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How often does your computer suddenly hang or freeze while you are using it? Nearly everyone has encountered this issue.

Long-term laptop users may experience their laptop freezes when working in the middle of something important. For instance, imagine you are trying to place bets on lacrosse outrights–-you wouldn’t want your laptop to freeze just as you’re about to confirm your selections.

While your laptop hangs, the device may occasionally slow down or stop responding. This can be frustrating and could seriously hinder your productivity.

Fortunately, various solutions can help you reduce downtime and resume working as soon as your computer no longer freezes. This guide will introduce several tips you can follow to solve the common issue.

1. Waiting for several minutes

Usually, a laptop’s frequent hanging issue is caused by undergoing a specific CPU-intensive task or an application using up excessive RAM and CPU resources. In such a scenario, it is best to wait five to ten minutes to see if it works again to give the laptop the time to catch up and complete its task.

There are situations when a particular action uses up all of the RAM on the computer, and it takes a moment for the system to clear these tasks. Everything should be alright as long as this does not happen frequently.

2. Closing unwanted apps or services in the background

Another thing to try is to check how many unnecessary apps or tasks are running in the background and close them. In a Windows laptop, you can simultaneously press Control, Alt, and Delete or press Control, Shift, and Escape to launch the Task Manager.

Next, select the unwanted apps you are looking for and choose End Task. Alternatively, press Alt and F4 to close the running window or application quickly. The issue should be solved, and the laptop should now function properly.

If that does not work, you might need to forcefully shut down by holding the “Power” button for a short while and then restarting your laptop. However, remember to save the document you are working on to prevent losing important information.

3. Checking for updates

Outdated software or uninstalled updates may cause your computer’s slow performance or frequent hanging issues. It is always recommended to use a legal copy of Microsoft Windows to download updates as soon as they are available. You should install the updates and restart your laptop.

To update, go to Settings and click on Update and Security. Then, select Check for Updates and click Restart Now after downloading the update to the device. On the other hand, Windows 10 users have the update option enabled automatically. Usually, the latest drivers and automatic updates can be found online. 

4. Clearing cache and checking malware

Temporary and cache files can build up over time and take up your computer space. Clearing the cache can increase the device’s performance and reduce the occurrence of frozen laptops. However, remember that clearing the cache will force you to log out of any websites you logged in to.

Checking for viruses or malware on your laptop is also essential. Scan your laptop to check for any viruses that cause the issue. Windows computers usually provide scan options in their security settings. You can also use a legalized and reliable free tool on the internet to scan.

5. Using a cooling pad

Ironically, overheating can frequently lead to computer freezing. A laptop’s fans may become extremely loud and operate fully when it overheats. When this happens, a cooling pad is an excellent way to prevent the laptop from overheating. The laptop cooling pad’s fans can suck the hot air from the laptop’s air exhaust vents and expel it outside, which helps the laptop to stay cool.