How it works
- It first asks the app to close, and ends it if it is still open after the time you set.
- Then it starts the app again exactly like Open app would, including starting games through their launcher, and can wait for its process or window.
- If the app isn't running, it simply starts it, unless you turn on "only if running".
- Arguments are the ones you put in the step, otherwise the app's own; KeyRoutines doesn't read the command line of the copy that was running.
Routines that use it
Fix audio apps after waking
When Woke up fires, a Wait until gives the devices a few seconds, then Restart app relaunches your voice chat app so it picks up the headset.
Refresh after docking
Display changed starts a routine that restarts an app that never adapts to new monitors, then Move and resize puts it on the big screen.
One-key fix
A hotkey restarts a tray app that tends to freeze, with "only if running" so it never starts one you had closed on purpose.
Settings
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| App | The app or game to restart. |
| Force after | If it's still open this long after being asked to close, end it. |
| Only if running | When it isn't running, do nothing instead of starting it. |
| Wait for | What to wait for after starting it again. |
| Argumentsadvanced | Command-line arguments, one per item. Empty: the app's own. |
| Working directoryadvanced | The folder the app starts in. |
Good to know
- An app showing "Save changes?" is left open and the step fails as needing attention, so you don't end up with a second copy.
- Protected games and polite-close-only titles are only ever asked to close, never forced.
Questions
- How do I restart a program automatically after sleep on Windows 11?
- Make a routine with the Woke up trigger and a Restart app step. Adding a short Wait until first helps, because Wi-Fi and Bluetooth come back a few seconds after wake.
- Does Restart app keep the arguments the app was started with?
- It uses the arguments you set in the step, or the app's own if you leave them empty. It doesn't copy the command line of the running copy.