Why does rebooting your computer almost always fix it?

People and computers can be very similar in some ways. After a long day, energy runs low and completing certain tasks become more difficult.

Sometimes the best thing to do is shut down and rest. Computers are the same way. When a computer is in use, applications are starting and shutting down all the time. After a while, it can really overload your computer’s memory.

That’s why giving your computer a rest by rebooting it can help fix system problems you’re experiencing. Let’s talk about why this simple solution really works.

Why restarting your computer works … most of the time

If you ever call tech support and tell them you’re having issues with your device, you’ll probably hear the question, “Did you try restarting it?”

What you may not realize is there are always programs running on your computer, even if you don’t see them. When too many programs are running, it can really chew up your RAM. This may cause your computer to run slow, or worse, malfunction.

RAM, or random-access memory, temporarily stores data that helps your computer process information. Rebooting your computer shuts down programs that are causing RAM to act sluggish.

This process doesn’t work with only computers. It could also help solve problems with smartphones, routers, gaming systems and more.

How to properly restart your PC or Mac

If you own a PC, open the start menu and select the power button. Once selected, another drop-down menu will appear; at this point, select the restart option.

If you are a Mac user, the process is just as easy if not easier.

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No cell signal? Best ways to boost signal strength when your calls won’t go through

Today’s tech means we’re always connected — when our connections actually work the way they should.

Is your Wi-Fi crawling? No one has time or patience for that. Tap or click for 10 smart ways to fix your slow internet connection. Know the tricks before you need them.

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True or false: You should reboot your computer every day

There are few certainties in life: Death, taxes and turning your computer off and on when there’s a problem. This is usually the first piece of advice you get from friends, family and tech support.

Rebooting your computer helps keep it running smoothly. It clears the memory, stopping any tasks that are eating up RAM. Even if you’ve closed an app, it could still tap your memory. A reboot can also fix peripheral and hardware issues. If your computer is still running slow, this one trick could help.

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Can’t download apps on your iPhone? Try these 10 tricks

We rely on our phones for almost everything: email, texts, messages, calls, banking, you name it. When they aren’t working correctly, it can cause tons of unexpected issues.

Many of us are connected to our devices for work too, making bugs even more annoying. These issues always seem to pop up when we’re in a time crunch or on a deadline. Issues can also emerge after an update, which is what happened with a recent iOS update.

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Android touchscreen acting up? Here's how to troubleshoot it

Most of us have at least a few touchscreen devices on hand at a time. Whether it’s a touchscreen laptop, your smartphone, a tablet or some other gadget, it’s common for tech these days to be touch and play.

It’s also common for those touchscreens to be finicky and unresponsive at times. Touchscreens can stop working suddenly or have issues just like any other device component. When it happens, it can be pretty frustrating — or even render your device useless.

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3.3 million vehicles recalled! See if yours is on the list

It seems like we’re always hearing about recalls these days. Whether it’s toy and furniture design flaws or listeria or E. coli in our food, safety recalls are a pretty common scenario in the U.S.

Part of the reason for the steady stream of recalls is technology and safety guidelines are always improving. We have better ways of identifying problematic products than we did before — and we have more thorough ways of identifying people who may be affected. This vehicle recall app is just one of the new tools you can use to get recall alerts.

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What to do when your computer freezes or locks up

It happens to everyone at some point. You’re doing something on your computer, whether it’s an important project, some aimless browsing, or trying to beat your high score on Minecraft, and without warning everything freezes.

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A quick and easy way to find live sports games and TV shows

Remember when you used to need a TV Guide to know when your favorite shows were airing? Thanks to digital cable and the rise of streaming, it’s much easier to know when our shows are on air. But not everyone subscribes to the same set of channels or services, which can easily lead to confusion.

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Slow computer? 9 ways to make it run faster

Anyone who uses a computer has probably experienced a PC slowdown. Your programs open sluggishly, web browsing seems pokey, apps are lagging and your computer startup time is worse than you remember.

Even Windows 10 is not immune to these occasional lags, and it could be a bit frustrating trying to figure out what’s going on — especially with a relatively new operating system. Not running Windows 10 yet? Tap or click here to upgrade from Windows 7 to 10.

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Tech trick: Essential keyboard shortcuts for Macs

Keyboard shortcuts are the long-reigning heavyweight champs of digital efficiency. They may seem unintuitive before you get used to them but once you do, you’ll be saving time in everything you do on your Mac. We’ve compiled a list of the essential shortcuts for any Mac user.

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6 ways to check if your hard drive is failing

Your computer’s hard disk drive (HDD) works diligently at storing your data, including files, operating system and other software. Although rarely visible, unless it is an external drive, this workhorse is consistently performing its duties — that is until your computer starts crashing.

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iPhone acting up? 4 steps to fix a misbehaving battery

It happens to the best of us. One fateful day, you notice your iPhone is slowly losing the ability to hold a charge. Perhaps it’s a percentage here and there, or a trickle-down effect you only notice when you’re in desperate need of a quick charge. Whatever the case may be, it’s a huge annoyance.

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Windows bug prevents you from shutting down or rebooting - here's the fix

Keeping your device’s operating system updated is critical. That’s because many times these updates contain patches to known vulnerabilities hackers can exploit.

There was a perfect example of this a few months ago with a flaw known as Bluekeep in Windows. It was so bad the NSA stepped in and begged users to update ASAP. Tap or click here to see why this patch is so important.

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5 ways to fix an Android phone that won't charge

It always happens at the wrong time, right? You’re on your way to an important meeting or you’re running late to pick up the kids. Your boss is waiting for you to dial into a conference call or you need to email a time-sensitive contract to a client.

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Have screen burn-in on your TV? How to check and 3 tips fix it

OLED screens are some of the most popular displays in the tech industry due to their darker blacks and more vibrant colors than competing displays. Plus, they need less power to run.

But OLED screens suffer “burn-in” if left on too long. That’s why Samsung has created a video tutorial to teach customers how to spot burn-in on their screens.

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3 reasons you should buy a used MacBook instead of a new one

When everyone is jumping out of their seat to buy a new Apple computer deemed better than the one they currently own, they’ll have to figure out what to do with the used technology. Fortunately, this is the perfect time for bargain hunters to buy a ‘new’ computer. If you’re struggling to decide whether to buy a new or used computer, consider these three reasons why buying a used MacBook may be the right decision for you.

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Is it OK to leave your computer on 24/7?

If you’re like any typical computer user you may ask yourself, “Is it safer to keep my computer on all day or should I turn it off?” At first thought, turning it off seems to conserve the most energy and preserve your computer’s lifespan. However, there are many factors to consider when it comes to leaving it on or turning it off. Let’s take a look at what’s best for your machine.

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Android headphones not working? Here are 3 tips to troubleshoot

If your wireless or wired headphones aren’t working with your Android device, it could be a problem with the phone, the software or the headphones themselves. Before you toss the headphones and waste money replacing them, we have three quick and easy troubleshooting tips to try.

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Turn off your computer automatically and more

For many, computers are a big part of each day both in business and for personal use. Consumers spend their days at the office staring at a screen only to return home to look at a different one. When computer use becomes so familiar, it can be easy to forget to perform the most simple tasks.

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Update now! Adobe issues emergency Flash update for a serious flaw

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Don’t download Flash. Flash is the program on your computer that seems to have some of the worst problems, and the latest hack is no different. If you still have Flash, you should absolutely either get rid of it, or update it immediately because this hack has already affected a large amount of users. Here’s how to find out if you were impacted.

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