[8 Methods] Fix Mac Keeps Freezing: Complete Guide to Restore Smooth Performance

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Many Mac users have the bad experiences that the Mac keeps freezing or only the mouse can move. A user in Apple Community reported that his Mac "macOS randomly freezing - it just never stops..." Do you have the same experience?

Is your Mac freezing unexpectedly, turning your workflow into a frustrating experience? Whether you're using a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, or Mac Studio, random system hangs and unresponsive apps can cripple productivity. Fortunately, these issues are often solvable with a few strategic steps. In this guide, we'll walk you through why your Mac keeps freezing, how to diagnose the root cause, and proven solutions to fix it permanently.

Common Symptoms of a Freezing Mac

Before jumping into solutions, it's important to identify the behavior:

• Spinning beachball of death (SBBOD) that won't go away
• System unresponsive: mouse, keyboard, or apps stop working
• Frequent app crashes or inability to launch programs
• Startup freeze: stuck on the Apple logo or login screen
• Force shutdown or restart becomes the norm

If these sound familiar, you're in the right place.

Why Your Mac Keeps Freezing: Root Causes

Understanding why your Mac is freezing will help you choose the right fix.

1. Hardware Issues

• Low memory (RAM): Older Macs with 4GB or 8GB of RAM often struggle with multitasking.
• Disk errors or full storage: An overloaded or failing hard drive/SSD can freeze your system.
• Overheating: Internal components may throttle or stop working if your Mac gets too hot.

2. Software Conflicts

• Outdated macOS or apps: Software bugs and incompatibilities can lead to system instability.
• Login items and background processes: Too many startup apps can hog memory from the start.
• Corrupted system files: May occur after improper shutdowns or failed updates.

3. External Devices

• Faulty USB devices, hubs, or docks can cause kernel panics and freezes.
• External display drivers may interfere with macOS.

4. Malware or CPU Drain

• While macOS is relatively secure, malicious or rogue apps can overload your CPU and memory.

Quick Fixes to Try First to Fix a Frozen Mac

Before diving deeper, start with these basic steps:

1. Force Quit Unresponsive Apps

To access the Force Quit menu, use Command + Option + Esc. Click "Force Quit" after selecting the unresponsive application.

2. Restart Your Mac

It may sound simple, but a clean reboot can fix temporary memory leaks and stuck processes.

3. Disconnect External Devices

Unplug printers, USB drives, external monitors, etc., and restart. Then reconnect one by one to find any faulty accessory.

4. Check for Updates

Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install available updates. Outdated macOS versions often cause compatibility issues.

8 Methods to Fix Mac Keeps Freezing Issues

Method 1. Use Activity Monitor to Detect Resource Hogs

Activity Monitor helps identify apps consuming high CPU, memory, or energy.

Steps:

• Open Activity Monitor from Utilities via Applications in Finder.

• Sort by CPU or Memory usage.
• If a process uses 90 ~ 100% CPU, highlight it and click the "X" to force quit.

This step is especially helpful for identifying hidden background tasks or rogue browser extensions causing freezes.

Method 2. Free Up Disk Space on Your Mac

Lack of free disk space can slow your Mac drastically or cause it to freeze.

How to Check Storage:

• Go to System Settings > General > Storage.

• Keep at least 15 ~ 20% of your disk free for optimal performance

Free Space by:

• Deleting unused apps or large media files
• Emptying Trash and Downloads folders
• Moving files to iCloud or an external drive
• Using macOS Storage Management tools

Disk cleaning software - such as Donemax DMcleaner for Mac can quickly find and remove all junk data on your Mac and regain GBs of disk space.

Method 3. Boot in Safe Mode (to Isolate Issues)

Safe Mode is one of the most powerful built-in troubleshooting tools macOS offers. It helps identify and isolate issues caused by third-party extensions, problematic drivers, and corrupted system caches that may be causing your Mac to freeze.

When you boot into Safe Mode, macOS performs the following:

• Verifies and repairs your startup disk.
• Loads only essential system files.
• Prevents login items and non-Apple extensions from launching.
• Disables fonts not installed by macOS.
• Clears system caches that may be outdated or corrupted.

🔹 When to Use Safe Mode

• Your Mac keeps freezing shortly after startup.
• You suspect third-party software or extensions may be responsible.
• You're unable to operate the Mac normally or access certain settings.

