diff --git a/cmd/podman/machine/restart.go b/cmd/podman/machine/restart.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..365789056ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/podman/machine/restart.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+//go:build amd64 || arm64
+
+package machine
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"go.podman.io/podman/v6/cmd/podman/registry"
+	"go.podman.io/podman/v6/libpod/events"
+	"go.podman.io/podman/v6/pkg/machine"
+	"go.podman.io/podman/v6/pkg/machine/shim"
+)
+
+var (
+	restartCmd = &cobra.Command{
+		Use:               "restart [options] [MACHINE]",
+		Short:             "Restart an existing machine",
+		Long:              "Restart a managed virtual machine",
+		PersistentPreRunE: machinePreRunE,
+		RunE:              restart,
+		Args:              cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
+		Example:           `podman machine restart podman-machine-default`,
+		ValidArgsFunction: AutocompleteMachine,
+	}
+	restartOpts = machine.StartOptions{}
+)
+
+func init() {
+	registry.Commands = append(registry.Commands, registry.CliCommand{
+		Command: restartCmd,
+		Parent:  machineCmd,
+	})
+
+	flags := restartCmd.Flags()
+	noInfoFlagName := "no-info"
+	flags.BoolVar(&restartOpts.NoInfo, noInfoFlagName, false, "Suppress informational tips")
+
+	quietFlagName := "quiet"
+	flags.BoolVarP(&restartOpts.Quiet, quietFlagName, "q", false, "Suppress machine restarting status output")
+}
+
+func restart(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	restartOpts.NoInfo = restartOpts.Quiet || restartOpts.NoInfo
+	vmName := defaultMachineName
+	if len(args) > 0 && len(args[0]) > 0 {
+		vmName = args[0]
+	}
+
+	mc, vmProvider, err := shim.VMExists(vmName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if !restartOpts.Quiet {
+		fmt.Printf("Restarting machine %q\n", vmName)
+	}
+
+	updateConnection := false
+	if err := shim.StopThenStart(mc, vmProvider, false, restartOpts, &updateConnection); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("Machine %q restarted successfully\n", vmName)
+	newMachineEvent(events.Stop, events.Event{Name: vmName})
+	newMachineEvent(events.Start, events.Event{Name: vmName})
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine-restart.1.md b/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine-restart.1.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3e91420250d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine-restart.1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+% podman-machine-restart 1
+
+## NAME
+podman\-machine\-restart - Restart a virtual machine
+
+## SYNOPSIS
+**podman machine restart** [*options*] [*name*]
+
+## DESCRIPTION
+
+Restarts a virtual machine for Podman.
+
+The default machine name is `podman-machine-default`. If a machine name is not specified as an argument,
+then `podman-machine-default` will be restarted.
+
+Stopping an already stopped virtual machine is not considered an error so running restart on a stopped
+virtual machine just starts it from a stopped state.
+
+**podman machine restart** stops and then starts a Linux virtual machine where containers are run.
+
+## OPTIONS
+
+#### **--help**
+
+Print usage statement.
+
+#### **--no-info**
+
+Suppress informational tips.
+
+#### **--quiet**, **-q**
+
+Suppress machine restarting status output.
+
+## EXAMPLES
+
+Restart a podman machine named myvm.
+```
+$ podman machine restart myvm
+```
+
+## SEE ALSO
+**[podman(1)](podman.1.md)**, **[podman-machine(1)](podman-machine.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-start(1)](podman-machine-start.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-stop(1)](podman-machine-stop.1.md)**
+
+## HISTORY
+May 2026, Originally compiled by Jait Jacob <jai8.jacob@gmail.com>
diff --git a/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine.1.md b/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine.1.md
index 1449d71b8b7..f2e59d16c93 100644
--- a/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine.1.md
+++ b/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine.1.md
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ supported by platform.  The asterisk denotes the default provider for the platfo
 | list    | [podman-machine-list(1)](podman-machine-list.1.md)       | List virtual machines                                           |
 | os      | [podman-machine-os(1)](podman-machine-os.1.md)           | Manage a Podman virtual machine's OS                            |
 | reset   | [podman-machine-reset(1)](podman-machine-reset.1.md)     | Reset Podman machines and environment                           |
+| restart | [podman-machine-restart(1)](podman-machine-restart.1.md) | Restart a virtual machine                                       |
 | rm      | [podman-machine-rm(1)](podman-machine-rm.1.md)           | Remove a virtual machine                                        |
 | set     | [podman-machine-set(1)](podman-machine-set.1.md)         | Set a virtual machine setting                                   |
 | ssh     | [podman-machine-ssh(1)](podman-machine-ssh.1.md)         | SSH into a virtual machine                                      |
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ supported by platform.  The asterisk denotes the default provider for the platfo
 | stop    | [podman-machine-stop(1)](podman-machine-stop.1.md)       | Stop a virtual machine                                          |
 
 ## SEE ALSO
-**[podman(1)](podman.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-cp(1)](podman-machine-cp.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-info(1)](podman-machine-info.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-init(1)](podman-machine-init.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-list(1)](podman-machine-list.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-os(1)](podman-machine-os.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-rm(1)](podman-machine-rm.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-ssh(1)](podman-machine-ssh.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-start(1)](podman-machine-start.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-stop(1)](podman-machine-stop.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-inspect(1)](podman-machine-inspect.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-reset(1)](podman-machine-reset.1.md)**, **[containers.conf(5)](https://github.com/containers/container-libs/blob/main/common/docs/containers.conf.5.md)**
+**[podman(1)](podman.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-cp(1)](podman-machine-cp.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-info(1)](podman-machine-info.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-init(1)](podman-machine-init.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-list(1)](podman-machine-list.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-os(1)](podman-machine-os.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-rm(1)](podman-machine-rm.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-ssh(1)](podman-machine-ssh.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-start(1)](podman-machine-start.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-stop(1)](podman-machine-stop.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-inspect(1)](podman-machine-inspect.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-reset(1)](podman-machine-reset.1.md)**, **[podman-machine-restart(1)](podman-machine-restart.1.md)**, **[containers.conf(5)](https://github.com/containers/container-libs/blob/main/common/docs/containers.conf.5.md)**
 
 ### Troubleshooting
 
diff --git a/pkg/machine/e2e/config_restart_test.go b/pkg/machine/e2e/config_restart_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..11bc28f5352
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/machine/e2e/config_restart_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package e2e_test
+
+type restartMachine struct{}
+
+func (r restartMachine) buildCmd(m *machineTestBuilder) []string {
+	cmd := []string{"machine", "restart"}
+	if len(m.name) > 0 {
+		cmd = append(cmd, m.name)
+	}
+	return cmd
+}
diff --git a/pkg/machine/e2e/restart_test.go b/pkg/machine/e2e/restart_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6dce1b40604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/machine/e2e/restart_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package e2e_test
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"go.podman.io/podman/v6/pkg/machine/define"
+
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega/gexec"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("podman machine restart", func() {
+	It("should tell you when trying to restart a machine that doesn't exist", func() {
+		r := restartMachine{}
+		name := "aVMThatDoesntExist"
+		session, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(r).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(session).To(Exit(125))
+		Expect(session.errorToString()).To(ContainSubstring("VM does not exist"))
+	})
+
+	It("should restart a running machine", func() {
+		name := randomString()
+		i := new(initMachine)
+		session, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(i.withImage(mb.imagePath).withNow().withVolume("")).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(session).To(Exit(0))
+
+		r := restartMachine{}
+		restartSession, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(r).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(restartSession).To(Exit(0))
+		Expect(restartSession.outputToString()).To(ContainSubstring(fmt.Sprintf("Machine %q restarted successfully", name)))
+
+		inspect := new(inspectMachine)
+		inspectSession, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(inspect.withFormat("{{.State}}")).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(inspectSession).To(Exit(0))
+		Expect(inspectSession.outputToString()).To(Equal(define.Running))
+	})
+
+	It("should start a stopped machine", func() {
+		name := randomString()
+		i := new(initMachine)
+		session, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(i.withImage(mb.imagePath).withVolume("")).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(session).To(Exit(0))
+
+		inspect := new(inspectMachine)
+		inspectSession, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(inspect.withFormat("{{.State}}")).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(inspectSession).To(Exit(0))
+		Expect(inspectSession.outputToString()).To(Equal(define.Stopped))
+
+		r := restartMachine{}
+		restartSession, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(r).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(restartSession).To(Exit(0))
+
+		inspectSession, err = mb.setName(name).setCmd(inspect.withFormat("{{.State}}")).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(inspectSession).To(Exit(0))
+		Expect(inspectSession.outputToString()).To(Equal(define.Running))
+	})
+})
diff --git a/pkg/machine/shim/host.go b/pkg/machine/shim/host.go
index 8e09f64a752..4bccd2d30dc 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/shim/host.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/shim/host.go
@@ -418,6 +418,24 @@ func Stop(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, mp vmconfigs.VMProvider, hardStop bool) e
 	return stopLocked(mc, mp, dirs, hardStop)
 }
 
+// StopThenStart stops and starts the machine while holding its lock.
+func StopThenStart(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, mp vmconfigs.VMProvider, hardStop bool, opts machine.StartOptions, updateSystemConn *bool) error {
+	dirs, err := env.GetMachineDirs(mp.VMType())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	mc.Lock()
+	defer mc.Unlock()
+	if err := mc.Refresh(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("reload config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := stopLocked(mc, mp, dirs, hardStop); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return startLocked(mc, mp, dirs, opts, updateSystemConn)
+}
+
 // stopLocked stops the machine and expects the caller to hold the machine's lock.
 func stopLocked(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, mp vmconfigs.VMProvider, dirs *machineDefine.MachineDirs, hardStop bool) error {
 	state, err := mp.State(mc, false)
@@ -463,12 +481,6 @@ func stopLocked(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, mp vmconfigs.VMProvider, dirs *mach
 }
 
 func Start(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, mp vmconfigs.VMProvider, opts machine.StartOptions, updateSystemConn *bool) error {
-	var updateDefaultConnection bool
-
-	defaultBackoff := 500 * time.Millisecond
-	maxBackoffs := 6
-	signalChanClosed := false
-
 	dirs, err := env.GetMachineDirs(mp.VMType())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -481,6 +493,17 @@ func Start(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, mp vmconfigs.VMProvider, opts machine.St
 		return fmt.Errorf("reload config: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	return startLocked(mc, mp, dirs, opts, updateSystemConn)
+}
+
+// startLocked starts the machine and expects the caller to hold the machine's lock.
+func startLocked(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, mp vmconfigs.VMProvider, dirs *machineDefine.MachineDirs, opts machine.StartOptions, updateSystemConn *bool) error {
+	var updateDefaultConnection bool
+
+	defaultBackoff := 500 * time.Millisecond
+	maxBackoffs := 6
+	signalChanClosed := false
+
 	connName := mc.Name
 	if mc.HostUser.Rootful {
 		connName += "-root"