Keyboard shortcuts are an option for operating systems that seek to provide productivity and streamline processes on the computer. They also represent the old-fashioned footprint of the old OS that was driven from a shell by pressing keys and combining some. In Windows we have a wide range of these, both to speed up the processes we are carrying out, and to revive the system in the event of a crash. The most famous of these is the classic Ctrl+Alt+Del, however, today we will introduce you to this shortcut to unlock Windows without having to restart your computer.
It is a great option in those cases where the system crashes, does not react and we do not want to restart the equipment to avoid losing data. In addition, to represent that complement to the Ctrl+Alt+Del shortcut that many were unaware of and that could avoid the restart.
Shortcuts to wake the computer
All of us Windows users are familiar with that nasty scenario where we are in the middle of an activity and the system stops responding. In some cases, we can move the mouse, but the clicks don't work in any area. In others, perhaps the most annoying of all, the system freezes and we cannot move the mouse or execute actions within Windows.
This is when we immediately resort to the keyboard shortcut to reactivate the most popular and well-known computer: CTRL+ALT+Del. What this does is immediately bring up the lock screen with options like opening the Task Manager. From there, we have the possibility to see the process that generates the problem and close it.
However, when the previous option does not work, it seems that we are tied to the inevitable restart of the computer. Something that, in effect, puts us at the very high risk of losing the information that we are handling in the session. However, this is where the shortcut to unlock Windows without having to restart the computer that we want to talk about today comes into play.
A shortcut to unlock Windows without having to restart your computer
The shortcut to unlock Windows without having to restart your computer is Windows+Ctrl+Alt+B, but what does it actually do and why can it help us? The keyboard shortcuts to wake the system are really interesting, because both the previous one and this one address different problems. Whereas, with Ctlr+Alt+Del the system makes its resources available to the menu with the options to lock, restart and open the Task Manager, the key combination that concerns us today aims at a different objective.
Windows crashes can have various causes, from a lack of RAM memory, to hard drive problems, to failures with video drivers. The latter can be common when we run video games on the computer or also when working with video editors, on computers that require more resources for these purposes. If this is your case, then the Windows+Ctrl+Alt+B shortcut will be a great ally for those moments and we will tell you how to use it below.
What this shortcut does is reset the system video drivers, so if the hang was caused by problems with them, then it will be fixed without a reboot. In that sense, when you press the key combination, you will hear a beep and you will see the screen go black, but do not worry. This is part of the driver reboot and after a few seconds you will have everything back as before, with the addition that the equipment will no longer hang.
It should be noted that this shortcut is available for Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10.
What to do if this shortcut doesn't work?
If you have suffered a crash on your computer and when trying this shortcut, the problem persists, then the origin is not in the video drivers. As we mentioned before, this situation can have various causes and graphics drivers is just one of them. In this way, the next step to carry out, after the Windows+Ctrl+Alt+B shortcut, is to apply the classic Ctlr+Alt+Del, to enable the Task Manager.
Considering that the factors that affect Windows crashes can come from the processor, RAM or hard disk, it is possible to recognize it in the Task Manager and solve it immediately. All this, without the need to restart the computer and risk losing the work we are doing.
The Windows+Ctrl+Alt+B shortcut is a very useful option and should be part of any troubleshooting process for system freeze scenarios. Going through it will allow us to rule out that the computer has faults with the video drivers or, failing that, to solve the problems. Its range of action involves Intel, Nvidia and also AMD drivers, although it is necessary to remember, that it only works on the 3 versions prior to Windows 11.