How to Restart Your IMac with Just a Keyboard

If you're unable to use your Mac's mouse due to issues or damage, restarting your iMac using only your keyboard is possible. Here are the steps to follow:

Firstly, make sure that your iMac is powered on and you can access the login screen. To do this, press the Power button on your iMac or unplug the power cord and then plug it back in.

Once you're at the login screen, use the keyboard combination `Control+Option+Arrow Down` to highlight the 'Agree' button at the EULA display screen. Press the Space Bar to select the button.

Next, navigate to the first page of the macOS installation wizard using the same keyboard combination (`Control+Option+Arrow Down`) and press the Space Bar again to highlight the 'Continue' button. Then, press Enter to proceed.

On the macOS Utilities selection screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the 'Install macOS' option and press Tab to highlight the 'Continue' button. Finally, press Enter to begin the installation process.

During the installation process, you will be prompted to select your language. Use the arrow keys (or `Control+Option+Arrow up/down/right/left`) to make your selection and then press Enter.

If you need to enable VoiceOver's accessibility features, press the `Command+F5` keys (or `Command+Function+F5` if you're using an Apple laptop) at the recovery welcome screen.

To boot your Mac to the Recovery Partition or external boot media, follow additional steps that are documented below. However, restarting your iMac using only a keyboard requires just a few clicks of the mouse – unless, like me, you have to work from just the keyboard.

It's worth noting that if you're experiencing issues with your mouse, it may be due to corrupted subsystem files in your operating system. In my case, I tried reinstalling macOS to 'clean up' any corrupt files preventing the mouse from displaying, but this didn't resolve the issue. If you're experiencing similar problems, you may want to consider seeking further assistance from Apple Support or a professional IT expert.

Overall, restarting your iMac with just a keyboard is possible, and these steps should help you accomplish it successfully.

Restart imac with keyboard