What to do when your computer freezes

A frozen computer—one that stops responding to your mouse clicks and keyboard input—usually means a single program has crashed or your system is overloaded with tasks. The fix depends on whether the entire system is locked or just one window. Start by waiting 30 seconds; sometimes a slow operation just needs time. If nothing changes, try pressing Alt+Tab on Windows or Command+Tab on Mac to switch between open programs—if that works, the freeze is isolated to one app. If your whole screen is unresponsive, force-quit the frozen program or restart your computer.

Most freezes are temporary and don't mean your computer is broken. The steps below will get you moving again and help you figure out what caused it.

Key Takeaways

  • Wait 30 seconds before taking action, because some operations just run slowly and will complete on their own.
  • If only one program is frozen, use Alt+Tab (Windows) or Command+Tab (Mac) to switch away, then force-quit the stuck program.
  • If your entire screen is frozen, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown, then restart normally.
  • Check your hard drive space and close unnecessary background programs to prevent freezes from happening repeatedly.
  • Update your operating system and drivers regularly, because outdated software is a common cause of freezing.

Force-quit a single frozen program on Windows

If only one program is frozen but your mouse and keyboard still work elsewhere, you can close just that program without restarting. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open the Task Manager. You will see a list of running programs. Click on the one that is frozen (it may say "Not Responding" next to its name), then click the End Task button in the lower right. The program will close when ready.

After the program closes, you can reopen it or move on to something else. If the same program freezes repeatedly, it may have a bug or conflict with your system—try uninstalling and reinstalling it, or check the publisher's website for an updated version.

Force-quit a single frozen program on Mac

On a Mac, press Command+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window. Select the program that is frozen (it will show "Not Responding" in red text), then click Force Quit. The program will close.

If a program freezes often, try moving it to the Trash and reinstalling it from the App Store or the publisher's website. You can also check the Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities) to see how much memory and processing power the program is using—if it is using far more than other programs, it may have a memory leak.

Restart your computer when the entire screen is frozen

If your mouse does not move and your keyboard does not respond anywhere on the screen, your entire system is frozen. Hold down the power button for 10 seconds until the computer shuts down completely. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to restart normally.

This is a hard shutdown—it does not give programs a chance to save their work, so you may lose unsaved documents. But it is the only way to recover when nothing responds. After the restart, your computer should work normally. If it freezes again within minutes, move to the next section to find the underlying cause.

Check your hard drive space and memory

A computer that freezes repeatedly often does not have enough free space or is running too many programs at once. Right-click your main hard drive (C: on Windows, Macintosh HD on Mac) and select Properties or Get Info. Look at how much space is free. If less than 10% of your drive is empty, your system will slow down and freeze. Delete old files, empty your Recycle Bin or Trash, and uninstall programs you no longer use.

You can also reduce freezing by closing programs you are not actively using. On Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Delete) and look at the Memory column—programs using the most memory are the biggest drain. On Mac, open Activity Monitor (Command+Space, type "Activity Monitor") and sort by Memory. Close or uninstall the heavy users. Restarting your computer also clears temporary memory and often solves repeated freezing.

Update your operating system and drivers

Outdated software is a common cause of freezing. On Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any updates and restart if prompted. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Software Update and install any available updates.

You should also update your graphics driver and chipset driver, especially if freezing happens during video playback or gaming. On Windows, right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and select Update driver. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." On Mac, driver updates usually come through the Software Update tool, so check there first.

Prevent freezing by managing startup programs

Many programs set themselves to run automatically when your computer starts, which slows down your system and can cause freezing. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click the Startup tab, and disable programs you do not need running in the background. Right-click each one and select Disable. On Mac, go to System Preferences > General > Login Items and remove programs from the list.

You should also check what is running in the background right now. On Windows, open Task Manager and look at the Processes tab—close anything you do not recognize or need. On Mac, open Activity Monitor and do the same. If you are unsure what a program does, search its name online before closing it. Removing unnecessary startup programs often prevents freezing from happening in the first place.

When to restart in Safe Mode

If your computer freezes even after restarting and closing background programs, try booting into Safe Mode. This loads only the essential programs your system needs to run, which helps you figure out if a third-party program is causing the problem. On Windows, restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly as it boots (timing varies by model—you may need to try F2, F10, or Del instead). Select Safe Mode from the menu. On Mac, restart and hold Shift when ready after the startup sound, then release it when you see the login screen.

Use your computer normally in Safe Mode for a few minutes. If it does not freeze, a program you installed is likely the culprit. Restart normally and uninstall programs you added recently, one at a time, restarting after each removal. When the freezing stops, you have found the problem program. If it still freezes in Safe Mode, the issue is with your operating system or hardware, and you should take your computer to a repair technician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will force-quitting a program delete my files?

Force-quitting closes the program but does not delete files on your computer. However, any work you had open in that program but had not saved will be lost. Most programs will offer to recover unsaved work the next time you open them.

Is it safe to hold the power button to shut down my computer?

Holding the power button is safe to do occasionally when your computer is completely frozen and nothing else works. It should not be your normal way to shut down, because it does not give programs a chance to close properly and can occasionally cause file corruption. Use it only when your computer is unresponsive.

Why does my computer freeze during video calls or streaming?

Video calls and streaming use a lot of memory and processing power. Close other programs before starting a call, and check that your internet connection is stable. If freezing happens only during video, your graphics driver may be outdated—update it using the steps in the "Update your operating system and drivers" section above.

Can a virus cause my computer to freeze?

Yes, malware can cause freezing by using your system's resources or corrupting files. Run a full scan with your antivirus program (Windows Defender on Windows, or a third-party tool like Malwarebytes). If you suspect a virus, restart in Safe Mode first, then run the scan—malware is often easier to remove before other programs load.

What if my computer freezes during startup?

If it freezes before you reach the desktop, try restarting in Safe Mode using the steps above. If Safe Mode also freezes, the problem is likely with your operating system or hardware. Back up your files if possible, then contact a repair technician or consider a clean reinstall of your operating system.