Restart and reopen your registered apps (shutdown /g) — via Microsoft Learn

Commandlow riskWindows 11Windows 10

A full restart that, after you sign back in, relaunches apps that registered for restart — handy after installing something that needs a reboot when you don't want to rebuild your workspace by hand.

Takes effect right away

Command

Run in a normal Command Prompt / Terminal window.

shutdown /g /t 0

Undo

rem Nothing to undo. To cancel a delayed one: shutdown /a

Only apps that registered for restart come back. If Automatic Restart Sign-On is enabled, Windows also signs the last user in and locks the PC before relaunching them. /sg does the same but shuts down, reopening apps at the next boot.

Sources

shutdown — by Microsoft Learn

Source reviewed: 2026-11-02
Link checked: 2026-11-02
Tested hands-on: Not by Oddbyte.Me

Oddbyte.Me hasn't tried this on every Windows build, so keep the undo handy.

shutdownrestart appsreopen appsrestart

More in Sign-in, Boot & Shutdown

Sign in automatically with Microsoft's Autologon tool — via Mark Russinovich, Microsoft Sysinternals

Trickhigh riskAdmin

For a kiosk, media PC or test machine that should boot straight to the desktop, Sysinternals Autologon sets up Windows' built-in automatic sign-in and stores the password encrypted, rather than in plain text in the registry as old guides do.

Force the next boots into Safe Mode (and back) — via Microsoft Learn

Commandmedium riskAdmin

When a bad driver or app makes Windows unusable, Safe Mode starts with only basic drivers. You can make Windows keep booting into Safe Mode until you switch it back — the same thing msconfig's Safe boot box does.

Show the sign-in background sharp instead of blurred — via Microsoft Learn

Group Policylow riskAdminPro / Enterprise / Education

Windows blurs ("acrylic") the lock-screen picture behind the sign-in box. This policy shows it clear instead.