5 Gadgets You Should Restart More Often—and How Often to Do It

Executive Briefing

• Restart phones at least weekly to prevent memory leaks, software bugs, and basic cyberattacks, per NSA guidance
• Reboot computers, laptops, and tablets weekly to flush processes and maintain performance on modern operating systems
• Power cycle modems and routers monthly, distinguishing reboots from factory resets to avoid unintended configuration loss
• Restart smart TVs, media players, and handheld consoles like Steam Deck weekly or monthly to clear system memory