

In either case, these reboot-forcing updates make the point moot. It’s also not uncommon for updates of other software to require a reboot to complete. Or you’ll find that Windows has simply rebooted for you. The net result is that about once a month, you’ll probably be informed that you should reboot your computer for updates to be applied. Many times, the files to be updated are in use, and the only way to update them is during a reboot. The rule that’s the exception to the rule On the third hand, you may be running a single program that’s not well behaved, and as a result, a reboot might be advised. On the other hand, if you’re running lots of different programs, opening and closing them often, or just using the machine heavily, the answer might be different. For example, if all you do is run your web browser to visit websites - including, perhaps, your email - then, while you might want to close and reopen the browser every so often (usually because it seems to be acting up), there’s just no need to reboot the computer. If you spend your entire day running only one program, there may not be a need to reboot it periodically at all. There’s no hard-and-fast rule it really depends on how you use your computer. Without those, though, there’s rarely a need.

System instability or odd behavior is one symptom that might warrant a reboot. Software updates often force the issue by needing a reboot.

There’s no real rule for how often to reboot your computer if you leave it on all the time.
