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Quick answer: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open Performance > CPU in Task Manager, and read Up time. To reset the counter reliably, choose Start > Power > Restart or run shutdown /r /t 0.
What Windows uptime means
Windows uptime is the elapsed time since the current Windows operating-system session began. It is not necessarily the time since the computer was physically switched on, the last sign-in, the last network connection, or the Windows installation.
Uptime is useful when troubleshooting slow performance, checking whether a restart actually occurred, and confirming that an update or driver change took effect. A high value is not automatically incorrect: Windows Fast Startup can allow a normal shutdown to preserve part of the system session.
Method 1: Check uptime in Task Manager
Task Manager is the simplest and most direct method for most Windows 11 users.
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- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- If Task Manager opens in its compact view, select More details.
- Select Performance.
- Select CPU.
- Read Up time near the bottom of the window.
The value normally appears as:
Days:Hours:Minutes:SecondsFor example, 2:04:18:11 means approximately 2 days, 4 hours, 18 minutes, and 11 seconds.
This check normally does not require an elevated administrator session. For the graphical steps and additional Windows 11 methods, see HTMD Blog’s Windows 11 uptime guide.
Method 2: Find the last boot time with Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt and run:
systeminfo | find "System Boot Time"This displays the last boot date and time rather than a duration. Compare it with the current time to determine how long Windows has been running.
The filter depends on the wording used by your Windows display language. If it returns no result, run the unfiltered command:
systeminfoThen locate the boot-time entry manually. Localization, copied quotation marks, or a different command shell can also cause the filtered command to return nothing.
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Method 3: Check uptime with PowerShell
PowerShell’s CIM command is a broadly compatible option for support work and scripts:
(Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTimeTo calculate the elapsed uptime directly, run:
(Get-Date) - (Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTimeA more explicit formatted version is:
$boot = (Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime
(New-TimeSpan -Start $boot -End (Get-Date))The older form (get-date) - (gcim Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime uses gcim, an alias for Get-CimInstance. The full cmdlet name is clearer for documentation and automation.
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On PowerShell versions that support it, you can also use:
Get-Uptime
Get-Uptime -SinceGet-Uptime is associated with newer PowerShell releases, while Windows PowerShell 5.1 is still commonly present on Windows 11. Use the CIM command when compatibility is important. See Windows Central’s alternative uptime methods for additional command examples.
Network connection duration is not system uptime
Windows 11 also shows how long a network adapter has been connected. That value can differ from Windows uptime because the adapter may have connected after boot, disconnected and reconnected, or remained active for a different period.
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To view it in Settings:
- Press Win + I.
- Select Network & Internet.
- Select Advanced network settings.
- Expand the active network adapter.
- View its connection duration.
For the classic interface, open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center, double-click the active connection, and read Duration. You can also search for View network connections, open the classic Network Connections panel, double-click an active adapter, and view its duration.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThese screens are useful for diagnosing network sessions, but use Task Manager, systeminfo, or PowerShell CIM when you need actual Windows boot-session information.
Secondary and legacy commands
net statistics workstation
Run:
net statistics workstationThe output contains a line beginning with Statistics since. On Windows Server, the related command is:
net statistics serverThis can indicate when the Workstation or Server service began collecting statistics, but it is not the definitive operating-system boot timestamp.
WMIC
Older scripts may use:
wmic path Win32_OperatingSystem get LastBootUpTimeor:
wmic os get lastbootuptimeA result such as 20260215084321.500000-240 generally begins with YYYYMMDDHHMMSS. WMIC is a legacy administration interface and may not be available on every current Windows 11 installation, so prefer systeminfo or PowerShell CIM for new work.
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How to reset Windows 11 uptime correctly
Recommended: restart Windows
- Save open files.
- Select Start > Power > Restart.
- After Windows starts, sign in and open Task Manager > Performance > CPU.
A restart starts a new Windows session and is the preferred way to reset uptime.
Restart from Command Prompt
Run:
shutdown /r /t 0Here, /r requests a restart and /t 0 sets the delay to zero. Microsoft documents these options for Windows 11 in its shutdown command reference.
Perform a full shutdown
To shut down fully and then turn the computer on manually, run:
shutdown /s /t 0You can also hold Shift while selecting Shut down. Do not use shutdown /s /hybrid /t 0 when your goal is to avoid Fast Startup; /hybrid prepares the device for Fast Startup.
Why uptime may remain high after Shut down
Fast Startup uses a hybrid shutdown process. Although the user session closes, Windows can save kernel and driver state so the next startup is faster. As a result, the uptime shown by Task Manager may continue from before the shutdown.
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Sleep and hibernation should also not be treated as equivalent to a restart. They preserve or resume an existing session rather than deliberately starting a new one.
Verify that the reset worked
- Before restarting, record the Task Manager Up time.
- Restart with Start > Power > Restart or
shutdown /r /t 0. - After sign-in, check Task Manager > Performance > CPU again.
- If needed, confirm the result with
systeminfoor(Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime.
The boot timestamp should be close to the restart time. If it is not, check that you did not read network duration, filter localized systeminfo output incorrectly, or resume from hibernation instead of restarting.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Task Manager | Fast visual check | Requires opening the UI |
systeminfo |
Human-readable boot timestamp | The find filter is language-dependent |
| PowerShell CIM | Automation and scripts | Requires PowerShell familiarity |
Get-Uptime |
Newer PowerShell environments | Version availability varies |
net statistics workstation |
Service-statistics checks | May reflect service start time |
| Settings or Control Panel | Network troubleshooting | Shows adapter duration, not necessarily OS uptime |
| WMIC | Legacy scripts | Legacy and not guaranteed to be installed |
Troubleshooting common problems
“I shut down last night, but uptime still shows several days.”
Fast Startup is the most likely explanation. Use shutdown /r /t 0, then verify the value in Task Manager and with systeminfo.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
“The network duration does not match Task Manager.”
That is normal when the adapter connected later, reconnected after an interruption, or was reset independently of Windows.
“Restart is blocked or applications do not close.”
Use the graphical restart option first so you can save work. For support automation, a forced restart is possible:
shutdown /r /f /t 0The /f option forcibly closes applications and can cause loss of unsaved data, so it should not be the default choice.
“How can I restart a remote computer?”
With suitable permissions and administrative configuration, the command supports a remote target:
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