4 Easy Ways To Fix Your Frozen MacBook
Frozen MacBook is annoying. It is like you are stuck in a place with no way to get out. It can delay your work and dramatically reduce your productivity.
The MacBook is a powerful machine with stunning graphics. Thus, you might not encounter many frozen issues. But, once in a while, the MacBook freezes on the Safari screen or while using certain apps.
So, if your Mac is freezing on you a lot, this is a serious problem and needs to be professionally dealt with. This guide will help you fix your frozen MacBook and ensure you never have to deal with this problem ever again.
Reason Behind My Frozen MacBook
Before we fix your frozen MacBook, understand that frozen screen happens in different variants like you can move your cursor, but nothing clicks or full freeze where you can not move anything with your mouse or keyboard.
In addition, the MacBook freeze due to several reasons, like:
Third-party Apps
When your screen is stuck while using the app, your Mac is perfectly fine — it is just the problematic app. The apps often crash when they are not regularly updated or due to bugs. The apps can also freeze your screen without sufficient free space. Thus, you can either remove those apps or upgrade them to fix bugs.
Web Browser Extensions
Suppose your MacOS system crashes while web browsing; this has something to do with third-party extensions you have installed. It is possible that the extension is too heavy and makes your system freeze. Also, bugs or system errors can be a problem. So, you can uninstall some browser extensions to smoothly run your Mac.
Hardware Failure
There is a possibility that your keyboard or mouse is at fault. If your mouse or keyboard is not connected properly or damaged, it can freeze your Mac screen. You connect another mouse or keyboard to your MacBook to rule out hardware failure. If hardware is causing a problem, you can replace it.
Malware
MacOS doesn’t get malicious infections easily like Windows. But still, it is a chance that you have downloaded some malicious content, which has frozen your MacBook. If you observe a sudden increased load on your CPU or memory, it is a sign of malware infection. For this, you need to get a MacOS antivirus program to fix your frozen MacBook.
Here’s How You Can Fix Your Frozen MacBook
Now, let’s see how you can fix your frozen Mac computer with ease:
Solution 1. Close the Problematic App
When you encounter a frozen screen while using a particular app, that app might be buggy, or your system doesn’t have sufficient processors or speed to run it.
In addition, you might also notice the rainbow wheel, the spinning pizza of death, or the spinning beach ball while using the app. In any case, force quitting the problematic app is the best solution.
Here’s how you force quit the app and fix your frozen MacBook:
Step 1. Click on another app or desktop to move from the frozen screen. Alternatively, press Command-Tap to switch the app and pull out your Mac from the frozen state.
Step 2. Next, click on the Apple logo located on top of your screen and choose Force Quit.
Step 3. All the unresponsive apps will be highlighted on the Force Quit Application popup. Click on the app you want to Force Quit.

If you don’t know which app is the problem, you can follow these steps to Force Quit:
Step 1. In the Dock, right-click on the app’s icon. You can now see options to Quit or Force Quit on the app.
Step 2. Right-click on the app and press the Alt key simultaneously to Force Quit. If you are not getting the Force Quit option, this command can turn Quit to Force Quit.
If you work better with keyboard commands, you can use this command to Force Quit Apps on Mac—
Cmd + Alt/Option + Esc

Solution 2. Reboot Your MacBook
There is a chance that Force Quit might not work when your MacBook is completely unresponsive, or hardware fails. In that case, you can reboot your system to fix the frozen MacBook. Here’s how you can do that:
Step 1. Click on the Apple logo > Restart option.
Step 2. In case your mouse is unresponsive, press this key combination Command-Control-Eject. On new Mac devices, this command will work — Option-Command-Power. This option will save your app settings before shutting it off. However, this will not work if you use a Touch ID sensor.
Step 3. If your keyboard is also unresponsive, simply press and hold the Power button until your device shuts off. After a moment, again press the Power button to turn on your computer.
Solution 3. Reboot in the Safe Mode
The Safe Mode is the best way to make changes on your Mac without impacting your system. You can reboot your Mac in Safe Mode if the problem is with the startup app.
Follow these steps to reboot your MacBook in the Safe Mode:
Step 1. Press and hold the Shift key immediately when your MacBook starts.
Step 2. Release the Shift key once the login screen appears.
Step 3. Enter your Mac’s login credentials. You might have to log in twice. When you can see Safe Boot on the top right corner of your screen, it means you have entered the Safe Mode.
Solution 4. Use Third-party Tools
When nothing happens after Force Quit or reboot, malware infection or utility tools might be freezing your screen. In that case, you can get CleanMyMac X to clean, optimize and scan your system for malware.
This tool has a dedicated Optimization module to quickly detect and fix hung apps. Besides this, the software can keep your MacBook healthy and infection-free.
After downloading the software from the MacPaw website, follow these steps:
Step 1. Launch CleanMyMac X and click on the Optimization module.
Step 2. Head over to View All Items > Hung Applications.
Step 3. Choose the app you want to close and press the Quit button. This will automatically fix your frozen MacBook.

