Turning a computer on and off

In short: You turn a computer on with the power button and switch it off properly through the start menu (Shut down). Simply pulling the plug can damage data.

In more detail: When you switch on, the firmware starts first, then the operating system. After signing in you see the desktop. To switch off, close your programs, save your work and choose “Shut down”. That way the computer writes all open data cleanly to the disk.

In Depth

• Turning on: Press the power button briefly. On a laptop, first check that the battery is charged or the charger is connected.
• Shutting down: Windows: Start menu → power icon → Shut down. Mac: Apple menu → Shut Down.
• Restart: Starts the computer again. Often helps when something behaves oddly or after updates.
• Saving energy: “Sleep” pauses the computer and wakes it quickly. “Hibernate” saves the state to disk and switches off completely.
• Never do: Pull the plug or remove the battery while running. Only in an emergency, hold the power button for about 5 seconds.

See also: When the computer freezes: first aid, Signing in, user accounts and switching users