Technology
Why does my PC freeze and how do I fix it? Expert answers
Computers are complex machines. They sometimes run into issues like any machinery. One common issue many of us face is our computer freezing or becoming unresponsive.
If you are dealing with a PC that locks up occasionally, don’t worry; you’re in the right place.
We’ll discuss what causes a computer to freeze and what you can do to fix it and get your computer running smoothly and efficiently again. (Mac users, get these 8 tips to speed up your Mac’s performance.)
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A man using a laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why do PCs freeze up?
PCs can freeze up for a variety of reasons, some related to software and others purely mechanical. Here are a few different reasons your computer might be freezing up.
Insufficient RAM: If your PC does not have enough memory (RAM), running too many programs, or even browser tabs, at once can cause your computer to freeze due to a lack of system resources.
Overheating: If your computer’s CPU (central processing unit) or GPU (graphics processing unit) generates too much heat, it might lock up as a preventative measure. Rising temperatures within your PC can cause a shutdown to protect its integrity. Check out our best cooling pads for your laptop by clicking here.
Software or Driver Conflicts: Errors in a program can create conflicts and cause your PC to freeze up. Driver conflicts often create instabilities in your computer’s internal system, including freezes. A device driver, such as a USB driver, can also cause a device to freeze if it’s outdated, conflicts with another driver or does not work properly.
Hardware Issues: A defective stick of RAM, hard drive, video card or other hardware can cause your PC to freeze.
Corrupt Operating System Files: Corrupt operating system files can cause several problems, including your PC locking up.
A man working on his PC (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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How to fix a frozen PC
More often than not, a frozen PC is an issue that has simple solutions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you unfreeze your computer and get it running smoothly again.
Step 1 — Give it a moment
Sometimes PCs appear frozen, but they are actually just slowly processing tasks. Give it a minute or two to see if it resolves itself first.
Step 2 — Check for overheating
Make sure to check that your computer’s vents are not blocked and that your internal cooling fans are working properly.
TIDY UP YOUR TECH: SPRING-CLEANING TIPS FOR SAFEGUARDING YOUR DATA
Computer fans (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Step 3 — Close unresponsive programs on your PC
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select Task Manager. From the task manager, you can end any programs and processes using a lot of CPU power. If your Windows desktop, including the taskbar and Start menu, freezes, you can sometimes restart Windows Explorer to fix these problems.
Step 4 — Restart your PC
If the above steps haven’t worked, try restarting your computer.
Step 5 — Check for updates and drivers
Ensure that your operating system and all your drivers are up to date. Outdated software can often cause system freezes. By default, Windows will scan your computer’s programs and install the recommended drivers for system stability. Make sure Windows Update is turned on for automatic updates.
Step 6 — Run a virus scan
Malware can also cause computers to freeze. We recommend running a full system scan using antivirus software to ensure your computer is malware- and virus-free. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.
Step 7 — Free up disk space
If your hard drive is full, it can slow down your PC and cause it to freeze up. In that case, you’ll want to try to optimize your computer’s performance by cleaning the files on your computer.
Images of microprocessors (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Step 8 — Install more RAM
If your PC frequently freezes, you may need more RAM. Consider upgrading its memory. Depending on where you are, you can bring your computer into a BestBuy or MicroCenter, and a technician can install the RAM. Depending on which company built your computer, you can also likely send it in for a RAM upgrade.
Step 9 — Restore to an earlier state
Use the Windows System Restore feature to restore your computer to its previous state. Beware, though, that using system restore will restore everything on your PC to its original state on the date you selected. Make sure to back up anything you need.
Is it time for a new desktop or laptop?
If you are working with an older laptop or desktop, it might be time to look at new computers on the market. Our list of the best desktop computers is available here, and our list of the best laptops is available here.
Kurt’s key takeaways
It’s always a good idea to keep your PC updated and regularly check for potential hardware issues. If any problems related to freezing persist, you might want to consider getting professional help. Remember also to regularly back up your data to prevent any potential losses.
Can you share a “computer freeze” horror story and the lessons it taught you about computer maintenance? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard
When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro heard Google was gobbling up public land to fuel its data centers in her home state, she didn’t initially know what to believe. “There’s a lot of misinformation about data centers,” she said. “Google has denied taking that land.”
Technically, she explains, The Dalles, a city near the Washington state border, sought to reclaim that land, “and Google is just a big, unnamed power user.” The city had in fact asked for ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needs access to Mount Hood’s watershed to meet municipal needs as its population — 16,010 as of the 2020 census — grows. But critics, including environmentalists, say the city is trying to secure more water for Google, which has a sprawling data center campus in The Dalles that already consumes about one-third of the city’s water supply.
This controversy made Reksopuro curious about the backlash to data centers being built in other communities. So Reksopuro, a student at the University of Washington who studies the connections between tech and public policy, decided to map it out. Using information collected by Epoch AI and data scraped from legislation on data centers, she built an interactive map tracking AI policy around the world. She designed it to be simple enough for anyone to use. “I wanted it to be something that my younger sisters could play through and explore to understand what are the data centers in the area and what’s actually being done about it,” Reksopuro said. She hoped to shift their opinions that way, “instead of like, through TikTok.”
Four times a day, the map searches for new sources and checks them against the existing database Reksopuro built out. “Once it does that, it will write a new summary, add it to the news feed, and populate it on the sidebar,” she said. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student.”
Reksopuro isn’t against data centers, but she thinks tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency around data center policies. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”
Technology
Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed
UCF commencement speaker Gloria Caulfield (University of Central Florida via Storyful)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– UCF graduates clobber commencement speaker with boos after she says AI is the ‘next Industrial Revolution’
– OPINION: DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: We brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age
– OpenAI backs creation of global AI governance body led by the U.S. that would include China as a member
TOUGH CROWD: During a recent commencement ceremony at the University of Central Florida, a speaker was met with loud boos from the graduating class after declaring that artificial intelligence represents the next industrial revolution. Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI’s growing footprint in daily life.
A statue on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. (iStock)
BADGE MEETS BYTE: Reflecting on the modernization of national security in a Fox News op-ed, FBI Director Kash Patel explores how the bureau must adapt its strategies to address modern threats and advance beyond the artificial intelligence age.
TECH DIPLOMACY: OpenAI is throwing its support behind the establishment of a new global artificial intelligence governance organization that would be led by the United States while notably including China as a member. Fox News Digital reporting examines the geopolitical dynamics and regulatory implications of this proposed framework as global powers race to set the standards for AI development.
EQUITY ELEVATION: The massive wave of wealth generated by the explosive growth of ChatGPT and the broader AI industry is driving a sudden surge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s luxury real estate market. Fox News Digital reporting breaks down how the influx of new tech capital is reshaping local housing dynamics and fueling a high-end property frenzy.
FBI Director Kash Patel listened as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
STRATEGY RESET: Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fox News Digital reporting details the corporate restructuring and broader economic trends pushing legacy tech firms to aggressively pivot toward AI.
ROAD HAZARD: Waymo is issuing a sweeping recall of its autonomous vehicle fleet following a concerning incident that highlighted significant safety issues with the self-driving technology. Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.
BOTS IN THE BAY: A newly developed, artificial intelligence-powered robot has been engineered to seamlessly change and balance vehicle tires without human intervention. Fox News Digital reporting showcases this latest innovation, exploring how automation and AI mechanics could soon revolutionize the automotive service and repair industry.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
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Technology
Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs
Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.
In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.
Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.
You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.
Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”
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