Nothing is more frustrating than a laptop that consistently freezes or hangs. Enjoying a game, catching up on your favourite show, or right in the middle of work – a frozen laptop can ruin everything. It doesn’t count whether it’s a Windows or Mac when a laptop freezes. However, the good news is that you can resolve such freezing issues with easy troubleshooting steps by laptop repair dubai. Let’s discover the most common causes behind laptop freezes and some practical solutions.
Common Causes of Laptop Freezes or Hangs
Before jumping into solutions, you better look at why a laptop hangs or freezes in the first place.
Too Many Open Programs
Launching too many programs at the same time can overload your laptop’s memory. And, it can cause a frozen laptop.
Outdated Software or Drivers
My laptop is very slow – because old software or outdated drivers can trigger compatibility issues. Hence, your laptop freezes or performs too slowly.
Malware or Viruses
Reportedly, malware and viruses can slow down your system often leading to the laptop not turning on or more critical issues.
Insufficient RAM
Does your laptop have too little RAM? Then, it will definitely struggle to keep up with your tasks. Indeed, your laptop will tend to freeze more when you run resource-heavy applications.
Overheating
When a laptop gets too hot, it might freeze or slow down as a safety measure.
Hardware Failures
Physical damage to your laptop’s internal components can lead to freezes and system instability.
9 Solutions for Windows Laptop Freezing or Hanging
Now that you know some of the main causes, let’s explore the troubleshooting steps. Not every freeze requires you to visit a laptop repair near me.
1. Quit Unnecessary Programs
Too many running applications are enough to overwhelm your laptop’s resources. Check and close unnecessary applications with the steps below:
- Launch Task Manager with the hotkey combination: Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Next, pay attention to the list of running programs.
- Identify those programs that you no longer need. Select them and hit the End Task button.
- Don’t forget to close programs from the system tray. This will free up memory, as well.
2. Remove Peripherals
Sometimes, a laptop freezes just under the influence of external devices, such as:
- USB drives
- Printers
- External hard drives, etc.
To be on the safe side, disconnect all the peripherals and see if your computer still freezes. If your laptop works fine without those peripherals, then one of them might be causing the problem. Now, try to reconnect every peripheral one at a time. So, you can detect the culprit.
3. Update Windows and Drivers
Often, outdated software is the culprit behind freezes. Before you consider a laptop RAM upgrade or SSD upgrade, try this simple fix instead. Update Windows and device drivers using the following steps:
- Follow Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for updates.
- Also, update your device drivers using Device Manager. Right-click on a specific device and choose Update Driver. Finally, abide by the on-screen prompts.
4. Run System Scans for Malware
My laptop is very slow. Yes, malware infections are capable of that. They can cause system performance issues. Hence, run a full system scan using Windows Defender or a trusted third-party antivirus software.
- Access Windows Security through the Start menu.
- Then, click Virus & Threat Protection.
- Opt for Quick Scan or Full Scan for a deeper check.
5. Look Out for Hardware Issues
Hardware problems, like a failing hard drive or overheating, can often lead to slow performance or even a laptop not turning on. If you can power on your laptop then you can proceed with the following checks:
- First of all, run CHKDSK to examine your hard drive’s health. Simply, open a Command Prompt as administrator. Then, type ‘chkdsk/f’ and hit Enter.
- Additionally, check for overheating by monitoring your laptop’s temperature. You can use software like HWMonitor.
- If you find your laptop’s temperature to be too high, use a cooling pad. Also, you can clean its vents with compressed air to help the heat dissipation.
6. Free Up Disk Space
A full hard drive can barely process your file requests. Consequently, your laptop freezes or slows down. So, any laptop repair near me recommends freeing up the hard drive space.
- Start by navigating to your PC’s Settings menu.
- Then, go to System followed by Storage and erase unnecessary files.
- After that, type Disk Cleanup into the Start menu and select the same from the results.Â
- Afterwards, choose the drive you need to clean. Remove temporary files, system files, apps, and other data you no longer need.
Also, you can transfer your big files to cloud storage or external drives. This will save you from losing data forever and freeing up disk space.
7. Run a System Restore
Is your laptop still freezing? When you can’t identify the cause, performing a system restore may help:
- First, type System Restore in the search bar or Start menu.
- Then, follow the prompts to restore your laptop to a point before the consistent freezing began.
8. Test Your RAM
Improperly seated or faulty RAM can shake the stability of your system. However, you can test the RAM module through the following steps:
- Bring a Run dialogue box with the Windows + R key shortcut.
- Next, type mdsched.exe and hit OK.
- Choose ‘Restart now and check for problems’. Shortly, your device will restart and test the memory module for errors.
- If the test detects any kind of error, you might need to replace or upgrade the RAM.
9. Opt for a Laptop SSD Upgrade or a RAM Upgrade
If your laptop keeps freezing because of insufficient RAM or a failing hard drive, then consult with a laptop repair near me. Perhaps, a laptop SSD upgrade or RAM upgrade is the only option left to avoid a frozen laptop. If it’s an older laptop then replacing its HDD with an SSD can improve the overall performance.
