What To Do When Your Windows PC Keeps Freezing

The frustrating feeling when a computer keeps freezing is a shared human experience. Whether it happens during a critical task or casual browsing, a frozen computer often creates stress about potential data loss.

Thankfully, most issues that make a computer keep freezing can be fixed with ease.

This article highlights the most common causes of PC freezes and outlines effective solutions. It offers guidance for more serious causes as well, such as failing hardware or a malware infection.

You can also request help at any time if you are worried about permanently losing data due to a frozen computer.         

Why Does My PC Keep Freezing? 

There are numerous reasons that a computer might keep freezing. Narrowing possible causes can help inform the troubleshooting process and save time. 

The most likely culprits for a frozen laptop or desktop include: 

• Overheating: Processors throttle their speed and voltage when exposed to high temperatures for prolonged periods. 
• Insufficient System Resources: Limited random-access memory (RAM) or disk space can degrade performance.  
• Faulty Drivers: Corrupt or outdated drivers could affect a computer's responsiveness under sustained load.
• File Corruption: Systems that encounter unusable data are prone to error messages and instability.
• Malicious Software: Malware can hijack processors, memory, and network bandwidth, causing constant lockups. 
• Hardware Failure: Damaged or defective components in a PC’s storage stack lead to frequent freezes.  

Each of these issues requires a different approach to address it best.  

How To Fix a Frozen Computer

Fixing a frozen computer is a process of elimination.

For starters, try pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del together on Windows to force-quit a problematic program. Closing an unresponsive app could clear the PC’s cache and free up the resources needed for smooth running.

However, the command is not guaranteed to return the computer to a functional state.   

Control + Alt + Delete Not Working

A hard reset can sometimes resolve software conflicts that a force quit cannot.  

To perform a hard reset on a frozen PC: 

1. Press and hold the power button on the computer.
2. Unplug the power cable or remove the battery from laptops. 
3. Disconnect all external devices from the PC, including storage, printers, and webcams.
4. Hold the power button for 15 to 30 seconds to deplete the computer’s residual power. 
5. Reconnect the power cable or insert the battery into the laptop.
6. Reboot the system. 

See if the computer keeps freezing. If so, proceed to the next steps.

Editor’s Note: Running tests on a failing drive or writing new data to the device could jeopardize personal files. Back up local data as soon as possible in case of hardware failure. If the drive’s contents are your primary concern, data recovery services reduce the risk of permanently losing files. Contact us for a free diagnostic and no-risk quote if you are not comfortable with DIY attempts. 

1. Check Temperature

Overheating is one of the most common reasons why PCs freeze. It does not take long to establish whether excessive heat is the cause of your computer’s problem. 

Ideal temperatures for CPUs and GPUs range from 30°C to 45°C while idle. Peak temperatures should not exceed 85°C under stress.   

You can quickly check if the system is running hot by holding your hand to the case or near the exhaust fans. Other symptoms include increased noise as fans work harder to cool the PC. 

However, a free, open-source tool like Open Hardware Monitor or third-party software like CoreTemp is a much more reliable option. It is also possible to check CPU temperatures on the BIOS main screen.

Editor’s Note: You can typically enter the BIOS by restarting your PC and hitting F2, Del, or Esc before the Windows logo appears. Consult your product’s manual for the specific key. 

You can monitor GPU temperatures right in Windows. 

To open Task Manager on Windows: 

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc together to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Performance tab on the left side of the panel.

3. Click GPU. 
4. Check the GPU temperature.

There are three primary methods to deal with overheating.   

What to do if your CPU or GPU are overheating:        

• Clean dust and debris from fans or vents with compressed air. 
• Close unused programs to reduce system strain.
• Reset the CPU’s clock speed if you have increased it beyond default settings.   

Editor’s Note: Do not use cleaning cloths or liquids on internal components. These materials and substances can inflict permanent damage on electronics.  

2. Free Up Storage Space or RAM

A system drive (usually C:) near max storage capacity will cause the PC to bog down during routine tasks. 

To determine a drive’s free space: 

1. Press the Windows key + X together to open the Power User menu.
2. Select Disk Management from the list.

3. Check the % Free column for OS (C:) for available space.

You should aim to keep at least 10% free for solid-state drives (SSDs) and 20% for hard disk drives (HDDs). Having less space slows down the computer by forcing it to search for somewhere to save data.

What to do if your system drive is almost full: 

• Uninstall large, rarely used software.
• Move data to an external hard drive or cloud storage platform. 
• Empty the contents of the Recycle Bin.
• Use Storage Sense to remove temporary files.     

Likewise, not having enough RAM can lead to sudden crashes and sluggish performance.

To monitor RAM usage on Windows: 

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc together to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Performance tab on the left side of the panel.

3. Click Memory.
4. Check the amount of memory in use and available.

For most machines, using between 50% and 75% of memory is optimal. Exhausting more than 75% consistently could trigger freezing as the PC moves pages to the system drive. 

What to do if almost all of your RAM is constantly utilized: 

• Restart the computer to flush the runtime data and some temporary files.
• Close browser tabs and clear the cache. 
• Stop unnecessary services from Microsoft.
• Increase the size of page files to assist hardware.   
• Consider upgrading RAM if usage remains high.  

Editor’s Note: If costs are a concern, memory prices have spiked in 2026 due to a shortage driven by AI hyperscalers. 

3. Review Drivers

Drivers are software components that enable devices to exchange data and requests seamlessly.

Bad drivers occur for two reasons. An outdated driver happens when a manufacturer updates the software to improve performance with the operating system and popular apps. Corrupt drivers often occur due to improper installations or interrupted updates.

Having outdated drivers is more likely for a desktop or laptop that keeps freezing. 

To check for outdated drivers: 

1. Press the Windows key + X together to open the Power User menu.
2. Select Device Manager from the list.
3. Click the Display adapters path.

4. Right-click the GPU and select Update driver. 
5. Choose Search automatically for drivers. 
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.
7. Repeat the process for Storage controllers, Disk drives, and Network adapters.    

You should also search for chipset drivers on the manufacturer’s website, such as Intel and AMD. Windows displays the PC’s CPU model in the Performance tab of Task Manager.   

If the computer started freezing after a recent driver update, then it might be corrupt.

To roll back corrupt drivers: 

1. Press the Windows key + X together to open the Power User menu.
2. Select Device Manager from the list.
3. Click the desired path.
4. Click the affected drive and select Properties.

5. Navigate to the Driver tab.
6. Click Roll Back Driver. 

Wait and see if the changed driver fixes the freezing issue. 

What to do if you suspect faulty drivers: 

• Update potentially outdated drivers.
• Roll back potentially corrupt drivers.

4. Update Software

Running an older version of Windows or incompatible software could make the system unstable over time.

To update Windows: 

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click Settings.
3. Select Windows Update from the left sidebar. 

4. Choose the Check for updates option.
5. Wait for the updates to download and install.

In addition, older software might encounter problems on newer systems, locking up the laptop or desktop. Ensure all commonly used software is up to date to rule out severe conflicts with Windows.    

What to do if you have outdated software:  

• Install Windows Updates for the latest release or missing patches. 
• Update third-party software that might cause the computer to hang when in use.

5. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a sneaky cause of a frozen laptop or desktop. The feature allows users to resume sessions quickly by putting the PC in a hybrid state. Fast Startup saves the kernel and drivers to a hibernation file during shutdown. 

As a result, the computer wakes up and boots much faster. However, frequent freezing is possible if Fast Startup uses the same kernel and drivers for a while. Minor errors could start to accumulate over time with the feature enabled.  

To disable Fast Startup: 

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Enter Control Panel in the search bar.

3. Choose System and Security.

4. Click Change what the power buttons do under the Power Options section.

5. Uncheck Turn on fast startup. 

Restart your computer to refresh its software components.

What to do if your PC keeps freezing with Fast Startup enabled: 

• Disable Fast Startup to force a kernel and driver reload.    

6. Scan for Malware

Malicious software (known as malware) can overload system resources, leaving the computer unresponsive.    

It is smart to confirm the PC is clean before proceeding to deeper hardware diagnostics. 

Editor’s Note: You will want to suspend BitLocker before running an offline scan. Otherwise, you must enter your BitLocker recovery key when the computer restarts. 

To scan for malware on a computer that keeps freezing: 

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Enter Windows Security in the search bar.

3. Choose Virus & threat protection. 
4. Click Scan options.

5. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan). 
6. Click Scan now. 

It could take 15 minutes or longer to complete the offline scan. The PC will restart once finished. You can find the results in the Virus & threat protection section. They are stored under Protection history.  

Editor’s Note: You might need to quit your normal antivirus program to view scan options in Windows Security.

