Tech Emergency: How to Handle a Frozen Computer That Won’t Shut Down
You’re doing something on your PC or laptop when, all of a sudden, its cursor stops moving. You jiggle your mouse or touchpad/trackpad, but its pointer is also stuck. To top it off, you can hear your device’s fan going all haywire.
That’s when you start to panic. So, you try turning off your device, but it won’t work, either.
Before you pull your hair out of frustration, take a deep breath.
Then, read this guide thoroughly, as it will teach you what to do if your computer froze and won’t turn off. By following the troubleshooting steps discussed here, you may be able to get your device working again.
Table of Contents
Be a Little More Patient
Were you playing a CPU-intensive game like Hogwarts Legacy or God of War when your computer froze? Or perhaps you were performing a demanding task, such as 3D rendering or video editing?
If so, you may only have a slow computer, not a frozen one. Computers can sometimes hang for a few minutes if they must perform a CPU-intensive task. However, this lag time is more about them trying to catch up and finish complex tasks.
So, if your PC or laptop only became unresponsive in the last one to two minutes, wait for a few more minutes.
See if You Have a Deadlocked Computer
A deadlock is when computer processes can’t proceed due to a lack of necessary resources. It causes unstable or slow system performance.
Press the Caps Lock button to check if you have a deadlocked computer. If its light turns on, lucky you, as it’s not.
If nothing happens, though, that means you have a deadlocked device. You already need to reboot it.
End the Non-Responsive Program
Suppose your PC’s or laptop’s Caps Lock responds, and its light switches on. This means your device’s operating system is still working. However, another program isn’t, causing your entire computer to freeze.
In that case, ending the non-responsive program should make your PC or laptop work again.
To end a task on a Windows OS device, follow these steps:
- Open the Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del
- Once the Task Manager opens, look for the non-responsive program on the list
- Click that program to highlight it
- Choose End Task
The Windows Task Manager should then terminate the program. However, you may still have to wait another ten to twenty seconds.
If you have an Apple computer, follow these steps to terminate or “force quit” a program :
- Open the Force Quit Applications menu by pressing Option (or Alt) + Command (or Cmd), Esc (or Escape)
- Select the program or app you want to force quit, which is likely the one currently on your frozen screen
- Click Force Quit
You may also have to wait a few seconds for your Apple device to terminate the program.
Reboot Your Computer
If you have a deadlocked computer (i.e., the Caps Lock button doesn’t turn on), it’s time to reboot your device. Do the same if you can’t end or force quit a non-responsive program.
To reboot your Windows or Apple computer, simply press and hold down its power button until it shuts down. Release the power button and wait a few seconds. Then, turn it back on and wait for it to restart as usual.
Check for Autosaved Work
If you were working when your computer froze, the software you used may have autosaved your work. Microsoft Office programs, such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, are perfect examples of apps with such a feature. The same applies to Apple’s showcase programs, including Pages, Numbers, and TextEdit.
Open the program you were using when your device froze, then check its recent file menu. If it autosaved your work, you should find the file here. Save it using your preferred name to avoid losing it if a problem corrupts the autosaved copy.
Check for Malware
Experts forecast that cybercrime could cost the world $9.5 trillion in 2024. They also believe that by 2025, that will jump to $10.5 trillion.
And despite what many believe, it’s not only the wealthy that get victimized. Regular consumers are just as prime a target. Indeed, in the United States alone, over 50,000 personal data breaches occur yearly.
But what does that have to do with your computer freezing and becoming unresponsive?
Poor or faulty PC or laptop performance can indicate a malware infection. Since malware is a type of (malicious) software, it consumes computer resources. It can hog your device’s memory, leaving little to nothing for your legitimate programs to use.
So, after rebooting your computer (and checking for autosaved work), give it a deep scan.
On Windows, you can use the built-in Windows Security tool. You can also use it to perform necessary actions (e.g., delete viruses or potential threats found).
If you have a Mac, it has a built-in scanner, too, called XProtect, that runs by default without your involvement. For extra precaution, though, check your Applications folder for suspicious apps. If you find any, delete them immediately.
Get Your Device Repaired by a Pro
If none of the above steps work, or they do, but only temporarily, you may have a more severe hardware or software issue. In this case, it’s best you seek professional computer repair services.
Before taking your device to a repair center, check if it’s still under warranty. You may have to bring it to an authorized service center if it is.
If not, look for a nearby repair center offering same-day services. Some professionals also provide on-site repairs, so they’ll visit your location. This can be ideal if your malfunctioning device is a PC you’d rather not disassemble.
Do These if Your Computer Froze and Won’t Turn Off
Now you know the first thing to do if your computer froze and won’t turn off is wait a few minutes.
Remember: A computer may seem frozen if it needs more time to process complex tasks. So, give it a few minutes to catch up and resume regular operation. But if it still doesn’t respond, follow the rest of our troubleshooting tips.
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Last Updated on January 31, 2024