How to Fix Laptop Freezes or Hangs on Mac
Since Macs suffer from freezing or slowed-down performances too, we have covered them too. According to MacBook repair experts, you can apply the following practical and proven fixes.
1. Force Quit Unresponsive Applications
Has any app become unresponsive? Then, Mac allows you to force quit it. Here’s how:
- Press the Command, Option, and Esc keys simultaneously. This will open the window of Force Quit Applications.
- Now, choose the unresponsive app and click on Force Quit.
2. Restart Your MacBook
Sometimes, a quick restart can resolve all the temporary glitches when your laptop freezes. So, you can restart your frozen Mac and see if it gets you rid of the software glitches. Just click the Apple icon from the top-left corner and choose Restart.
3. Update Your macOS
For keeping up with optimal performance, up-to-date macOS is mandatory. Since Apple regularly releases updates and patches, you can keep your system stable with them.
- Based on your macOS version, navigate to System Preferences or System Settings.
- Then, look for Software Update.
- If you see available updates, click on Update Now.
4. Run Disk Utility
The integrated Disk Utility too may fix disk-related problems. As a result, your Mac will stop freezing. Here’s how to run the tool.
- Use Spotlight to locate and open Disk Utility.
- Afterwards, choose your hard drive.
- Click on First Aid to check for errors.
5. Free Up Mac Storage
MacBook repair experts are afraid that a full disk can trigger performance issues, including hanging or freezing. To free up space on your MacBook, here’s what you can do:
- Click on the Apple icon.
- Then, choose About This Mac from the pop-up menu.
- Hit Storage and identify large unnecessary files.
- Either you can move them to Trash or transfer them to an external drive.
6. Open Up Activity Monitor
Want to identify resource-heavy processes on your MacBook that cause the freezing? Well, then you have to use the Activity Monitor.
- From Applications → Utilities, open up Activity Monitor.
- Next, look for processes that use too much memory, CPU, or disk resources. In case you find any, quit them immediately.
7. Restart PRAM or NVRAM and Reset SMC
Often, Mac devices struggle with performance because of Parameter Random Access Memory (or PRAM in older models) or Non-Volatile Random Memory (or NVRAM in newer models). Whenever you face issues like freezing, your laptop not turning on, or booting up with a question mark, you can reset your PRAM or NVRAM.
To reset PRAM or NVRAM, you need to:
- Shut down your MacBook,
- Turn the device back on and immediately hold the 4 keys at the same time: Command, Option, P, and R. Hold them down for 20 seconds.
Meanwhile, your Mac will restart with reset PRAM or NVRAM.
Reportedly, resetting the SMC may also help to fight against repetitive freezing. If your MacBook has a T2 chip then, here’s what you need to follow.
- Turn your Mac off, first.
- Next, hold the Control, Option, and Shift keys for 7 seconds.
- While holding the same keys, hold the power button for an additional 7 seconds.
If your Mac doesn’t have a T2 Chip, then:
- Power off your MacBook.
- Hold the Shift, Control, and Option keys from the left side of your keyboard.
- Then, press the power button at the same time.
- Hold all the 4 keys for 10 seconds.
- After 10 seconds, release them.
- Finally, turn your MacBook on.
8. Reinstall macOS
Does your Mac keep freezing, still now? Try reinstalling macOS to resolve deep software issues.
- Start by backing up your data using Time Machine or an external drive.
- Then, restart your MacBook and hold the Command and R keys to enter Recovery Mode.
- Afterwards, select the option ‘Reinstall macOS’. Strictly follow the on-screen instructions.
Extra Tips for Both Windows and Mac
Apart from the above troubleshooting steps, you can maintain a good relationship with your laptop through the rules below. Be it a Windows or Mac device, they work the best to keep you away from a frozen laptop.
Keep Your Laptop Clean
Dust and dirt can be a burden to your laptop’s cooling system. Indeed, your laptop freezes and overheats. So, regularly clean vents and keyboards to avoid this problem.
Try Antivirus Software
Protect your laptop from malware, viruses, and critical malfunctioning by installing reliable antivirus software. Make sure you run regular scans to keep the system clean.
Avoid Overloading Your Laptop
Are you pushing your laptop to its limits consistently? Then, your laptop freezes or even the laptop not turning on becomes an everyday routine. Make sure you close unused programs, limit background tasks, and provide breaks to your laptop whenever needed.
Conduct Regular Backups
My laptop is very slow. Well, such things happen when the hard drive is about to fail. So, always back up your important files if you don’t want to lose them.
Contact for Laptop Repair Dubai
Hopefully, the guide helps you overcome the situation when your laptop freezes. However, you can consult with a MacBook repair or laptop repair dubai. The experts there will help you understand whether you need a laptop RAM upgrade or any more important fixes.