How to Create a "Restart Computer" Shortcut in Windows
Information
This will show you how to create or download a Restart computer shortcut with or without a time-out delay and custom restart message before the computer restarts.
Note
The time-out period can also be for how many seconds you have to use the Abort shortcut to abort the computer from restarting after using this Restart Computer shortcut.
EXAMPLE: Restart Computer Time-Out Period Message
NOTE: This is with a 30 second time-out period. If you would like to have a custom restart message instead of the default message in the dialog box below, then you can use step 3 in OPTION TWO below to do so.
OPTION ONE
To Download a "Restart Computer" Shortcut
1. For a Instant Restart Computer Shortcut
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Instant_Restart_Computer.zip
Download
2. For a Restart Computer Shortcut with a 30 Second Time-Out Period
NOTE: If you would like to use a different amount of time delay, then see OPTION TWO below for how.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
30-second_Restart_Computer.zip
Download
3. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.
4. Open the .zip file and extract the Restart Computer shortcut to the desktop.
5. Right click on the Restart Computer shortcut, and click on Properties, General tab, and on the Unblock button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.
6. Go to step 6 in OPTION TWO below to add the icon you would like to use.
7. You can now Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move it where you like for easy use.
8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.
OPTION TWO
To Manually Create a Custom "Restart Computer" Shortcut
1. Right click on a empty area on desktop, and click on New and Shortcut.
2. For a Instant Restart Computer Shortcut
A) Copy and paste the location below into the location area, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
shutdown.exe -r -t 00 -f
B) Go to step 4.
3. For a Restart Computer Shortcut with a Specified Time Delay and Message
A) Type the location below into the location area, and click on the Next button. (See screenshot above)
Note
Subsitute ## in the command below with a number between 0-315360000 for how many seconds you want the time-out period to be before the computer restarts.
Subsitute Your message here in the command below with a restart message up to 512 characters within quotes that you would like to see in the pop-up dialog when using the restart shortcut. The message will only be seen for however long you set the time delay to be.
Subsitute Your message here in the command below with a restart message up to 512 characters within quotes that you would like to see in the pop-up dialog when using the restart shortcut. The message will only be seen for however long you set the time delay to be.
shutdown.exe -r -t ## -f -c "Your message here"
FOR EXAMPLE: I would type this below exactly to have a 30 second time delay with a Don't forget to quickly save everything message.
shutdown.exe -r -t 30 -f -c "Don't forget to quickly save everything"
4. Type Restart Computer for the name, and click on the Finish button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.
5. Right click on the new Restart Computer shortcut on the Desktop and click on Properties.
6. Click on the Shortcut tab, then click on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)
7. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
8. To Download a Custom Icon to Use
A) Click on the Download button below to download a custom Restart.ico file in a ZIP file, and save it to your desktop.
Download
B) Open the downloaded ZIP file, extract (drag and drop) the Restart.ico file to your desktop.
C) Right click on the Restart.ico file, and click on Properties, General tab, and on the Unblock button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on.
D) Save the Restart.ico file to where you like to store it at on your Windows drive for use as the shortcut's icon.
NOTE: The icon will need to remain saved at the same location for the icon to continue to display on the shortcut.
E) Go to step 10 to select this Restart.ico file at the location you saved it at.
9. To Use Your Own Custom Icon
A) In the line under "Look for icons in this file", click on Browse and navigate to the location of the 256x256 pixel icon you want to use. (See screenshot below)
10. Select the icon and click on OK. (See screenshot above)
11. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
12. You can now Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move it where you like for easy use.
That's it,
Shawn
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