What to do when your screen freezes

A frozen computer screen usually means the operating system or a program has stopped responding to your mouse and keyboard. The screen looks normal but nothing happens when you click or type. Before you force a restart and lose your work, try these steps in order—most freezes can be unfrozen without shutting down.

Start by waiting 15 to 30 seconds. Sometimes a computer is processing something heavy in the background and will respond again on its own. If nothing changes after half a minute, move to the next step.

Key Takeaways

  • Wait 15 to 30 seconds first, because the computer may be processing and will respond again without intervention.
  • Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on Windows or Command+Option+Esc on Mac to open the task manager or force quit menu.
  • Select the frozen program and choose "End Task" or "Force Quit" to close only that program without restarting.
  • If the entire system is frozen and task manager won't open, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown, then restart normally.
  • Restart your computer regularly and close unused programs to prevent freezes from happening in the first place.

Use Task Manager on Windows to close the frozen program

On Windows, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete at the same time. A menu will appear with several options. Click Task Manager (or Start Task Manager depending on your Windows version).

The Task Manager window shows all programs currently running. Look for any program with the label "Not Responding" next to its name—that is the frozen program. Click on it once to select it, then click the End Task button in the lower right corner. The frozen program will close, and your screen should become responsive again.

If Task Manager itself won't open when you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, your entire system is frozen. Move to the force shutdown section below.

Use Force Quit on Mac to close the frozen program

On Mac, press Command+Option+Esc at the same time. The Force Quit Applications window will open, showing all running programs.

Look through the list for the program that is frozen. It may say "(not responding)" next to the name. Click on it once to select it, then click the Force Quit button. The program will close when ready, and your Mac should return to normal.

If the Force Quit window won't open, or if the Finder itself is frozen, hold down Command+Option+Esc for a few seconds longer. If that does not work, move to the force shutdown section below.

Force a shutdown if the entire system is frozen

If Task Manager or Force Quit will not open, or if your mouse and keyboard do not respond at all, the entire operating system is frozen. In this case, you must force the computer to shut down.

Hold down the power button on your computer for 10 full seconds without releasing. The screen will go black and the computer will turn off. Wait 30 seconds, then press the power button once to turn it back on normally. This is a hard shutdown and may cause data loss in any unsaved files, but it is the only way to recover when the system is completely unresponsive.

On a laptop, the power button is usually in the top right or top left corner of the keyboard. On a desktop, it is on the front of the tower or monitor.

Restart your computer regularly to prevent freezes

Freezes often happen because your computer has been running for days or weeks without a restart. Restarting clears temporary files and memory, and lets the operating system explore updates. Restart your computer at least once a week, or more often if you leave it running 24 hours a day.

You can also prevent freezes by closing programs you are not using. Each open program uses memory, and when memory runs low, the system slows down and may freeze. If you have 10 browser tabs, three streaming services, and a video editor all open at once, close the ones you are not actively using.

Check for viruses or malware if freezes happen often

If your computer freezes multiple times a week, a virus or malware infection may be the cause. Malicious software runs in the background and uses up your computer's resources, causing the system to freeze or become very slow.

Run a full scan with your antivirus software. On Windows, Windows Defender (built into Windows) can scan your system—search for "Windows Defender" in the Start menu and click "Virus and threat protection." On Mac, run a scan with your antivirus program if you have one installed. If you do not have antivirus software, consider installing Malwarebytes, which is free for a basic scan.

If the scan finds threats, remove them and restart your computer. If freezes continue after a clean scan, the problem may be a failing hard drive or too little available storage space. Check how much free space you have by right-clicking your main drive and selecting "Properties" on Windows, or by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac" on Mac.

Update your operating system and drivers

Freezes can also happen when your operating system or device drivers are outdated. Updates often include fixes for bugs that cause freezing.

On Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any updates available and restart when prompted. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Software Update and install any updates available.

You can also set updates to install automatically so you do not have to remember to check. On Windows, this is done in the same Windows Update settings. On Mac, check the box for "Automatically keep my Mac up to date" in Software Update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will force quitting a program delete my work?

Yes, any unsaved work in that program will be lost. However, many programs like Word, Google Docs, and Chrome save your work automatically or have a recovery feature. Check the program after you restart it to see if a recovery window appears.

Is it safe to hold the power button to force a shutdown?

It is safe for the computer hardware itself, but it can damage files that were being written to the hard drive at that moment. Use it only when the system is completely unresponsive and Task Manager or Force Quit will not open. Restart normally whenever possible.

Why does my computer freeze when I open a specific program?

That program may have a bug, or it may require more memory than your computer has available. Try closing other programs before opening it, or check the program's website for updates. If freezing continues, uninstall and reinstall the program.

Can a frozen screen mean my hard drive is failing?

Frequent freezes can indicate a failing hard drive, especially if they happen during file operations. Back up your important files when ready and run a hard drive diagnostic tool. On Windows, search for "Check Disk" in the Start menu. On Mac, use Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities.