How to Fix a Frozen Computer: 9 Simple Methods

Key Points

• Software issues are the most common cause of a frozen computer, but hardware or power problems can also be to blame.
• Restarting your computer and troubleshooting in safe mode is a good first step to fixing a frozen computer.
• Checking for updates, scanning for viruses, and reducing power draw can help resolve freezing issues.
• Running a drive checking tool, updating or rolling back graphics card drivers, and reseating and testing RAM are other methods to fix a frozen computer.
• Reseating the CPU, troubleshooting the power supply, and replacing the system drive are additional steps to consider.

Fixing a frozen computer is beyond frustrating. It always happens at the worst possible moment, like when you’re on a roll with an important project and have a deadline. In this article, we got some easy and effective tips to tackle that frozen computer. We’ll walk through everything step by step, from quick software fixes to hardware issues that should get your computer back up and running in no time.

Why Does a Computer Freeze?

It’s not easy to troubleshoot a frozen computer because many things could be causing the problem. Generally, software issues are the most common cause of a frozen computer. However, you can’t rule out hardware or power problems either. It could be something as simple as an uninstalled update or something more serious like a hard drive failure. If your computer freezes when you’re playing games, the issue is likely with your graphics card or drivers. However, we have compiled some of the most common ways to fix a frozen computer below.

Method #1: Restart Your Computer

When your computer is completely frozen and Ctrl + Alt + Del won’t work, the only thing you can do is hold down the power button to force a shutdown. If your computer is frozen and you can’t shut it down with the power button, then disconnect all power cables. On a laptop, you might have to remove the battery. It’s not the best for the computer, but it will force it to shut down. When you press the power button again, it should restart normally.

However, if Windows can’t boot after a few attempts, you’ll see troubleshooting options. You can try running the startup repair or booting your computer in safe mode. If you can access your computer in safe mode, it’ll be much easier to troubleshoot the problem. The first step to fixing a frozen computer is to access the operating system through safe mode. Check out the video above to troubleshoot your computer using safe mode.

Method #2: Check for Updates and Scan for Viruses

If your computer screen keeps freezing, you could have uninstalled updates. Or maybe you recently installed an update and your computer has started freezing up. If it is the former, go to your computer’s settings and install any recommended updates, then restart your computer. If it is the latter, you can remove recently installed updates by selecting the Start button. Then go to Settings  > Update and Security  > Windows Update  > View update history > Uninstall updates. Right-click the update you want to remove, then choose Uninstall.

Malware and viruses can also cause your computer to freeze up. Malware can overwhelm your system by opening too many applications simultaneously. These run in the background using up all of your computer’s memory, which will cause it to freeze. Go to your computer’s security settings and run a scan to check for infections. We also recommend antivirus software that will protect your computer from threats in real time.

Method #3: Check for Overheating and Reduce Power Draw

A computer will usually freeze when a vital component overheats, such as the CPU, GPU, or even the system drives. So, we need to check the temperatures of the components in your system. First things first, download HWiNFO, a free program that will show the temperature of almost all the components in your system.

There are a few ways to fix an overheating computer. For starters, you want to make sure that the fans are working properly. The easiest way to do that is to pop open the side panel on your computer and check if the fans are spinning. If the fan on your CPU cooler is not spinning, double-check that they’re connected properly. You can use Fan Control to test the fans of your system. To fix a frozen computer, you want to make sure all the temperatures are at least below 80c.

You can temporarily reduce the temperature of your CPU and GPU by undervolting them. Bear in mind, when you undervolt a CPU or GPU, it will reduce its performance, but the temperatures and power draw will also drop. Not all components support voltage control. You’ll have to check your BIOS settings or use Intel’s XTU. With MSI Afterburner, you can reduce the core clock of your GPU, which will reduce its power draw.

Another easy tip to lower the temperature of your CPU is to disable Turbo Boost. To disable Turbo Boost, type Edit Power Plan into the start menu and open the first result. Then, click on Change Advanced Power Settings, expand Processor Power Management, and change the Maximum Processor State to 99%. When Turbo Boost is disabled, you should notice a significant drop in CPU temperatures. Just keep in mind, it will reduce the performance of your CPU too. This solution should be considered a temporary band-aid fix for overheating computers.

Method #4: Run a Drive Checking Tool

To narrow down the problem, run an error-checking tool. Open Windows Explorer, click on This PC, and right-click on the drive where Windows is installed. Next, select Properties, Tools, and Check Drive. You can continue to use your computer while the software scans for drive errors in the background. When an error is detected, the operating system will attempt to automatically repair it.

Another way to scan for drive errors is to use “sfc /scannow” command in Command Prompt. To do that, click on the Start Menu and type in Command Prompt. Right-click on the app and select Run as Administrator. Then, type “sfc /scannow” into the terminal and press enter to start the disk repair scan. It might take a few minutes to complete, depending on the speed of your drive. Once again, if errors are found, the tool will attempt to repair them. It will also scan the system files for issues.

