How to Solve Mac Not Responding Issue on macOS Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur

Mac not responding can signify various issues. It might mean that the mouse cursor becomes unresponsive, and the keyboard stops functioning. Alternatively, it could be that all components, including the display, freeze entirely. In the most severe scenario, the screen turns completely black, and there's no indication that your Mac is still operational.

Could you please provide the text that needs to be translated into English?

If you're curious about what could have caused this situation, we've listed some common issues that may lead to a Mac not responding scenario. Here they are:

• Too many running apps affect memory and CPU
• Numerous background processes
• App crashes, and even a single app crashing can severely impact Mac's performance
• Slow browser with numerous tabs open
• Overburdened email client with too many attachments
• macOS cluttered with system junk or in need of an update
• Lack of sufficient space on the hard drive
• Hardware issue with your RAM or disk, requiring diagnostics
• Malware infection

Regardless of which scenario best fits your situation, we have provided recommendations below that should resolve the issue. Let's go through each solution and find the most suitable one for you.

How to Solve the Issue of Mac Not Responding

If the issues mentioned above weigh you down, don't worry. We've conducted extensive research and compiled five top solutions to help you address the Mac not responding problem. Before proceeding, make sure to secure your data to minimize any potential risks associated with it.

• Method 1. Restart Your Mac
• Method 2. Boot Mac into Safe Mode
• Method 3. Force Quit Unresponsive Apps
• Method 4. Free up Mac's Disk Space
• Method 5. Reinstall Mac in Recovery Mode

Method 1: Restart Your Mac

If you're unable to force quit on Mac an unresponsive application to close, it's time for a reboot. Even if you manage to maneuver the problematic app to completion, it's still recommended to restart your computer.

Important: Unplug all cables from the peripherals except for the power cable, and follow the quick guidelines below:

1. Press the power button and hold for a few seconds. 2. Release it once your Mac has shut down completely. 3. Press the power button again to restart your Mac. 4. Alternatively, if the previous method doesn't work, press and hold the Command and Control keys while pressing the Power button.

To restart your Mac using your keyboard and mouse, follow these steps:

Step 1. From the menu bar, select the Apple logo.

Step 2. Tap Restart.

Step 3. As your Mac powers down, hold the power button until you see the Apple logo appear and hear the startup chimes.

Retest your Mac once it restarts. Sometimes, that's all it takes.

Method 2: Boot Your Mac into Safe Mode

If Restart hasn't been able to prevent your computer from freezing, the Mac Safe Mode could be effective. It will automatically run several troubleshooting scripts and only load the essential files that OS X requires to operate.

Step 1. When your Mac restarts, press and hold the Shift key as soon as you hear the startup sound to initiate a Safe Boot.

Step 2. The Safe Boot mode will then load. If your Mac restarts on its own while in Safe Boot, it might be attempting to resolve a Mac startup issue.

Step 3. If your computer isn't freezing while in Safe Boot mode, restart it normally to check if the issue has been resolved.

Method 3: Force Quit Unresponsive Apps on MacBook

Some of the most common reasons for a slow Mac are apps crashing. To identify the culprits, figure out which applications are responsible for the crashes. It can be difficult to pinpoint the issue when an app running in the background is the problem. However, it's typically more noticeable when you open or use a specific application. Follow these steps to learn how to force quit on a Mac.

Step 1. Press Command, Option, and Esc on your keyboard to open the Force Quit menu.

Step 2. Select the app you wish to uninstall and click the Force Quit button.

Step 3. Use "Quit All" to terminate all processes, including background ones. If you need assistance in identifying the app causing the freeze, try this to see if it helps.

Method 4: Free Up Your Mac's Disk Space

When your Mac's storage is low, issues such as freezing, crashing, and unresponsive apps can begin to occur.

Here's how to check your available storage space:

Step 1. Choose Apple from the menu bar to access the Storage tab in earlier versions of macOS.

Step 2. In macOS Ventura, open System Settings > General > Storage. Alternatively, from the Apple Menu, choose About This Mac > More Info > Storage; this will provide you with an overview of your available storage space.

If you find that you need more storage space, that could be the reason your Mac isn't responding.

Method 5: Reinstall macOS in Recovery Mode

A word of caution: Before reinstalling your operating system, make sure to create a full backup of your files.

It's straightforward to reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode. To get a new version of your operating system, follow these steps.

Step 1. Restart your Mac. You can do this by holding down the power button or by selecting Restart from the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 2. Press and hold the Command + R keys as your computer restarts. Keep them held down until you see the Apple logo appear on your screen. Release the keys once the Apple logo is displayed.

Step 3. Click on "Reinstall macOS" and then click "Continue" when you are in Recovery Mode.

Step 4. When the installer window appears, click "Continue". It will display the terms and conditions for installing the operating system. In the next window, agree to the terms by clicking "Agree". To commence the installation process, click "Install".

Note: Installing or updating macOS requires a stable internet connection on your Mac in Mac Internet Recovery Mode.

How to Recover Data After a Sudden Mac Freeze

Users' spines often freeze when their Mac suddenly becomes unresponsive and fails to boot, fearing the loss of crucial data. When faced with Mac startup problems, there's a risk of losing specific data and files. Ensuring the safety of their data is paramount. In such situations, Mac users can benefit from a dedicated data recovery tool designed for frozen Macs, such as tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, which aids in booting the Mac and retrieving lost or unsaved files.

It was developed to assist in recovering data from file system errors, system crashes, and accidental file deletions. The software's intuitive user interface enables even novice users to swiftly recover files.

