Keyboard shortcut to restart m2 macbook air

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Keyboard shortcut to restart m2 macbook air

This seems like a ridiculous question to be asking, and I apologize if it's as ridiculous as it seems. Having used Macs continually for 35 years, however, I can't seem to find a simple keycode to restart my new M2 MacBook Air. When I google on the question, I find several instructions to "force" my Mac to restart "without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents" using command-control-power button, but I don't want to "force" anything, I just want a normal restart. I suppose I can get Keyboard Maestro to do this easily enough, but is Apple really not providing a simple keycode for a normal restart?

MacBook Air, macOS 13.2

Posted on Feb 18, 2023 9:05 AM

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Answer 1

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roy_mccoy Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 19, 2023 8:14 PM in response to WinsC1

Thanks WinsC1, but these are the shortcuts I found googling and none of them are what I want, which is simply a good old-fashioned restart such as always used to be standard. You know, like Apple menu > Restart. Oddly, none of the listed shortcuts give me a restart. Both 1 and 2 simply lock my screen, giving me the login screen without a restart. As for 3, this is a laptop and doesn't have a media eject button.

As I suspected or vaguely remembered, Keyboard Maestro has a Restart Computer action. I assigned it to command-control-R (which may have been the old Mac shortcut) and I'm good. But why I suddenly need a third-party app to do this is beyond me.

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Answer 2

WinsC1

Community Specialist

Feb 19, 2023 7:01 PM in response to roy_mccoy

Hey roy_mccoy,

There are a few options available on Mac to use keyboard shortcuts to restart the computer:

"

Control–Power button* or Control–Media Eject : Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down.
Control–Command–Power button:* Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.
Control–Command–Media Eject : Quit all apps, then restart your Mac. If any open documents have unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save them.

"

You can view a list of all keyboard shortcuts here: Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support

Thanks!

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Answer 3

roy_mccoy Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 20, 2023 1:47 PM in response to SnickZ.

It might seem I was being picky, or too demanding, if I got this dialog and was unsatisfied with it – though I would be unsatisfied because, as I've said, it wouldn't be the simple restart that I've always had, want to continue having, and in fact do have though only thanks to Keyboard Maestro. I don't know that there would be shortcuts for the three options if they came up; and if there were, then why not have shortcuts for the three to begin with?

Is the thought perhaps that Mac users are too stupid to remember three keyboard shortcuts? I don't know, but in any event, again, I don't get the three stated options when I press the control key and the power button at the same time. I get my login screen, immediately, and when I type my password I'm right back where I was before. I've submitted this feedback as suggested, thanks.

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Answer 4

SnickZ.

Community Specialist

Feb 20, 2023 1:03 PM in response to roy_mccoy

Hi roy_mccoy,

Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support -- As we shared previously, this key combination will provide these options when pressed together:

Control–Power button* or Control–Media Eject : Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down.

Apple does appreciate all feedback regarding our products, services, and features. If you'd like to provide feedback on your experience with our products or services, you can do so using this link: Feedback - MacBook Air - Apple

All the best.

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