Method #5: Update or Roll Back Graphics Card Drivers

The reason your computer is frozen could be because of graphics card issues. To start, you want to make sure to download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card. With NVIDIA, you can use GeForce Experience to download the latest drivers. For AMD graphics cards, you can use AMD’s Auto-Detect software. Using the latest drivers is always good if you want the best performance.

However, there are times when new drivers can cause issues. If your computer started to freeze after updating drivers, you can try to roll back the drivers to a previous one. An easy way to roll back a driver is to open Device Manager, expand Display Adapters, right-click on your Graphics Card, and select Properties. Next, select the Driver tab and you should see an option called Roll Back Driver.

Another quick trick you can do is reset the graphics card driver with a key command. Press Windows Key + Ctrl + Shift + B at the same time. This key combination will reset your graphics drivers.

Method #6: Reseat and Test Your RAM

A computer can freeze when the RAM isn’t working properly. While it’s rare, RAM chips can break. A static discharge could also be preventing the RAM from functioning correctly. To troubleshoot the RAM, test one chip at a time. If your computer freezes with one specific module, then that’s the problem. Swap out the module with a new one. It’s also important to make sure the RAM is seated properly. You want to firmly press it in place until you hear it click. A quick reminder, when you buy new RAM, it’s better to buy a set of the same type. Replacing the RAM will not only fix your frozen computer but also improve its performance.

There are also programs you can use to test the RAM for errors. Windows has a built-in app called Windows Memory Diagnostic. To find it, type the name into the start menu. When enabled, it will reboot your computer and check for RAM errors before the boot process. Wait for the test to complete, it may take 30 minutes or more. If you see a lot of red errors, then that’s not a good sign. Ideally, the status of the test should be: “No problems have been detected yet”.

Method #7: Reseat Your CPU and Re-apply Thermal Paste

If you recently installed a new CPU, there’s a chance it isn’t making full contact with all the pins. It could also be overheating due to insufficient thermal paste. So, you may be able to fix your frozen computer by removing the CPU, removing the old thermal paste, re-applying the new thermal paste, and installing the CPU again.

Another thing to check is to make sure you have removed the plastic on the bottom of your CPU cooler. Many people forget to remove the plastic, which causes the CPU to overheat because there’s no thermal paste. It’s an easy mistake to make. On that note, some CPU coolers come with pre-installed thermal paste, while others don’t, so it’s important to check beforehand.

When tinkering with a CPU, make sure to be gentle and go slowly because the pins can easily break. Don’t try to force or jam it into the CPU bracket. If it’s angled correctly, it should fall into place. Once it’s securely in the CPU socket on your motherboard, apply a bit of thermal paste, and install the CPU cooler.

Method #8: Troubleshoot Your Power Supply

Another reason your computer could be freezing is because the power supply can’t keep up with the power requirements. If your power supply is completely dead, then your computer won’t show any signs of life. People usually find themselves in this situation when they upgrade to a more demanding graphics card without upgrading the power supply.

Other issues like an electric surcharge can damage your power supply too. If your computer starts fine but freezes when under heavy load, the power supply may be the issue. To fix this problem once and for all, we recommend buying a new power supply. It’s relatively easy to replace a power supply but you will need to disconnect all the power cables and rewire them. Modular power supplies are a lot easier to install because you don’t need as many cables.

Method #9: Replace the System Drive

You can usually fix a frozen computer by replacing the system drive. Maybe the drive is old and slowing down, which makes the operating system time out. This is especially common on older PCs that use traditional spinning-disc hard drives. We recommend upgrading from spinning hard drives to an SSD because they’re not only faster but also more durable. Hard drives can last for a long time, but their sectors start to break down after a few years. Either way, an easy solution is to replace the system drive.

Install another drive, ideally an SSD, and install Windows on it. When you do this on a fresh drive, it will rule out any software issues that could be causing your computer to freeze. For ideas about what type of drive to buy, take a look at this article and check the list at the bottom of this page. On PCs, you can install another drive by either using the M.2 slots or SATA cables.

An easy way to check if your system drive has issues is to open Task Manager. Under the Performance tab, you’ll see Disk usage. A slow drive will often show 100% usage at all times, even when idle, which will freeze your computer. If your drive is showing 100% usage on idle, but there’s no read or write speed, it could be a problem with the drive or the SATA cable.

Wrap Up

Hopefully one of these methods will fix your frozen computer. We recommend restarting your computer and troubleshooting in safe mode first. It will point you in the right direction and help you narrow down the issue. Check for software issues before moving on to more serious hardware issues that may require costly repairs or replacements.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.com.