Start with the keyboard test
This Windows 11 guide separates a single-program problem from a whole-computer freeze before checking physical triggers.
Step 1 of 6
In this guide
Check what still responds
Check what still responds
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete. If its menu opens, Windows is responding and the frozen program is the problem: use the single-app checks below. If the display stays stuck with no response, take the whole-computer path instead.
If this has fixed the issue, you can stop here.
Close the frozen app and restart
Close the frozen app and restart
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to bring up Task Manager. Locate the unresponsive app, right-click its entry and select End task.
- Restart the computer to clear its working memory and start the program afresh.
Check whether the app or computer is working again. If it is, you can stop here.
Update the app, then reinstall if necessary
Update the app, then reinstall if necessary
- Look in the app’s settings for its update option. If it will not open, obtain the latest release from its developer’s official website. Older software often crashes on newer Windows versions.
- If it crashes immediately on launch, damaged program files are the likely cause. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the app and choose Uninstall. Download a new installer from the developer’s own site and install it again.
Check whether the app or computer is working again. If it is, you can stop here.
Restart a completely locked computer
Restart a completely locked computer
This includes a computer with a motionless pointer and an unresponsive display.
- Keep the computer’s physical power button pressed for ten seconds, until its lights switch off.
- Pause for a few seconds, then power it on again.
Check whether the app or computer is working again. If it is, you can stop here.
Check drive space and Windows files
Check drive space and Windows files
Check the room remaining on the local drive with our disk-space guide. Windows will lock up when its C: drive has no space left.
Next, use Windows’ built-in system-file repair:
- In the Windows search bar, enter cmd. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Enter sfc /scannow, press Enter and leave the scan to reach 100%. It finds damaged Windows files and repairs them automatically.
Check whether the app or computer is working again. If it is, you can stop here.
Look for physical triggers
Look for physical triggers
- Heat: check whether the computer feels hot or its fans have become very loud. Dust restricts airflow. When the computer overheats, Windows freezes or shuts down to protect its components. Clear dust from the vents with a can of compressed air.
- Connected devices: disconnect a webcam, printer or external drive that was added recently. A faulty accessory or its driver can cause Windows to crash.
For continuing freezes, our frequent system crashes guide covers event-log investigation and hardware checks.
Check whether the app or computer is working again. If it is, you can stop here.
Book IT supportFrequently asked questions
How do I choose between the two paths?
Start with Ctrl + Alt + Delete. This guide directs a responding menu to the single-app checks, and a display that stays unresponsive to the whole-computer checks.
How do I close the app that has frozen?
Bring up Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, locate the program, right-click its entry and select End task. The single-app path then covers a restart, updates and reinstallation.
Where should I get the replacement installer?
Use the software developer’s official website to obtain the latest release when the app will not open or needs reinstalling.
Which physical triggers does this guide cover?
It covers excess heat and recently attached devices. Note heat or loud fans, and whether a webcam, printer or external drive was connected before the crashes began.
What details should I give you about the freeze?
Describe the activity just before it happened, and whether there was a blue-screen code or the display simply stopped responding.
