9 Simple and Quick Ways to Fix a Frozen Laptop

After a period of use, laptop freezing  is an inevitable situation. They have a significant impact on the user experience, slowing down work performance. If this situation is not resolved quickly, it may reduce the durability of the device, so users need to pay attention. Here, TipsMake will provide some simple methods to overcome this situation, you can apply when needed.

1. Fix frozen laptop with basic shortcuts

When you see your computer freeze, you can use the following basic shortcut keys to solve the problem:

Method 1: Press the Windows + Crl + Shift + B key combination for a few seconds until the computer shuts down automatically. Then the computer will restart automatically and no longer freeze.

Method 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc if the above method does not work.

Method 3: Press Alt + Tab then switch software if running an application that hangs.

Method 4: If your computer displays a request to restart in Safe mode , select it to handle the frozen situation.

2. Clean your computer to fix the freezing problem.

Long-term operation will cause the heat sink to accumulate a lot of dust, causing the laptop to freeze . Therefore, you need to clean the computer regularly and properly to limit this phenomenon.

You also need to check the heat sink slots for dirt to determine if they are obstructed by anything. Dust will hinder the heat dissipation and cooling of the machine, so you need to use a specialized suction cup to remove them.

3. Use the power key to fix a frozen laptop

This method is quite familiar to those who regularly use computers for work and entertainment. You just need to hold the power button until the computer automatically turns off. Then wait about 1 minute to start the computer and start using it. However, you should not overuse this method because it can affect the durability of the computer.

4. Upgrade RAM for your computer

If your laptop freezes, upgrading  your computer's RAM is also an effective solution chosen by many people. When the RAM capacity is too low and you open many heavy applications at the same time, the computer will slow down. At this time, you can upgrade the RAM to give the computer more capacity, ensuring smooth operation when running multitasking.

5. Update your antivirus software and operating system

During use, laptops are susceptible to viruses that cause the laptop to freeze. At this time, you need to install anti-virus software suitable for your computer to effectively handle this situation. In addition, you should also regularly update the operating system or driver for your computer to ensure that your laptop operates more smoothly and stably.

* Note: Do not install too many anti-virus software because it will waste space and slow down the computer's operation speed.

- Turn off all unnecessary hidden applications running on your computer.

- There are many hidden software and applications that you do not know about. They cause the laptop to freeze during operation, so you need to turn them off to make the machine work more effectively. You can turn off hidden applications by following these steps:

- Press the Windows + R key combination => type ' msconfig ' in the RUN dialog box

- Select the Services tab => Select the software you do not use => OK

- In the Startup tab , select the software you do not want to start when you turn on the computer => OK

- Reset the machine.

6. Restart your computer's graphics card

If your laptop freezes due to the graphics card, restart it with the key combination Ctrl+Shift+Windows+B. This process will take about 1-2 seconds, the screen will flash and operate normally after starting. When you press the above key combination, it means that you are notifying Windows to automatically reopen the driver and fix errors related to the graphics card.

7. Reduce the temperature of the laptop when in use

Working too much with heavy applications will cause the laptop to heat up. This is the cause of the laptop freezing, running slowly, and not meeting work needs.

At this time, you need to use a cooling fan or a cooling pad for the computer. You can also raise the laptop to create space at the bottom of the machine, helping the machine not to slow down or lag when used.

8. Replace SSD hard drive to increase performance

Currently, many laptops still use traditional HDD drives , so the speed is quite slow. If you want to improve the situation of your laptop freezing, you should upgrade to an SSD drive, which will retrieve data faster.

9. Reduce the number of applications open at the same time

While working, you may open many applications at the same time. However, this is the reason why the laptop freezes, lags, and runs slowly. Therefore, turn off unused applications to make the machine work more effectively.

Hopefully the above  ways to fix frozen laptops shared by TipsMake will help you fix it effectively and have a better experience with your computer, increasing work efficiency.

Micah Soto

Update 17 January 2025