What to do if you suspect a malware infection might be causing the freezing: 

• Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan to remove the infection.   

7. Run System Scan

Microsoft’s System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool to detect corruption that could affect the computer’s operation. 

To run SFC and repair corrupted system files: 

1. Open the Start menu. 
2. Enter Command Prompt in the search bar. 
3. Type sfc /scannow in the interface.
4. Press Enter.

Allow SFC time to finish the file repair process. Restart the PC after it is done.

What to do if you might have corrupt system files: 

• Run SFC to restore the integrity of system files. 

8. Determine Drive Health

Editor’s Note: Running CHKDSK can fix some issues, but it could lead to permanent data loss. CHKDSK frequently leaves important data behind in unusable sectors. In addition, it cannot address corruption of specific file structures. If your device contains important data, then consult our experts for SSD and hard drive recovery options. We offer free quotes and a No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee with standard services.   

If the computer is still freezing at this point, then hardware failure is very likely. 

There are two main methods to determine the health of a system drive.

The first method involves using a tool to check the drive’s S.M.A.R.T. data. This reporting technology monitors drive performance across several categories to predict failures and prevent data loss. A series of S.M.A.R.T. warnings often indicate that the drive is on the brink of failing.

Some errors will register in Windows, but there are better, more detailed options. For example, many companies bundle software with their products. Software like Samsung Magician, Western Digital Kitfox, Seagate SeaTools, and Sandisk Dashboard reports S.M.A.R.T. data. 

Free third-party tools, such as CrystalDiskInfo, also allow users to check S.M.A.R.T. attributes. CrystalDiskInfo offers the added benefit of running the program from an external device to diagnose an internal drive.

Another method for detecting bad sectors on an HDD or bad blocks on an SSD is to use CHKDSK. CHKDSK is a command that prompts Windows to scan the drive for defects and repair logical errors.  

To run CHKDSK: 

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Enter Command Prompt in the search bar.
3. Type chkdsk X: /r in the interface.
4. Press Enter.

CHKDSK can take a while to complete. You cannot use the computer while a scan is in progress.

Editor’s Note: You will have to replace the drive letter above (X:) with the identifier of the system drive.  

What to do to determine the health of your local drive: 

1. Look for S.M.A.R.T. warnings with a diagnostic tool. 
2. Run CHKDSK in an attempt to fix the file system if data recovery is not essential. 

9. Test Memory

Your PC’s RAM modules may be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD) or corrosion from years of heating and cooling cycles. ESD is more likely to occur shortly after installing RAM. Corrosion is a common failure of aging memory.

Running a RAM stress test will reveal whether it causes the computer to freeze.

MemTest86 is a lightweight, standalone software designed to diagnose faulty memory by simulating usage patterns. The tool provides ample technical information to users, including instructions for creating a boot disk in Windows and configuring it.

What to do if everything else fails: 

• Run MemTest86 to rule out bad RAM as the cause of the freezing.     

Advanced Tips for a Computer That Keeps Freezing

There is another possible step for dealing with a desktop or laptop that keeps freezing. 

However, it could require you to dig into event logs and further research a fringe problem.    

Use Windows Reliability Monitor

Windows Reliability Monitor is a more friendly version of Event Viewer. It runs in the background of Windows and charts events on a visual timeline. The chart reports events that date back months. As a result, the native tool enables users to pinpoint when system issues began.

To generate reports with Windows Reliability Monitor: 

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Enter View reliability history in the search bar.

3. Sort by Days or Weeks to find the range of relevant events.

The charts above show the system's stability over the given time period. Its index ranges from 1 to 10. Lower values reflect a more reliable, stable system. A higher ranking could indicate a critical error that could have caused the PC to freeze.     

Reliability Monitor tracks hardware failure, software conflicts and installs, changes to system settings, and other uncommon events.

You search for a potential solution online after finding what causes the computer to keep freezing.              

Data Recovery for Frozen Laptops and Desktops

Since 2007, Secure Data Recovery has restored billions of files through our certified services. We can do the same for you. 

Our skilled engineers have the experience and expertise to recover data from laptops and desktops that won’t stop freezing. They have advanced tools and techniques to retrieve data from an unresponsive PC regardless of device type or failure mode.

Call 800-388-1266, get a free quote online, or find a location to speak with an expert about service options. Standard services receive diagnostics at zero cost, a free quote, and a No Data, No Recovery Fee guarantee.