What to Do If Your Mac Keeps Freezing

Desktop or laptop freezing is one of the most common computer problems, including Macs. This can be especially problematic for Mac users as viruses and malware are not the usual culprits for freezing their devices.

If your Mac desktop or laptop is having this problem, you need to check a couple of things to make sure the problem isn’t anything basic. Here is a list of the things you should try out to see to fix the problem.   

Force Quit Unresponsive Apps

If your Mac freezes while you are in the middle of doing something, chances are one of the apps or software programs you’re running have become unresponsive. The main trick is to identify which one is the main culprit. Normally, force-quitting should do the trick if the app you’re using has gone unresponsive.

But if not, then you have to go through all background supplications via the Activity Monitor manually and shut down the one that’s unresponsive to see if your device goes back to normal.  

Update Mac OS

Backdated firmware is one of the most common reasons Mac desktops and laptops freeze. If you haven’t updated your Mac’s OS in a while, then that might be the reason your device is freezing. 

If that’s the case, try updating your Mac OS to solve the freezing issue. If not, then something else is at the root of the problem.

To omit this possibility altogether, always keep your Mac’s OS updated. Apple takes pride in its device security, so rest assured your OS won’t be bogged down by unnecessary updates, unlike Windows.

Force Reboot When the Entire System Is Frozen

Sometimes a forced reboot of your Mac desktop or laptop might be the easiest solution to your device’s freezing issue. Just hold down the Control + Command + the Power button until the device turns off and restarts to force a reboot. 

This method can be occasionally effective if the cause of your Mac freezing is temporary but don’t count on it too much to solve the problem.  

Run Apple Diagnostics Test

If the above-mentioned tricks don’t work, then running Apple Diagnostics Test for your Mac device might be the best course of action. This test aims to check if any sort of hardware malfunction is causing the freezing. Hard disk and RAM are two important components of desktops and laptops that can cause device issues if they malfunction.   

To do this test, you have to power down your Mac first, then hold the power button as you turn on the device again. This will take you to Mac’s equivalent of your device’s BIOS menu, from where you can run this test.

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)

The System Management Controller (SMC) is an important component of any Mac device and is responsible for the response of your Mac device’s different lights, keys, and buttons. 

On rare occasions, your device can have freezing problems due to malfunction of the SMC. Thankfully, resetting SMC often solves the Mac device’s freezing problem in such situations.

To reset the SMC, first put your Mac device on sleep mode, then turn it on again and restart the device. Once it restarts, shut down the device from the desktop menu and then turn it on again.  

Reset NVRAM

The NVRAM is responsible for coordinating some of your Mac device’s more delicate functions, such as storing the settings for your Mac’s sound volume, display resolution, startup disk selection, time zone, and more. 

NVRAM malfunction can sometimes lead to your device freezing, so try resetting it and see if it works. To reset your NVRAM, restart your Mac device and press Option + Command + P + R when the device reboots.

Free Up Disk Space 

Sometimes cramped up hard disks can cause your Mac to freeze. Check your hard disk capacity and see whether it’s below the acceptable threshold. If that’s the case, you should try freeing up some hard disk space to see if it solves the problem.

Check Third-Party Software

If you have third-party software installed in your Mac, then chances are high they’re responsible for your device’s current predicament. Check to see if third-party apps installed in your Mac device are working properly and compatible with your current firmware version.

If none of these work, it’s time to take the help of professionals. Onsite apple repair services are very easily available; just check up online to find the nearest service professional near you.

The Solutions Are Simple

Hopefully, the tips and tricks discussed above should solve your Mac’s freezing issue unless something major has malfunctioned. The best way to ensure your device doesn’t have this kind of hiccups is to keep it optimized and appropriately updated. Take care of your device for the best results.