Initially, the Emergency Restart feature is not considered new in the Windows system, but Microsoft added it to the system since 1995 with the release of Windows NT 3.51, but for an unknown reason the company did not document it or mention anything about it, although it still keeps it in the source code of all versions that came after that. Even the most recent version, Windows 11. The function of the feature is simply, as the name suggests, to force a system restart — in a way similar to the Force Restart on smartphones. This is because when you encounter a problem that causes the system to freeze and stop responding to any command, performing a traditional reboot via the power options in the Start menu will not produce any reaction because it requires the system to perform a set of tasks in the background first to make sure that system services and processes are closed Correctly, it also notifies the user if any changes are left unsaved in files and applications so that they do not lose them.
And since the system is in a state of freezing, the computer will not be restarted in this traditional way, so the Emergency Restart feature is an alternative option that can be resorted to in emergency circumstances to bypass problems that impede restarting the system by skipping open tasks or programs and executing the Restart command automatically. direct and obligatory. In another way, it can be considered an easier way than having to press and hold the power button until the device turns off and then press it again to restart it, as the feature shortens the process in one click. But of course, the matter is not free from risks, as using this feature several times may cost you a system collapse or cause hardware problems, so it should be used when necessary or considered as a last attempt if you cannot solve the problem of non-response in other ways such as ending broken tasks through the Task Manager.
The Emergency Restart feature can be found in almost all versions of Windows, as we indicated, it has been in the system since 1995, but it is hidden and does not appear as a visible option within the system settings. So if you want to access it, just press the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys together at the same time on the keyboard to show the usual screen that allows logging out, switching between accounts, or opening the task manager, but in the lower right corner of the screen you will see a Shutdown button so that Pressing it shuts down the computer — as expected! However, if you hold down the Ctrl key on the keyboard and then press the Shutdown button with the mouse, you will notice that the Emergency Restart screen appears.
The screen includes a brief message that an emergency restart can result in the loss of unsaved data or the disruption of programs you have left open. So hit Cancel and make sure you save any unsaved changes to the files and apps you're working on, and when you're ready, go back to the Emergency Restart screen and hit OK to find that your computer immediately shuts down. In fact, this is by far the quickest way. To turn off a Windows computer, other than pulling out the power cable! There is no on-screen indicator like "...Restarting" to indicate that the reboot has been performed, everything just shuts down and restarts within three seconds. This is great for quickly forcing a Windows restart but again, it's best to only use an emergency restart as a final option or after you're sure you've saved everything that needs to be saved.