Why does mac freeze

For Business. Step-by-Step Guides. Contact Us. Sign In. How to Fix Freezing on a Mac. Authored by: Support. With decades of experience, our Tech Pros are passionate about making technology work for you. We love feedback! Main reasons a Mac can freeze: Too many apps running Too many browser tabs open Not enough hard drive space Hardware issues such as problems with your RAM or hard drive Malware No matter the reason for the freeze, do not panic and start pushing every button to try and wake it up.

Let's see if we can get access to your workspace by unfreezing your Mac first. Quit the Frozen Program If your freezing issue is just a program or happened while a program was open let's try to force that program to quit.

Click the application menu at top, then choose Quit at the bottom. Make sure the application leaves your Dock at the bottom or no longer has a dot underneath it. If the program does not quit properly Click on the Apple menu , then click Force Quit. Select the app you want to force close, then click Force Quit.

Click Force Quit when prompted. If you were able to get access to your workspace by force quitting a program, your freezing issue is most likely caused by the app you were using. Test the Program by Restarting It Open the program you were using again.

Try to use it normally. If it freezes, force quit it again. Reinstall the Program If your app keeps freezing and you can't seem to get it to stop freezing, you can try reinstalling it.

Click and hold on an icon until all icons start to jiggle. Click the " x " on the top left of the icon you want to remove. Click Delete to confirm removal. Click on Applications on the left. Drag the app you wish to remove to the trash can. Right click on the trashcan and click Empty Trash. If Your Mac is Running On the bottom you'll see Updates.

Updates will be on the right. If you're not just experiencing freezing because of an app, there could be an issue with your hardware or operating system. Booting to Recovery If you're unable to properly use your Mac, for example it freezes as soon as you try to boot up or move your mouse, let's use the Recovery option.

Hold all these keys for 10 seconds, then let go. Now press the power button to switch on your Mac. If your Mac has a T2 chip, the process is different. For both MacBooks and desktop Macs, turn off the device, then press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. Let go and wait a few seconds, then press it again to turn on the Mac.

Resetting them could help, and the process is the same for both. Hold these keys for 20 seconds; your Mac may restart during this time, but keep holding them for the second duration. If your Mac normally plays a startup sound when you turn it on, you can release the keys when this plays.

If your Mac has a T2 Security Chip, you can release them once the Apple logo has appeared and disappeared a second time. Apple has instructions on how to turn off the firmware password on its website.

Safe mode verifies the integrity of your startup disk and disables certain apps and processes from running. To start in safe mode, shut down your Mac, then turn it back on and immediately press and hold the Shift key.

Click the Manage button to optimize your storage. You may also consider emptying your Trash can. You may also use iCloud. There are many tips that you can try to free up space on your Mac. Check air vents. Blocked air vents can cause not only performance issues but also system freezing problems. Check the vents on your Mac to see if they are blocked with dust or dirt.

Make sure that vents are allowing heat and air to pass through so that your Mac does not overheat. We previously wrote an article about the overheating problem.

Please read this article. Run a diagnostic test. This test will help you determine if your Mac is experiencing a hardware problem. Check for malware. Malware or malicious software viruses, spyware, etc. We previously wrote about these topics:.

Organize your desktop. Delete files or folders that you do not need.