MacBook Air Frozen: How to Fix a Frozen Mac Without Losing Data

You can learn how to fix a MacBook Air crash, which can occur due to various reasons. We'll discuss the causes, how to resolve them, and what steps to take to recover data when your MacBook Air crashes.

In addition to the scenarios mentioned by the Apple Support community users, other situations where a Mac might freeze include:

• The MacBook Air freezes and fails to wake up from sleep when you open the lid.
• The Mac gets stuck on the Apple logo during startup.
• Apps on your Mac become unresponsive.

First, performing a factory reset on your MacBook might resolve the freezing issue.

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Why is my MacBook freezing?

Despite being equipped with the world's most advanced processor, a MacBook can't handle anything. For instance, if you put too much pressure on the MacBook Air CPU, issues might arise. A MacBook Air can freeze due to several reasons, such as running too many apps, crashes, insufficient disk space (disk space), or using an outdated macOS version, to name a few.

Let's illustrate why your MacBook Air might be freezing through specific examples.

• Your MacBook Air has too many apps open or background processes running.
• Your computer is running slowly, which can eventually cause it to crash from using too much CPU time and memory.
• A problematic app or an app that's crashing can significantly impact your Mac's performance.
• Your browser or email system may be having issues.
• This could be due to too many tabs open in your browser or too many attachments.
• Not having enough storage space can slow down your MacBook Air and cause it to crash.
• Your computer may be infected with malware or a virus that's causing it to run poorly.
• Outdated software or the operating system can lead to compatibility issues that slow your computer down.
• Overheating can damage your MacBook Air and cause it to run slower or shut down unexpectedly.
• Hardware issues, like a failing hard drive or RAM, can cause problems with your Mac's performance.

Let's move on to the next part to see how to defrost a MacBook Air.

How to Thaw a Frozen MacBook Air: Solving MacBook Air Freezing Issues When your MacBook Air becomes frozen, it can be due to various reasons. Don't worry – there are steps you can take to resolve the issue and restore your device. 1. **Forced Restart**: - Hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until your MacBook Air turns off. - Press the power button again to turn it back on. 2. **Safe Mode**: - While pressing the power button, quickly press the left Shift key. - Hold both keys until you see the Apple logo, then release. - This will start your MacBook Air in Safe Mode, allowing you to check for any conflicting apps or settings. 3. **Update Software**: - Make sure your MacBook Air has the latest version of macOS. - Open "System Preferences" > "Software Update," and install any available updates. 4. **Check Memory and Storage**: - Insufficient memory or a full storage space can also cause freezing. - Go to "About This Mac" > "Storage" to view usage and clear unnecessary files and apps. 5. **Reset NVRAM/PRAM**: - Turn off your MacBook Air. - Press the power button to turn it on while holding down the Command, Option, P, and R keys. - Keep these keys pressed until you hear the startup sound for the second time, then release. 6. **Recovery System**: - If the above steps don't work, you may need a deeper fix. - Use the macOS Recovery feature (by pressing Command + R during startup) to reset the system or restore from a previous backup. 7. **Contact Apple Support**: - If the problem persists, don't hesitate to contact official Apple Support or visit your nearest Apple Store for professional assistance. Try these steps in order, and most MacBook Air freezing issues should be resolved. If the problem continues, it's advisable to seek professional help promptly.

We'll start with a quick, expert overview of the troubleshooting steps for reviving and getting a frozen MacBook Air up and running again:

If any of these methods helped you successfully unfreeze your MacBook Air, share this article on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or your favorite social media platform!

Solution 1: How to Restart a Frozen MacBook

A fast restart can give your operating system a fresh start and help solve minor software issues. If your MacBook Air has frozen, try restarting it. The best way is to proceed as quickly as possible to how to restart MacBook Air.

A simple click will restart any Mac. But if you can't use the cursor to shut down your device, you'll need another approach.

