How to unfreeze your computer right now
When your computer freezes, your first move is to force-quit the frozen program without shutting down the whole machine. On Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then click Task Manager. Find the program that has stopped responding (it will say "Not Responding" next to its name), click it once to select it, then click the End Task button at the bottom right. The program should close and your computer should respond again.
On a Mac, press Command + Option + Escape to open the Force Quit window. Select the frozen program and click Force Quit. This closes only that one program, leaving everything else running.
If the entire computer is frozen and you cannot move the mouse or keyboard at all, hold down the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until the machine shuts off completely. Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. This is a hard shutdown and should be your last resort, but it works when nothing else does.
Key Takeaways
- Use Task Manager (Windows) or Force Quit (Mac) to close a frozen program without restarting your whole computer.
- A hard shutdown—holding the power button until the machine turns off—is safe to do but should only be used when the keyboard and mouse are completely unresponsive.
- Freezes often happen because one program is using too much memory or your hard drive is nearly full; checking these two things prevents most future freezes.
- Restarting your computer weekly and keeping your operating system updated reduce freezing significantly.
- If freezing happens during startup or happens constantly, the problem may be hardware-related and you should take the computer to a technician.
Why computers freeze and what causes it
A freeze happens when your computer's processor or memory cannot keep up with what you are asking it to do. The most common cause is one program using too much RAM (the memory your computer uses while running). If you have 20 browser tabs open, a video editing program, and a file backup all running at once, your computer may run out of available memory and freeze while it tries to figure out what to do.
The second most common cause is a nearly full hard drive. When your drive has less than 10 percent free space, your computer slows down dramatically and may freeze because it cannot write temporary files. Check how much space you have left by opening File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), right-clicking your main drive, and selecting Properties or Get Info.
Freezes can also happen because a program has a bug, because a driver (software that controls a piece of hardware) is outdated, or because malware is running in the background. Restarting your computer clears temporary memory and often fixes a one-time freeze. If freezing happens repeatedly, the cause is usually one of the three above.
Check your memory and close unnecessary programs
Open Task Manager on Windows by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Escape, or on Mac, open Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor. Look at the Memory column (Windows) or the Memory tab (Mac). If the number is close to your total RAM—for example, 14 GB used out of 16 GB total—your computer is running out of space and will freeze.
Look for programs using large amounts of memory that you do not need right now. Web browsers often use 1 to 3 GB each, especially with many tabs open. Video streaming, photo editing, and games use significant memory too. Close the programs you are not actively using. On Windows, right-click the program in Task Manager and select End Task. On Mac, select it and click the X button at the top left of the Activity Monitor window.
If you regularly run out of memory, you have two options: close programs before opening new ones, or add more RAM to your computer. Adding RAM is a hardware upgrade that a technician can do, and it costs between $50 and $200 depending on how much you add and what type of computer you have.
Free up hard drive space
If your hard drive is nearly full, your computer will freeze and run slowly. Delete files you no longer need: old downloads, duplicate photos, videos you have backed up elsewhere, or programs you do not use. On Windows, open Settings > System > Storage to see what is taking up the most space. On Mac, open About This Mac > Storage to see the same information.
Start by emptying your Downloads folder—most people accumulate months or years of files there. Then look at your Documents, Pictures, and Videos folders for duplicates or old files. You can also uninstall programs you no longer use: on Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and click Uninstall next to programs you want to remove. On Mac, open Applications, drag programs to the Trash, and empty the Trash.
Aim to keep at least 10 to 15 percent of your drive free. If you have a 500 GB drive, that means keeping at least 50 to 75 GB empty. If you cannot free up enough space by deleting files, you may need an external hard drive to store old files, or you may need to replace your internal drive with a larger one—a technician can help with either option.
Restart your computer regularly
Restarting clears your computer's temporary memory and closes programs that may be running in the background using resources. Restart your computer at least once a week, and more often if you use it heavily or leave it running all day. A restart takes 2 to 5 minutes and prevents many freezes from happening in the first place.
On Windows, click the Start button, then the Power icon, then Restart. On Mac, click the Apple menu, then Restart. Save your work first—restarting closes all open programs.
Update your operating system and drivers
Microsoft and Apple release updates to Windows and macOS regularly, and these updates often fix bugs that cause freezing. Check for updates on Windows by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and clicking Check for updates. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. Install any updates that are available, and restart your computer when prompted.
Drivers are software that control your printer, graphics card, network adapter, and other hardware. Outdated drivers can cause freezing. On Windows, right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, and look for any devices with a yellow warning triangle. Right-click those devices and select Update driver. On Mac, drivers usually update automatically with macOS updates, so keeping your system updated handles most driver issues.
When to take your computer to a technician
If your computer freezes during startup, before you can even log in, the problem is likely a hardware issue or a corrupted operating system file. Do not try to fix this yourself—take the computer to a technician. The same applies if freezing happens constantly even after you have restarted, freed up hard drive space, and closed unnecessary programs.
A technician can run diagnostic tests to check your hard drive for errors, test your RAM, and scan for malware. They can also reinstall your operating system if files have become corrupted. Expect a diagnostic to cost $50 to $150, and repairs to cost more depending on what is wrong.
If your computer is more than 5 to 7 years old and freezes frequently, it may be cheaper to replace it than to repair it. A technician can help you decide whether repair or replacement makes sense for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to force-quit a program?
Yes. Force-quitting closes a program without saving unsaved work in that program, so you will lose any changes you made since your last save. But it does not harm your computer or other programs. If you have unsaved work, you may be able to recover it when you reopen the program—many applications have an auto-recovery feature.
Will a hard shutdown damage my computer?
A hard shutdown (holding the power button) is safe to do occasionally, but doing it repeatedly can damage your hard drive over time. Use it only when your keyboard and mouse are completely frozen and nothing else works. After a hard shutdown, let your computer sit for 30 seconds before turning it back on.
What is the difference between freezing and crashing?
A freeze means your computer stops responding but stays on—you cannot move the mouse or type. A crash means a program closes suddenly or your computer restarts without warning. Freezes are usually caused by memory or hard drive issues. Crashes are often caused by software bugs or hardware problems.
Can malware cause freezing?
Yes. Malware running in the background can use memory and processor power, causing your computer to freeze. If you suspect malware, run a full scan with Windows Defender (built into Windows) or a third-party antivirus program. Disconnect from the internet first if possible, then run the scan in Safe Mode for a more thorough check.
How do I know if my hard drive is failing?
Signs include freezing that gets worse over time, clicking or beeping sounds from inside the computer, files that disappear or become corrupted, and a computer that takes a very long time to start up. If you notice these signs, back up your important files when ready and take the computer to a technician—a failing hard drive can stop working suddenly.