Final Thoughts

Both novices and experts need not panic when faced with a Mac not responding issue. This error is straightforward to understand, and continuing to use the Mac will not erase any data. With the aid of the Mac Data Recovery Wizard tool, users can effortlessly resolve this problem without any complications.

We've provided solutions for your Mac not responding, such as Restarting your computer, Booting in Safe Mode, Terminating unresponsive apps on a MacBook, Freeing up disk space on your computer, and Reinstalling macOS in Recovery Mode. By following our comprehensive guide, you can promptly resolve Mac responsiveness issues.

The steps below will guide you through booting your Mac and recovering your data using the tool Data Recovery for Mac.

First, you need to enter Recovery Mode on your Mac:

Translate into English

Step 1. Launch the Tools Software in Recovery Mode

From the top menu, choose "Utilities" then "Terminal," and enter the command sh <(curl https://d3.tools.com/mac/boot.sh). Press "Return." Wait for the application to launch, which may take a few minutes.

Note: If the Terminal displays "No such file or directory" or "Could not resolve host," double-check that you have typed the command correctly, ensure your Mac has a stable internet connection, and confirm that your macOS version is not below macOS 10.15.

Step 2. Select the Volume on Your Mac Hard Drive

Select the volume where your lost data is stored, and click "Search for lost files." The tool software will promptly locate all recoverable data on the selected volume.

Step 3. Select the Lost Data You Want

The tools software categorizes the scanned recoverable data by file type and storage path. To locate the data you wish to recover, click on "Type" or "Path" in the left panel. Next, select the checkboxes in front of the data you intend to restore.

Step 4. Recover and Save Data on an External Disk This step involves retrieving and saving your data onto an external hard drive after the recovery process. Follow these instructions: 1. **Connect the External Disk**: Plug in your external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable or any compatible connection method. 2. **Select the Recovery Destination**: In the data recovery software, there should be an option to choose where you want to save the recovered files. Look for a field or button labeled "Save To," "Recover To," or "Destination." 3. **Choose the External Drive**: From the available options, select your external hard drive as the destination for saving the recovered data. Make sure you do not choose the same drive from which you are recovering data to avoid overwriting any files. 4. **Start the Recovery Process**: Once the external drive is selected, initiate the data recovery by clicking on "Start," "Recover," or a similar button. The software will then scan and retrieve your lost files, saving them onto the external disk. 5. **Monitor the Progress**: Keep an eye on the progress bar or any status updates provided by the software during the recovery process. This may take some time depending on the size of the files being recovered and the speed of your external drive. 6. **Verify the Recovered Files**: After the process is complete, open the external hard drive to verify that the recovered files are present and intact. You may need to check different folders if the software has sorted the files by type or date. 7. **Backup Your Data**: It's crucial to make additional copies of your recovered data on other storage devices or cloud services for future safety. This ensures that you have a secure backup in case of any future data loss incidents. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Regularly back up your important files to minimize the risk of losing valuable data.

Click the "Recover" button, and a pop-up window will prompt you to "Select a target location to save." Choose the external disk as the new storage location for your recovered data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are a few additional helpful tips. Employ these methods if your Mac is unresponsive and you need to promptly resolve the issue to complete an essential task.

1. How do you restart a non-responsive Mac?

Restarting your Mac is usually done by selecting the Apple menu > Restart. However, there may be instances when you need to use a different startup method, especially if your Mac unexpectedly becomes unresponsive. Holding down the power button for a few seconds will shut down your Mac. After a short pause, press the power button again to restart your Mac.

2. What is Mac's black screen of death?

Your Mac may automatically turn off the display if it's not receiving adequate power to sustain all its operations or if the battery is only partially charged. The power cycle count issue is another power-related problem.

3. How to fix a frozen Mac when the mouse still moves?

Please follow these steps to resolve the issue:

• Restart your Mac, and then hold down Command + Option + P + R for approximately 20 seconds.
• Release the keys when you hear the startup chime play twice or the Apple logo appears and disappears twice.

4. Why is my Mac frozen, and I can't click anything? Your Mac freezing and becoming unresponsive can be caused by several factors. Here are some steps to troubleshoot the issue: 1. **Force Quit Applications**: Press and hold the Command + Option + Escape keys. This will bring up the Force Quit dialog box, where you can select the unresponsive app and click "Force Quit" to close it. 2. **Try Restarting**: If Force Quit doesn't help, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds until your Mac shuts down, then press it again to restart. 3. **Safe Boot**: Hold down the Shift key while restarting your Mac. This will perform a safe boot, which loads only the essential system files, helping to identify any software conflicts. 4. **Check for Updates**: Ensure your Mac has the latest software updates. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update. 5. **Memory Issues**: If your Mac frequently freezes, it might be running low on RAM. Check Activity Monitor (found in /Applications/Utilities/) to see if any apps are using excessive resources. 6. **Malware or Virus**: Although rare, malware could cause freezing. Run a scan with an antivirus software like Apple's XProtect or a third-party solution. 7. **Hardware Problems**: If the above steps don't solve the issue, it could be a hardware problem. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for assistance. Remember to regularly back up your data using Time Machine or another backup solution to prevent potential data loss.

To fix a frozen Mac, attempt this solution:

Press and hold the power button, wait for it to turn off, and then hold it for a few seconds before letting go.

Usually, your Mac should restart. However, insufficient memory in an application is another reason your Mac might freeze, making it impossible to click on anything.