There are several ways to restart your MacBook:

• Press and hold the power button until your MacBook turns off, then turn it back on.
• If that doesn't work, try forcing a restart by pressing Command + Control + Power simultaneously.

MacBook Air won't restart after update

If none of those work, you may need to force restart your MacBook by removing its battery.

Fix 2: Check Your Peripherals

Before you check your Mac's peripherals, make sure that your Mac is getting power. If you have a MacBook and it won't turn on, make sure the power cable is plugged in securely to both the laptop and a wall outlet. After plugging it in, wait a bit before trying to restart it.

Next up, just translate this into American English: This image says, "Disconnect all external devices from your MacBook."

If the power is connected, try disconnecting all external devices attached to your MacBook to see if that stops the freezing, or to identify a faulty peripheral that's causing the problem.

Solution 3: Start in Safe Mode

Safe Mode on Mac is a built-in powerful feature that helps resolve system issues and fix hardware and software problems. Running your Mac in Safe Mode is easy and safe.

The steps differ slightly depending on the Mac chip you have.

If you're unsure about how to use Safe Mode on a Mac, read the article below. It will explain the difference between Safe Mode and Recovery Mode, and when you might use each one.

Mac Safe Mode vs Recovery Mode: How to Use & Differences [MacBook Air/Pro]

This article explains the meaning of Mac Safe Mode and Recovery Mode, as well as the differences between them. Additionally, learn how to use Mac Safe Mode and Recovery Mode to recover and protect your data.

What should I do if my MacBook is frozen on the startup screen?

You can attempt to fix your MacBook with any of the first three remedies. However, if your efforts fail and your MacBook is stuck on the loading screen, it means that your Mac's Safe Mode isn't working, and you could be in for a world of hurt. As such, you should save all your information and take your Mac to a professional for repairs.

Fortunately, you can still remedy this. You still have the chance to recover deleted files from Mac trash using a powerful and secure data recovery program – Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. The user-friendly interface of this tool makes data and file recovery easier even for computer novices.

- Recovers data from Mac Trash, formatted hard drives, memory cards, flash drives, digital cameras, and camcorders. - Delivers superior performance for quicker data recovery, especially for Mac users.

Here are the steps to recover data from Recovery Mode on a Mac without creating a bootable installer:

Step 1: Launch the utility in Recovery Mode

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

Important: If you see “No such file or directory” or “Host not found,” check that you've typed the command correctly, make sure your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection, and confirm that your version of macOS is 10.15 or later.

Step 2: Select the volume on your Mac's hard drive

Select the volume where the lost data was located and click “Find Lost Files.” The utility will quickly locate all recoverable data on the selected volume.

Step 3: Select the lost data you want to recover

The utility will categorize the recoverable data by file type and storage location. You can find the desired data by clicking on "Type" or "Path" in the left sidebar, then check the box before the data you wish to restore.

Step 4: Recover and save your data on an external disk

When you click “Recover,” a window will prompt you to “Choose a location to save.” Select the external hard drive as the new location to store the recovered data.

Solution 4: Force Quit a Frozen App on Your MacBook

When your Mac appears frozen while running an app but still responds to other programs, it's not the entire Mac that's frozen. You can force quit the app to stop the long-running process causing it to be unresponsive.

Here's how to force-quit frozen Mac apps:

Press Command + Option + Esc to open the “Force Quit Applications” window.

Step 2: Tap on the unresponsive app, then tap “Force Stop.”

This will close the app, allowing you to continue using your MacBook.

Fix 5: Uninstall unresponsive apps

If your apps are constantly unresponsive and causing your MacBook to freeze, Force Quit is not an ideal or permanent solution. You should uninstall unresponsive apps.

