How to: Restart an Instance of SQL Server (SQL Server Management Studio)

Microsoft SQL Server can be stopped and restarted quickly from SQL Server Management Studio.

To restart an instance of SQL Server

In Registered Servers or Object Explorer, right-click the server instance you want to restart, and then click Restart.

A message box asks whether you are sure you want to restart SQL Server on the server instance you chose.
Click Yes.

A green arrow on the icon next to the server name indicates that the server restarted successfully.