How to Restart a Remote Computer [Three Ways]

Introduction to restart a remote computer

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 the performance of the computer or when a program is not working properly, for example, when RDP clipboard not working, or when RDP microphone redirection not working.

It is pretty easy to restart a local computer, but do you know how to restart a remote computer? Actually, it is just as easy as restarting a local computer. Here in this tutorial, we offer you three solutions. 

How to restart a remote computer on Windows 10？

If you are a Windows 10 user, you could restart a remote computer on Windows 10 through Windows build-in program Remote Desktop (RDP), the command line, and the third-party freeware, AnyViewer.

Solution 1. Use Windows build-in program Remote Desktop

The steps are divided into three parts when you use RDP to restart a remote computer on Windows 10. 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 on the client computer.

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).

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.

Start remote control on the client computer

Step 1. The client 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 in the Remote Desktop Connection interface to achieve connection.

Step 3. After you’ve achieved 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.

Solution 2. Use the command line

Like using RDP, the steps are divided into three parts when you use RDP to restart a remote computer on Windows 10. 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.

Edit 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.

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.

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 “shutdown/i” in the Command Prompt window and then press Enter. You can add the computer that you want to restart.

Step 3. Add the computer name you then click OK.

Solution 3. Use third-party software AnyViewer

Finally, you’ll learn how to restart a remote computer on Windows 10 through third-party software, AnyViewer. AnyViewer is a free and simple remote control software that allows you to control a computer no matter where it locates. It is a professional remote control software for Windows. It supports several Windows versions, including Windows 10.

It’s worth mentioning that, AnyViewer provides you with a shortcut to easily restart a remote computer. And you could achieve unattended re-connection to the remote computer after it restarts. By the way, you could achieve remote connection even the two computers are under different networks. You also don't need to do any special firewall configuration. But if it is blocked by your company firewall, you may need to know the ports that AnyViewer supports.

Step 1. Download, install and launch AnyViewer on both computers. Go to Log in, and then click Sign up. (If you already have signed up on its official website, you can log in directly.)

Step 2. Fill in the signup information.

Step 3. Then you can see you successfully logged in to AnyViewer. Your device will automatically be assigned to the account you've logged in to.

Step 4. Log in to the same AnyViewer account on the two devices, then you can achieve a direct connection by clicking Remote control.

Note: You can also upgrade your account to Professional or Enterprise edition to assign more devices and to connect to another computer in privacy mode.

After you’ve successfully connected to the host computer, 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.

We’ve mentioned before that AnyViewer also provides you with a shortcut to easily restart a remote computer. Just click Operation, then you could see a list of shortcuts. Click Restart to restart the remote computer.

Conclusion

This tutorial has provided you with three ways to restart a remote computer on Windows 10. you could clearly see that the process of solution 3 is easier than the first two. It won’t require you to change any settings of your computer. In just a few steps, you can start to remote control another computer and restart it.

By the way, if you wanna use RDP, you need to make sure that the remote computer is not running a Windows 10 Home Edition, because it can’t be controlled by other computers over RDP. Also, you need to make sure that the client computer and the host computer are under the same network, or you need to go through a more complicated process to set up the network.

In conclusion, the easiest way to restart a remote computer on Windows 10 is to use third-party software AnyViewer.