How to Restart a Remote Computer [Two Ways]

Restarting a remote computer means the system on a remote computer will be first shut down and then restarted. You may need to restart a remote computer when you want to speed up its performance or when a program on it is not working properly. It is pretty easy to restart a local computer, but do you know how to restart a remote computer? 

How to restart a remote computer with Remote Desktop or CMD

Actually, it is just as easy as restarting a local computer.  Here we provide you with two options and you can select the one that you need. 

Option 1. Connect to the remote PC and restart it

The steps are divided into three parts when you use RDP to restart a remote computer on Windows 10/11 and Windows 7/7.1/8. First, you need to Enable Remote Desktop on the host computer. Second, you need to get the IP address and username of the host computer. Third, you could start remote control over RDP from your local device. 

Part 1. Enable Remote Desktop on the host computer

Step 1. Navigate here: Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop.

Step 2. Find User accounts and click Select users that can remotely access this PC.

Step 3. After opening the Remote Desktop Users window, click Add to add users who are allowed to access this computer (you need to add already existing users to realize remote desktop).

Part 2. Get the IP address and username of the host computer

Step 1. Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “cmd” and press OK. Then type “ipconfig” at the blinking cursor and press Enter. Now you can see a group of IP addresses, of which the IPv4 address is the one you need.

Step 2. Then type “query user” to see the username.

Part 3. Remote controlly control the PC from your local device 

Step 1. The local computer doesn’t need any configuration. Just search for Remote Desktop Connection in the Search box. And then open it.

Step 2. Enter the IP address and User name of the remote computer in the Remote Desktop Connection interface to achieve connection.

Step 3. After you’ve achieved the connection successfully, you could see the screen of the remote computer. Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner, and then click Restart to restart the remote computer.

Bonus tips: Best Remote Desktop Connection alternative [free & easy]

If you would like an easier way to remotely access a remote computer and then restart it, and also can be used on Windows 10/11 Home Edition, you can try AnyViewer. Why it is the best Remote Desktop Connection alternative?

It is easy to set up and use.

It can be used directly even when the two computers are on different networks.

It supports multiple Windows versions, including Home Editions.

It transfers files in a faster speed compared with RDC.

Step 1. Download, install and launch AnyViewer on both computers. Go to Log in, and then click Sign up to create an AnyViewer account. 

Step 2. Log into the same AnyViewer account on both computer. 

Step 3. On your local computer, go to Device, click the remote PC that you want to restart and then click Reboot. Immeditaly, the remote PC will be restarted.  If you want to access and control the remote computer, click One-click control and you can accessunattended remote access.

Notes:✎...

You can also upgrade your account to a Professional or Enterprise plan to enjoy more rights:

Faster file transfer speed. Transfer speed for a free account is 500 KB/s, and for a paid account is up to 10 MB/s.

More devices can be assigned to the same account for unattended remote access.

More Currently connected devices are displayed for connection history.

Connect in privacy mode to protect privacy.

Initial more concurrent connections to one computer.

Option 2. Use the command line to restart a remote computer

Like using RDP, the steps are divided into three parts when you use RDP to restart a remote computer on Windows 7/8.1/10/11. First, you need to edit remote registry setting. Second, you need to know the computer name. Third, you could restart a remote computer using the command line.

Part 1. Edit the remote registry setting on the remote computer

Step 1. Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “services.msc” and hit OK.

Step 2. In the Services window, double-click Remote Registry to check its status.

Step 3. Change the Startup type to Automatic.

Part 2. Find the computer name of the remote computer

Step 1. Search for “file explorer” in the search box. And then open it.

Step 2. Navigate here: This PC > Computer > Properties. 

Step 3. In the middle of the page, you’ll find the Device name.

Part 3. Restart a remote computer using the command line on the local computer

Step 1. Search for “command prompt” in the search box. And then open it.

Step 2. Type the restart command for remote computer:  “shutdown/i”  and add the computer that you want to start.

Conclusion

This tutorial has provided you with 2 ways to restart a remote computer on Windows 10, using remote desktop tools or the command lines. To help you restart a remote computer more easily, it's recommended to use the RDP alternative AnyViewer. It won’t require you to change any settings of your computer. In just a few steps, you can restart a remote PC.