Here are the steps to uninstall an unresponsive app: 1. **Force Quit the App:** - First, try to open the "Force Quit Applications" window by pressing the `Option` key + `Command` key + `Esc` key. - Locate the unresponsive app in the list, click on it, and then click "Force Quit." 2. **Use Activity Monitor:** - Open Finder, then navigate to "Applications" > "Utilities." - Launch "Activity Monitor." - In the "Processes" tab, find the unresponsive app, click on it, and then click the "X" icon in the top-left corner to force quit. 3. **Uninstall from the Applications Folder:** - Open Finder, then go to "Applications." - Find the unresponsive app, drag it to the Trash, or right-click and choose "Move to Trash." 4. **Using Terminal:** - Open "Terminal," which you can find in "Applications" > "Utilities." - Enter the following command (replace "AppName" with the name of the app you want to uninstall): ``` sudo rm -rf /Applications/AppName.app ``` - Press Enter, then enter your administrator password. 5. **Clean Up Remaining Files:** - Sometimes, apps can leave behind files and settings. You can use a third-party cleanup tool like CleanMyMac, or manually search for related files on your hard drive to delete them. 6. **Restart Your Mac:** - After completing these steps, restart your Mac to ensure all changes take effect. Before performing these actions, make sure you don't have any important data stored within the app, as uninstalling may result in data loss. If the issue persists, consider reaching out to the app developer for further assistance.

Step One: Go to the Applications folder and drag the unresponsive app to the Trash.

Step 2: Empty the Trash to completely remove the app from your MacBook.

If necessary, reinstall the app.

Fix 6: Free up disk space on your MacBook

If your Mac needs a lot of disk space to handle a task, its CPU might experience performance pressure. Check that your Mac has enough free disk space and clean up if necessary to prevent this issue from happening again in the future.

Ways to Free Up Disk Space on Your MacBook:

Step 1. Click the Apple menu, then choose “About This Mac.”

Step 2: Tap “Storage” to see how much space is left on your MacBook.

Step three: Free up space by deleting unnecessary files or apps.

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Fix 7: Update macOS

It could be that outdated hardware isn't compatible with the latest software, causing your Mac to run slow or even freeze. Alternatively, a software issue could be to blame for your MacBook freezing. You can update your Mac to address this problem.

Please try the following steps:

Step 1. Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”

Step 2. Click “Software Update” to check for any available updates for your MacBook.

Step Three: Install all available updates and restart your MacBook to see if that resolves the freezing issue.

How to Fix a Frozen MacBook Air After an Update

When your MacBook freezes after an update or software installation, the situation can be worse because you might lose data due to a system crash, a failed macOS Ventura upgrade, or both. But don't worry – you can use a Mac data recovery wizard tool to get your files back.

Since a failed update can leave a frozen Mac in a state that loses all your data on restart, creating a bootable disk and recovering files from an unbootable Mac should be your first steps.

Of course, more can and should be done.

In short

This article will explain the reasons behind a frozen MacBook Air and how to fix it. Freezes usually occur due to multiple apps, desktop icons, and lack of storage space. Try these solutions to stop your Mac from freezing and get it back to working normally.

After fixing the issue, if you find any data loss issue, then download and use Mac Data Recovery Wizard to restore lost files.

Frequently Asked Questions about MacBook Air Freezing Issues

Here are 4 extra questions about fixing a frozen MacBook Air, with answers you can find here.

**1. Why is my MacBook Air completely frozen?**

A MacBook Air can freeze entirely due to software issues, hardware problems, or lack of resources.

How do I force-restart a frozen MacBook Air?

Step one: Hold down the Power button, the Command button, and the Control button.

Step 2: Hold those keys down until the screen goes black and your MacBook Air restarts.

3. Why won't my MacBook Air turn off or restart?

If your Mac gets stuck during restart, just:

First, press and hold the Mac's power button for up to ten seconds, until it turns off. Then turn it back on – the problem should be resolved.

4. Why is my Mac screen black and unresponsive?

A black screen on a Mac can result from various issues, such as SMC problems, a damaged startup disk, or power-related concerns. In such instances, the best approach is to take proactive measures.