Whether it's a phone, computer, or any other piece of technology, the number one way to troubleshoot a problem is still to try turning it off and back on again.
Rebooting is such an obvious solution that it's almost always the first thing a tech support person will tell you to do. It can fix a number of common hardware and software grievances on your devices, and has been a tried-and-true method for decades.
"It's fast and has little risk of harming the device," said Kenny Chan, chief technology officer at Archetype, a communications company.
These days, rebooting is even more useful and prevalent on larger, more complex machines, such as cars and refrigerators, technology experts told the Wall Street Journal.
An Easy Way to Solve Problems
Unlike factory resets, rebooting a device is a low-risk option. It doesn't wipe your data or reset your device to its original settings. It's also less dangerous than troubleshooting techniques that involve taking apart your device or attaching external components.
Chan said he gets at least two to four reports per week of common bugs that can be quickly resolved with a restart.
It's not just PCs and smartphones that function better after a reboot. Sometimes, even airplanes, trains, and cars need to be turned off and on to run smoothly. Flight attendants routinely reboot Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment systems on airplanes, while trains may need to be rebooted to recover from mechanical issues caused by severe weather, a loss of communication, or a power outage on the tracks, an Amtrak spokesperson said.
After settling into his seat on a flight from Portland to Dallas for a business trip, Jason Cerezo, 52, heard an announcement from the pilot that a glitch with the plane had kept it from disconnecting from the gate and that a reboot was needed. Cerezo was asked to exit the plane and then reboard once the system was back up.
"Everything is computer-driven these days, so it makes sense that you would turn the plane off and on again. It's the first thing I would do if I was troubleshooting a computer issue," Cerezo said.
Common Issues Rebooting Can Fix
One common issue that a reboot can fix is a memory leak. This happens when apps develop coding errors that cause them to overload the system. Leaks can lead to slow performance, crashes, and freezes. Similar problems can arise when you leave your device on for too long without closing any of the apps running on it.
Temporarily turning off your device will stop those apps, preventing the leak. Aaron Grady, a partner project manager for Windows, said that turning a device off clears its RAM, the short-term memory that the operating system uses.
The Power of a Shut-Eye for Your Tech
When you turn your device back on, the apps will open as usual, free from the errors or glitches that caused it to freeze or lag in the first place.
"It's like how people take a power nap when they are feeling overwhelmed. They wake up feeling refreshed and better able to deal with whatever the problem was," Grady said.
This tip applies to any product that has software running on it, including cars. They have built-in computers that control everything from Bluetooth connectivity to GPS navigation.
Gurpiar Gill, 27, of Canada, drives trucks for a construction company as a side hustle during the summer months. Two weeks after his boss bought him a 2021 Ford F-150 to use for work, he turned it on and was greeted with a blank white digital dashboard screen.
Gill panicked and consulted the vehicle's manual and scoured online car forums for potential solutions. Nothing worked. So he turned off the truck and waited a few minutes before turning it back on. The engine roared to life.
"I was a little taken aback," Gill said. "Technology has come so far and is so advanced, yet the same on-off reboot that I have been doing since the early 2000s is still getting the job done."
Conclusion
Grady said that a reboot could even fix some hardware-related problems, such as connectivity issues stemming from a faulty port or an unresponsive display screen.
Not every problem can be solved with a restart, however. For example, if the issue stems from corrupted files on your hard drive, you will have to manually delete them, Chan said. That's why, in some cases, you might have to clear your computer's cache, which is where those files are stored.
Nevertheless, the next time you encounter an issue with any of your tech devices, try the oldest solution in the book first: Turn it off and back on again.