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If the freezing persists when you use your Mac outside of safe mode, you may have an issue with login items (apps that load when you first log in), Wi-Fi networking, or an external device, as all these are disabled or limited by safe mode.Īpple’s support page has more information on safe mode, which may help. If you’re able to use your Mac without it freezing, then safe mode may have fixed the issue. Now try rebooting your Mac using the normal startup procedure. If you’ve encrypted your startup disk with FileVault, you may have to log in twice - once to unlock the startup disk and the second time to log in to Finder. Release the Shift key when you see the login window. To start in safe mode, shut down your Mac, then turn it back on and immediately press and hold the Shift key. Safe mode verifies the integrity of your startup disk and disables certain apps and processes from running. Loading your Mac in safe mode could fix problems associated with freezes or may help you identify what’s causing the issue in the first place.
#Google photos on mac wont stop spinning how to
Apple has instructions on how to turn off the firmware password on its website. Note that if you have a firmware password set, you’ll need to turn it off before you can reset the PRAM and NVRAM. If your Mac has a T2 Security Chip, you can release them once the Apple logo has appeared and disappeared a second time.
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If your Mac normally plays a startup sound when you turn it on, you can release the keys when this plays. Hold these keys for 20 seconds your Mac may restart during this time, but keep holding them for the 20-second duration. First, shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press Opt+Cmd+P+R. Resetting them could help, and the process is the same for both. If your Mac is freezing, it could be that there’s an error with either the PRAM or NVRAM. Your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM are small sections of memory that store certain settings that need to be accessed quickly by the computer. If you’re using an older MacBook with a removable battery, you’ll need to follow the steps on Apple’s website.īill Roberson/Digital Trends Reset PRAM/NVRAM Let go and wait a few seconds, then press it again to turn on the Mac. For both MacBooks and desktop Macs, turn off the device, then press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. If your Mac has a T2 chip, the process is different.
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If you’re using a Mac desktop without a T2 chip (such as an iMac), switch it off, unplug the power cord and wait 15 seconds, plug it back in, then turn on your Mac. Now press the power button to switch on your Mac. Hold all these keys for 10 seconds, then let go. If you’re using a MacBook that doesn’t (meaning you don’t have at least a 2016 or newer MacBook Pro), shut it down, then press Shift+Ctrl+Opt and the power button at the same time. What you do depends on whether your Mac has a T2 Security Chip. If your Mac keeps freezing, it could be that the SMC needs to be reset. The System Management Controller (SMC) takes care of all sorts of things behind the scenes in your Mac, from battery management to keyboard backlighting. Fabian Irsara/Unsplash Reset the System Management Controller If your Mac is entirely locked up and the above steps won’t work, press Ctrl+Opt+Cmd and the power button at the same time this will reboot your Mac. Select the app you want to close, then click Force Quit (or Relaunch if Finder has frozen), then click Force Quit on the confirmation dialogue box. Hold Option (labeled as Alt on some Mac keyboards) until Quit becomes Force Quit click this.Īlternatively, try pressing Opt+Cmd+Esc to open the Force Quit window. If an app has frozen and quitting it won’t work, Ctrl+click its icon in the Dock, then hover the pointer over the Quit button. The first thing to try if your Mac is unresponsive is checking if an app has frozen, as sometimes this can also lock up your Mac. Show 1 more item Force quit unresponsive apps
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