What To Do When Your Mac Freezes

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HomeTechnology ArticlesComputers ArticlesMacs ArticlesGeneral Macs ArticlesWhat to Do When Your Mac FreezesByEdward C. Baig Updated2021-10-29 18:49:16From the bookMacs For DummiesShare

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Download E-BookMacs For Dummies Explore Book Switching to a Mac For Dummies Explore BookBuy NowBuy on AmazonBuy on WileySubscribe on PerlegoDownload E-BookMacs For DummiesExplore Book Switching to a Mac For DummiesExplore BookBuy NowBuy on AmazonBuy on WileySubscribe on Perlego You know that frustrating, annoying, sometimes panicked feeling you get when your Mac isn’t doing what you expect? If an application freezes or your computer is generally misbehaving, try these tips to escape with minimal disruption.

• Use Force Quit when an application is unresponsive. Choose Force Quit from the Apple menu or press Command+Option+Esc keys. Click the name of the deviant application (it probably has not responding next to its name). You typically won’t have to reboot.

• Restart. If Force Quit doesn’t bail you out, try rebooting the computer. If a frozen Mac prevents you from clicking the Restart command on the Apple menu, hold down the power button for several seconds or press the Control+Command keys and then press the power button. If all else fails, pull the plug, but remember that powering down without logging out should be used only as a last resort.

• Restart in Safe Mode. Press the power button to turn on your computer, and then press and hold the Shift key the instant you hear the welcome chime. Release Shift when the Apple logo appears. You will see a status bar as the computer boots, after which the words Safe Boot appear in red in the upper right corner of OS X’s login screen. In Safe mode, the Mac unleashes a series of troubleshooting steps designed to return the computer to good health. If Safe Boot resolved the issue, restart the Mac normally the next time.

About This Article

This article is from the book: 

Macs For Dummies

About the book author:

Edward C. Baig is a veteran Mac authority and the technology columnist for USA Today.

This article can be found in the category: 

General MacsGet a Subscription