripts.

The Core Command for Restarting Windows

The shutdown command is the primary utility for controlling system power states in Windows 10 and Windows 11. It resides as an executable file (shutdown.exe) within the C:\Windows\System32 directory. Because this directory is part of the system's environment variables (the PATH), you can execute it from any folder within the Command Prompt.

The Basic Restart Syntax

The most fundamental way to trigger a restart is by using the /r switch. By default, running this command triggers a 60-second warning period, giving users time to save their work.