The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To restart most Chromebooks, select the time and status area in the lower-right corner of the screen, select Power, then select Restart. The restart button is an on-screen command—not a dedicated physical button on every Chromebook.
Where is the restart button on a Chromebook?
With the Chromebook on, use this menu path:
- Select the time and status area in the lower-right corner of the screen.
- Select Power in the panel that opens.
- Select Restart.
Google’s Chromebook sign-out and power instructions put Restart in the on-screen Power menu. The physical power key can turn a Chromebook off, but it is not the standard restart command.
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Restarting to finish a ChromeOS update
If ChromeOS shows an update notification with a Restart option, select it to finish installing the downloaded update. See Google’s ChromeOS update instructions.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf the Chromebook is frozen
Try turning it off and back on
When the screen or system is unresponsive, Google’s first troubleshooting step is to turn the Chromebook off and back on. If you can still use the menu, select the time and status area, choose Power, then Shut down. Start it again with the physical power key. Shutting down and starting up is not the same as choosing Restart, but it is a useful first step when troubleshooting a freeze.
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If the problem continues
Google’s hardware and system troubleshooting guide recommends moving through less invasive checks: close apps and browser windows, check whether a particular tab is causing the problem, and remove recently installed apps or extensions. Consider reset or recovery only if those steps do not resolve the issue.
Hardware reset is a separate troubleshooting action
A hardware reset is not the ordinary Restart command. Google advises trying it only after other fixes have failed. For most Chromebooks, the documented method is to turn the device off, press and hold Refresh, tap Power, then release Refresh when the Chromebook starts. Tablets and some models use different procedures, so follow instructions for your exact device if these steps do not match. Google warns that a hardware reset might delete some files in Downloads. See Google’s hardware reset instructions.
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Restart, hardware reset, Powerwash and recovery: what’s the difference?
| Action | Purpose and control | Data impact |
|---|---|---|
| Restart | Routine reboot from the on-screen Power menu. | No data erasure is described for this ordinary restart. |
| Turn off, then turn on | Basic troubleshooting step when the Chromebook crashes or freezes; use Shut down, then start it again. | No data erasure is described for this step. |
| Hardware reset | Later troubleshooting step using a key sequence or model-specific procedure. | Some files in Downloads might be deleted. |
| Powerwash (factory reset) | Resets the Chromebook to factory settings; not a restart. | Erases user data stored on the Chromebook. Back up first and try less invasive troubleshooting. A work- or school-managed device may require an administrator. See Google’s factory reset instructions. |
| ChromeOS recovery | Removes and reinstalls the operating system; not a restart or routine reset. | Permanently erases files on the device’s hard drive. Back up if possible and try less invasive steps first. Instructions differ for Chromebooks, tablets, Chromeboxes and Chromebits. See Google’s recovery instructions. |
Do not use a paperclip as a Chromebook restart button. Google’s paperclip directions apply to recovery controls on certain Chromebox and Chromebit devices, not to routine Chromebook restarting.
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- Storage: 16 GB Flash Memory
- OS: Chrome OS
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