Preventive Measures to Stop MacBook from Freezing
MacBook frozen problems can be avoided with some simple preventative steps, like:
Update your OS
By updating your MacOS, you can easily fix several system errors, including Mac frozen. To do so, just go to the Apple menu > About this Mac > Software Update > Install.
Update your apps
Problems with MacOS apps can be fixed with updating. Often new updates are designed to fix bugs. So, go to the App Store and click on the Update All button to update all apps. Or, you can open the problematic app and upgrade it.
Run First Aid
First Aid is a built-in MacBook tool to fix regular glitches. Simply go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > First Aid. This will automatically fix glitches that are freezing your screen.
Use native apps
Sometimes third-party tools are not compatible with your MacOS version, or developers don’t update them regularly. This can impact your computer and even invite malware infections. Thus, the best approach is to only use native Apple tools like Safari for web browsing or Notes to take notes.
Remove browser extensions
Too many web browser extensions can put a load on your browser, leading to a freeze or crash. In addition, some extensions are buggy and also infect your system. Thus, remove all the unwanted extensions from your web browsers.
Scheduled malware scan
Viruses and malicious files are always bad for your computer. Not only freezing, but they can cause system crashes, stutters and other serious problems. Thus, use an antivirus program like CleanMyMac X and keep your device healthy.
Use Activity Monitor
Activity Monitor is a utility tool that detects the applications taking higher space on your Mac. This way, you can remove the programs consuming large space on your disk. To do so, head over to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor and tap on the CPU column to get details on every app’s storage.
Let’s Unfreeze Your Mac!
Let’s not get frustrated every time your Mac freezes. Just follow the solutions and precautions mentioned in this post to maintain your MacBook’s performance.
On a parting note, we will suggest readers keep their MacBook clean, regularly scan for viruses and remove unwanted apps. You can also get CleanMyMac X to keep your Mac up-to-date.
That’s it for now! However, explore other posts on this website for more Mac guides.
Popular Post
Recent Post
How to Read Text Messages Out Loud with Android
Introduction By changing settings from the device’s accessibility screen, you may use Google’s Text-to-Speech tool. Select the content that will be read, decide how the smartphone will respond, and watch a brief instruction on how text-to-speech functions to improve your device. When enabled, your phone can read text out loud when you hold over something […]
How to Fix a Kmode Exception Not Handled Error in Windows
Introduction: If you use Windows frequently, encountering bugs and errors is quite inevitable, especially the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. And well, one such frustrating issue is the kmode exception not handled error that barges out of the blue hindering your workflow. Whether you are a tech-savvy enthusiast or a casual user, understanding and […]
How to Fix the “Class not Registered” Error on Windows
Introduction: If you’ve ever encountered the frustrating “Class not Registered” error message on your Windows computer, you’re not alone. This common issue can occur when you attempt to open a file, launch an application, or perform certain actions on your system. It often leaves users puzzled and wondering what went wrong. The “Class not Registered” […]
How to Screen Record on Windows 11
Introduction Open the Snipping Tool to begin a screen recording in Windows 11 to capture what is on your screen. You can also open the Game Bar on your Xbox by pressing Windows+G, then launch the recording window and tap the record button. Use a third-party program, such as OBS, ScreenPresso, or GeForce Service, to […]
Best Apple Pencil Apps for Productivity in 2023
Introduction The Ecosystem of the Apple company is huge as once you purchase any Apple device, you cannot resist other accessories of the Apple company. An Apple pencil is a part of the ecosystem and accessories for iOS Tablets and Macs. Whether you own a Tablet, MacBook, or iPhone, Apple pencil works on every device. […]
How to Customize the Taskbar in Windows 11
Introduction Taskbar is very useful in quick access to any other Windows directly from the Taskbar panel. But are you aware of the advantages and features you can access with a taskbar? Many people have no clue about what you can do with your Taskbar and how you can customize it. Therefore you can enjoy […]
Top 10 Offline RPGs For Windows in 2023
Introduction Looking for offline games! We got you a list of RPGs in 2023. In the developing World, the gaming community is rising with lightning speed. People play multiple role play games online with friends or for earning purposes. Nowadays, there are many popular platforms like YouTube and Twitch where you can earn money by […]
10 Best Coding Apps for Kids on Android And iOS
Introduction There has never been a better opportunity to get a competitive edge on whatever you want your young champ to learn, whether it is how to build some of the best useful apps or beautiful websites. The nicest aspect is the absence of an age requirement. It gives everyone—adults, teenagers, and children—endless opportunities. As […]
The Best 5 Screenshot Applications for Android to try now
You often struggle with taking screenshots on your Android phone following the default method, i.e., pressing the lock and volume down buttons together. The situation worsens further when either of the keys is not working properly. Besides, you need to synchronize the press times of both keys to take the screenshot, which often leads to […]
10 Best Translator Apps for Android & iOS
Introduction Technology has made it easy for people to connect worldwide. Whether you are interacting online or traveling to other locations, you can talk directly to people from those areas. Yet, just because the means to do it is now available, it does not remove the problem of language barriers. While you can learn the […]