KeyRoutines
StepFreesystem.restart

Restart Windows 11 automatically with a cancelable countdown

Restart reboots the PC from a routine. A countdown with a Cancel button comes first, so a scheduled restart never surprises you mid-task.

How it works

  • A notification counts down, 60 seconds by default and up to 10 minutes; 0 restarts at once.
  • Cancel stops the restart and the step still succeeds, marked as cancelled, so the routine can branch on it.
  • Normally apps can ask to save and Windows waits for your answer; the advanced "close apps even with unsaved work" option skips that.

Routines that use it

Weekly fresh start

Every Sunday at 04:00, an At a time routine restarts the PC if Idle for says you've been away.

Restart after an update

When a Download finished trigger sees the driver installer, Ask Yes or No, then Restart with a 5-minute countdown.

Ask first

A manual routine closes your apps with Close app, then restarts, cancelable from the notification.

Settings

SettingWhat it does
CountdownHow long the notification counts down before it happens (0 = at once). Cancel on the notification stops it.
ForceadvancedClose apps even when they have unsaved work. Off: apps can ask to save, and Windows waits for an answer.

Good to know

  • With "close apps even with unsaved work" on, unsaved work in open apps can be lost.

Questions

How do I schedule a restart on Windows 11?
Make a routine with an At a time trigger and a Restart step. The countdown with Cancel gives you a chance to stop it if you're still working.
Will a scheduled restart close my unsaved documents?
Not by default: apps can ask to save and Windows waits for you. Only the advanced force option closes them anyway.

Pairs well with

Step · SystemFree

Shut down

Shut down powers off the PC from a routine, after a countdown you can cancel. It's the classic end of a bedtime routine or of a long overnight job.

Condition · SystemFree

Idle for

Idle for is true when nobody has touched the keyboard or mouse for at least the time you set. It's the check for "only do this if I've stepped away".

Trigger · ScheduleFree

At a time

At a time starts a routine at a time of day, every day or only on the days you pick. Classic uses are a work setup at 09:00 on weekdays and an end-of-day routine in the evening.

Step · AppsFree

Close app

Close app shuts down the programs you pick, or every open app except the ones you want to keep. People put it at the end of a work session, before a game, or anywhere a cluttered taskbar gets in the way.

Step · NotificationsFree

Ask Yes or No

Ask Yes or No asks a simple question and waits for an answer. It's the safety catch before steps you don't always want, like closing apps or shutting down.

Build this routine in KeyRoutines

Free from the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and 10. Pro is a one-time upgrade.

Get KeyRoutines freeFree vs Pro