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How to restart Chromebook devices in 2024

The different ways you can restart Chromebook devices, in easy to follow steps

Updated: Nov 29, 2023 9:40 am
How to restart Chromebook devices in 2024

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Struggling to find out how to restart Chromebook devices? Don’t worry, we’ve got an easy up-to-date guide to show you all the tips and tricks. Chromebooks are a great lightweight and inexpensive alternative laptop option, which means their popularity is ever-growing. Regardless of the brand or model you’re using right now, our handy guide will show you the way.

There are a few things you need to figure out when use a Chromebook for the first time, and here we’ll be covering just how to restart your Chromebook. If you’re having any problems trying to understand what’s going wrong, there’s no need to worry. There are several different ways to accomplish this, and we will be listing both regular restart and hard restart methods.

Most Chromebooks don’t have a dedicated reset button, unlike desktop computers for instance – which is perhaps why some people get tripped up! Despite that, the process can be done almost as quickly.

How do you restart Chromebook devices?

Shut down your Chromebook

The most straightforward way to restart Chromebook devices is to shut them down. Shut down should log out of your Google account, save your current work and any tabs that you had open in Chrome. The device will then power off, and you can restart the Chromebook by pressing the power button. 

In order to do this, simply tap the notification area in the bottom right (where WiFi, power, and time are shown) then press the Shut down icon

Although this process should automatically log you out of your Google account, if you want to do this separately just to be absolutely sure then follow the below methods instead.

How to restart Chromebook using the power button

How to restart Chromebook power menu

An alternative method to restart your Chromebook is to hold down the power button for at least three seconds. This should first log you out of your Google account, saving your work, any tabs you have open, and the general status of your machine, before powering down the Chromebook. 

This enables you to then restart your Chromebook using the power button as normal.

Instead of the above, you can also hold the power button for a single second. This will bring up the Power menu from which you can:

  • Shut down
  • Log off
  • Lock your Chromebook
  • Provide feedback

Either select Shut down from the list by left-clicking, or first select Log off and then Shut down.

How to hard restart your Chromebook

A hard restart aka hard reboot is usually done when your computer (Chromebook or otherwise) freezes up, meaning you cannot restart it using the more conventional methods via the operating system (see above). 

A hard restart typically bypasses the operating system and restarts the hardware of the machine directly. This means that you will lose any unsaved work, open tabs, and the general status of your Chromebook as it was before the restart, so it’s advisable to only use it as a last resort and/or if you’re confident that your work has been saved, and your have logged out of your account.

Step

1

Log out

Assuming your Chromebook hasn’t completely frozen you should attempt to log out. You can do this from the power menu as described above, or through a keyboard shortcut: hold Ctrl + Shift and press the Q key twice.

Step

2

Restart

How to restart Chromebook refresh button

On most Chromebooks, you hold the refresh button (a curled arrow icon on the top left of the keyboard) and press the power button. This should cause your Chromebook to instantly restart. On some models however, there are different methods you have to use to achieve the same affect. Have a look at the list below for more information.

Model-specific methods to hard restart Chromebook devices

Different Chromebook brands and models can have different processes you need to undertake in order to enable a hard restart (besides the above method). Take a look at the list below to see if your Chromebook is there and, if so, follow the relevant instructions.

Acer Chromebox, ASUS Chromebox, LG Chromebase, Samsung Chromebox hard restart

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Remove the power cable from the device, wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
  • Turn the Chromebook back on.

Acer AC700, Cr-48 hard restart

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Remove the battery from the back of the Chromebook (this may require a screwdriver), then replace it.
  • Turn the Chromebook back on.

Asus Chromebit hard restart

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Remove the power cable from the device, wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
  • Turn the Chromebook back on.

Chrome OS tablet hard restart

  • Press and hold the Volume Up + Power button for at least 10 seconds.
  • This should cause the Chromebook to do a hard restart.

 

 

 

Lenovo Thinkpad X131e hard restart

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Remove the power cable from the device.
  • Remove the battery from the back of the Chromebook (this may require a screwdriver), then replace it.
  • Plug the power cable back in.
  • Turn the Chromebook back on.

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook hard restart

How to restart Chromebook hard reset 1

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Remove the power cable from the device.
  • Using a pin, paperclip or similar tool, gently push into the hole shown in the picture and hold it there.
  • Whilst still holding your tool in place, reconnect the power cable.
  • Turn the Chromebook back on.

Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook hard restart

How to restart Chromebook hard reset 2

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Remove the power cable from the device.
  • Using a pin, paperclip or similar tool, gently push into the hole shown in the picture and hold it there.
  • Whilst still holding your tool in place, reconnect the power cable.
  • Turn the Chromebook back on.

Other Chromebook articles

How to restart Chromebook FAQs

What are the keys to restart a Chromebook?

There isn’t a combination of keys that restart a Chromebook per se, but you can hold down the power button for at least three seconds to turn it off, and then press the power button again to turn it on.

There is a key combination shortcut that you can use to Log Out of your Chromebook though: Ctrl + Shift and press the Q key twice.

What is a Chromebook hard restart?

A hard restart is a way in which you can restart your Chromebook when the screen freezes and/or controls don’t respond.

Read our handy guide on the various different ways to do this, depending on your model of Chromebook.

How to restart Chromebook devices : Final Word

This has been our guide on how to restart Chromebook devices. We hope it has proven useful. Be sure to check out our other how-to Chromebook guides for other great tips and tricks to help improve your user experience.


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