🔹 How to Boot into Safe Mode

For Intel-based Macs:

• Turn off your Mac entirely.
• Hold down the Shift key as soon as you press the power button.
• When the login screen appears, let go of the Shift key.
• You'll notice "Safe Boot" in red text at the upper-right or middle of the screen (depending on macOS version).

For Apple Silicon (M-chip) Macs:

• Turn Off your Mac.
• Hold down the power button until the message "Loading startup options" shows up.
• Choose your startup disk, which is typically the Macintosh HD.
• Click Continue in Safe Mode while holding down the Shift key.

🔹 What to Do in Safe Mode

Once you're logged into Safe Mode, observe how the system behaves:

• Is the freezing gone? Try running apps that typically cause issues.
• Open Activity Monitor to watch real-time CPU and memory usage.
• Open System Settings and review login items.
• Run a disk check using Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > First Aid).
• Try removing recently installed software you suspect might be responsible.

💡 Note: Some features (like sound output or Wi-Fi) may be limited or behave differently in Safe Mode. This is normal.

🔹 Exit Safe Mode

To return to normal mode:

• Simply restart your Mac without pressing any keys.

If your Mac runs smoothly in Safe Mode but freezes in normal mode, the issue is likely caused by:

• A login item or launch daemon
• Third-party system extensions (kexts)
• Corrupted user cache files

From here, proceed to:

• Disable login items
• Remove or reinstall suspicious apps
• Clear user-level caches (~/Library/Caches)

Method 4. Reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM

Reset SMC (Intel Macs Only):

• Shut Down your Mac.
• Hold Shift + Control + Option on the left, then press the power button.
• Keep every key in place for ten seconds.
• Release and restart.

Reset NVRAM/PRAM (Intel Macs):

• Press Option + Command + P + R as soon as you restart.
• Release after 20 seconds of holding.

Apple Silicon Macs reset these components automatically during reboots.

Method 5. Remove Problematic Login Items

Login items can overwhelm your Mac during startup.

Steps to Remove:

• Go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.

• Review the list and remove unnecessary apps.

• Reboot and test.

If the freeze disappears, one of the removed apps was the culprit.

Method 6. Run Apple Diagnostics

To check for hardware issues:

How to Use Apple Diagnostics:

• Intel Macs: Restart and hold D key
• M-chip Macs: Turn off your Mac, hold power button until "Options" appears, then press Command + D

Apple Diagnostics will scan hardware and show error codes if a component is failing (e.g., RAM or SSD).

Method 7. Create a New User Profile

Sometimes, user-specific settings or files may cause freezing.

Steps:

• Go to System Settings > Users & Groups.

• Click Add User and create a standard user account.

• Log in with the new account and use the Mac normally.

If the issue doesn't occur in the new account, your original user profile might be corrupted.

Method 8. Reinstall macOS (Last Resort)

If all else fails, a macOS reinstall may be necessary.

How to Reinstall macOS (without losing data):

• Backup using Time Machine.
• After restarting, press and hold Command + R (for Intel-based Mac) or Power button (for Apple silicon Mac) to display the Apple logo.
• Select Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts.

This preserves your files but refreshes system files.

For a completely fresh install, format your drive in Disk Utility first.

When to Contact Apple Support

If you've tried everything and your Mac still keeps freezing, it could be a sign of:

• A failing SSD or logic board
• Overheating issues due to fan or sensor failure
• RAM problems (especially in older Macs)

Contact Apple if:

• Apple Diagnostics shows an error code
• Mac freezes even in Safe Mode or Recovery Mode
• You hear abnormal fan noise or clicking sounds

Tips to Prevent Mac Freezing in the Future

• Update macOS and apps regularly
• Don't overload your Mac with heavy multitasking
• Clean up disk space monthly
• Avoid installing untrusted third-party software
• Use Activity Monitor to watch system performance
• Periodically reset NVRAM/SMC if you notice odd behavior

Conclusion

A freezing Mac can be annoying, but most causes are fixable. Start with quick solutions like force-quitting apps and freeing up disk space. If the problem persists, Safe Mode, Activity Monitor, and diagnostics can help isolate the issue. In worst-case scenarios, reinstalling macOS or contacting Apple Support may be necessary.

Regular maintenance, software updates, and good system hygiene are key to keeping your Mac running smoothly. Use this guide as your go-to resource whenever your Mac acts up again.