There is nothing more frustrating than using your Mac computer and it suddenly starts slowing down or freezing. This is especially true if you’re in the middle of a project and have to restart your computer, losing all your progress. It can seem like it takes forever to complete a task.
Depending on what’s causing your computer to freeze, we’ve listed several solutions and included detailed steps to help you get to the bottom of the problem.
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Force close unresponsive apps
The first thing you should try if your Mac is unresponsive is to check if the app has frozen, as sometimes this can also lock up your Mac. If the app has frozen and quitting won’t work, Ctrl+click its icon in the Dock, then hover over it Cease button. Stop Option (marked as Alt on some Mac keyboards) to Cease becomes Forced exit; click this.
Alternatively, try pressing Opt+Cmd+Esc to open the Force Quit window. Select the application you want to close, then click Forced exit (or Restart if the Finder has frozen), click Forced exit in the confirmation dialog box.
If your Mac is completely locked and the above steps don’t work, press Ctrl+Opt+Cmd and power button at the same time; this will restart your Mac.
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Reset the system management controller
The System Management Controller (SMC) takes care of all sorts of things behind the scenes for your Mac, from battery management to keyboard backlighting. If your Mac keeps freezing, the SMC may need to be reset.
What you do depends on whether your Mac has a T2 security chip. If you’re using a MacBook that doesn’t have one (meaning you don’t have at least a 2016 or newer MacBook Pro), turn it off, then press Shift+Ctrl+Opt and power button at the same time. Hold all these keys for 10 seconds and then release them. Now press the power button to turn on your Mac. If you’re using a Mac desktop computer without a T2 chip (such as an iMac), turn it off, unplug the power cord, wait 15 seconds, turn it back on, then turn on your Mac.
If your Mac has a T2 chip, the process is different. For both MacBooks and desktop Macs, turn off the device, then press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. Release and wait a few seconds, then press again to turn on the Mac.
If you’re using an older MacBook with a removable battery, you’ll need to follow the steps on Apple’s website.
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Reset PRAM/NVRAM
Your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM are small pieces of memory that store specific settings that the computer needs to access quickly. If your Mac is freezing, there may be an error with PRAM or NVRAM.
Undoing them might help, and the process is the same for both. First turn off your Mac, then turn it on and press immediately Opt+Cmd+P+R. Hold these keys for 20 seconds; your Mac might restart during this time, but keep holding them for 20 seconds.
If your Mac normally plays a startup sound when you turn it on, you can release the keys when it plays. If your Mac has a T2 security chip, you can unlock it after the Apple logo appears and disappears a second time.
Note that if you have a firmware password set, you will need to disable it before you can reset PRAM and NVRAM. Apple has instructions on how to turn off the firmware password on its website.
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Boot into safe mode
Booting your Mac into safe mode might fix your freezing issues or help you identify what’s causing the problem. Safe Mode checks the integrity of your startup disk and prevents certain applications and processes from starting.
To start in Safe Mode, shut down your Mac, then turn it back on and immediately press and hold the Shift key. Release the Shift key when you see the login window. If you’ve encrypted your startup drive with FileVault, you may need to sign in twice — once to unlock your startup drive and a second time to sign in to the Finder.
Now try restarting your Mac using the normal startup process. If you can use your Mac without freezing, then safe mode may have fixed the problem. If the freeze persists when you’re using your Mac outside of Safe Mode, you may be experiencing problems with login items (apps that load when you first sign in), Wi-Fi networking, or an external device that’s all disabled or restricted by Safe Mode.
Apple’s support page has more information about Safe Mode, which may help.
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Run the Apple Diagnostic Test (or the Apple Hardware Test on older Macs)
If the freeze continues and you think it might be caused by a hardware problem, run Apple’s diagnostic test. First, disconnect all external devices except the keyboard, mouse, display, Ethernet connection (if you are using one), and the power cord. Make sure your Mac is on a firm, level surface with good ventilation, then turn it off.
Turn your Mac back on, then immediately press and hold the D key. Hold it until a screen appears asking you to choose your language. Select your language and then wait for the diagnostic test to run. This should only take a few minutes.
If the test finds problems, it will list them along with possible solutions. It also gives you reference codes for any problems detected, plus ways to contact Apple so they can fix the problem.
If your Mac was released before June 2013, you should use the Apple Hardware Test instead.
Apple
Take your Mac to an Apple Store
If your Mac continues to freeze and you’ve tried every trick in the book, you may need to call in the professionals. Simply put, qualified technicians have the training needed to properly diagnose and treat Mac ailments that you may not have experience with.
Go to locate.apple.com and follow the on-screen instructions to find your nearest Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.
If you don’t want to go directly to Apple, find a third-party repair shop that has experience repairing Macs. However, be sure that the store is an Apple Authorized Service Provider, which means that Apple manufacturers approve both the authenticity of the replacement parts and the expertise of their technicians.
Our article on the best keyboard shortcuts for Mac offers even more Mac tips.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn