8 Fixes for When MacBook Is Air Frozen

Stuck on your MacBook startup screen, or is it completely unresponsive? A frozen MacBook Air could result from a software glitch or resource overload. We have compiled a list of all the troubleshooting methods that may help you fix an unresponsive or frozen MacBook display.

1. Reboot Your Mac Air

The first method that you can try is rebooting your Mac Air. When your MacBook Air is frozen, andno keys or touchpad is working, you shouldstart with a hard reset.

For this, you can do a manual reset:

1.Press and hold the Power button on your Mac.

2.Wait for macOS to shut down.

3.Now, press the Power button again to start your Mac.

Check if your Mac starts normally. If everything is working as it should, the error might have been with the particular app you used or due to overload.

2. Use Safe Mode

If a normal reboot isn’t working, you need to restart your MacBook Air in the Safe Mode. This method helps to determine if the issues are caused by any particular software or not. If you are unsure, here is how you canfind your Mac’s specifications.

For Apple Silicon MacBook

1.Press and hold your Power Button to shut down your Mac.

2.Now, again, Press and hold the Power button to start the system.

3.Hold the button until theLoading startup optionsappear on the screen.

4.Select theBoot Volumeoption.

5.Now, press and hold the Shift Key. Click onContinue in Safe Mode.

Mac air will now restart in Safe Mode.

For Intel-Based Mac

1.Switch off your Mac.

2.Then, press the power button to restart your Mac.

3.Press and hold the Shift key on the keyboard while the system restarts.

Enter your Mac password to enter your system. You can now check if your system is working without any errors.

Again, restart the system in normal mode and see if the problem persists. If the MacBook Air is still frozen, the problem might have been due to a faultycache fixedin safe mode.

3. Run Apple Diagnostics

We will be checking the Mac for any hardware issues through Apple Diagnostics. This model also suggests certain solutions that will eventually resolve the frozen MacBook Air issue as well.

Make sure you have updated your macOS and removed all external devices connected to it. Let’s look at the steps to run Apple Diagnostics.

Note:How to Find Your MacBook’s Specs and OS Version

For Silicon MacBook

1.Go to the Apple menu on the top-left and chooseShut Down.

2.Now, press and hold the Power Button to restart.

3.Keep holding the button till you see theStartup Optionson the screen.

4.Press and holdCommand + Don the keyboard until the diagnostics start.

For Intel-based Mac

1.Go to theApple menuon the top-left and choose Shut Down.

2.Press the power button to start again once the system is switched off.

3.Instantly press and hold theD keywhile your Mac starts. Let go of the D key and choose your network connection on the screen.

Whether you are using a Silicon or Intel-based Mac, follow the steps below.

1.Choose the language on the screen and clickI agreeor pressReturnon the keyboard to continue.

Wait for the system to start the diagnostics; that will take 3-5 minutes. Once done, if any issues are detected, they will be displayed on the screen with a reference code that you cansearch on Googleand try resolving by yourself.

If not, note the issue and try contacting Apple customer care for the same.

4. Repair your Mac Disk

Another major reason your Mac might be frozen or stuck on the startup screen is the errors related to your Disk. However, this can be repaired.

Here is how you can do it.

1. Open Disk Utility

You can open Disk Utility on your Mac through the following methods. It depends on whether you are looking for an Apple Silicon or an Intel-based Mac.

Apple Silicon

1.Press and hold the Power button to shut down the Mac if stuck.

2.Now, turn on your Mac. Press and hold the Power button till you see theStartup Options.

3.ChooseOptionsand click onContinue.

Intel-based

1.Shut down your Mac.

2.Press the power button and hold theCommand + Rto enter Recovery Mode.

Choose the user on the screen and enter your Mac password. In the recovery window, click onDisk Utility.

2. Repair Disk

Now we have entered the Disk Utility; we will be repairing the Disk and checking for any errors that might be causing the frozen issue on your system.

1.Select the Disk you want to repair.

2.Then, click onFirst Aidat the top.

3.SelectRunin the dialog box on the screen.

4.Wait for the system to check for any errors. Once done, you can repeat the same for all the other volumes on your Mac.

After the Disk Repair is completed for all the volumes, you can exit the Recovery Mode by restarting your Mac.

5. Force Quit Apps

If your MacBook is frozen while you are working on a certain app or software, the error could be due to a faulty third-party app. Hence, you need toforce quit that particular appor all the apps opened on the system.

1.PressOption + Command + Escon the keyboard.

2.Now, choose the app you want to quit.

3.Click onForce Quit.

You can select multiple apps at once or do it multiple times, whichever works best for you.

6. Switch to a Different Browser

Google Chrome is one of the best browsers for your Mac, but it is a highly power-hungry software. Another reason that your Mac might be frozen or unresponsive could be because of such browsers.

Hence, you can either switch to Safari or use other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox orMicrosoft Edge. These are relatively safe to use and are highly responsive even while working on heavy tasks.

7. Update macOS

If the error keeps popping up after trying out all the listed solutions, you must update your macOS.

Apple often recognizes such errors and releases necessary updates. Follow the steps below to update your macOS.

2.SelectGeneralon the left sidebarand openSoftware Update.

3.Wait for the system to look for updates.

4.If the system detects any pending updates, click onUpdate Now.

The system will now start updating and will restart once completed.

8. Reinstall macOS

The last option that you can go with is reinstalling your macOS. This might seem like a huge step, but the only method that might work.

For this, we need to use Mac Recovery Mode. Let’s see how you can reinstall macOS.

1. Use macOS Recovery Mode

To enter macOS Recovery, verify you have a reliable internet connection and shut down your Mac.

For Apple Silicon:

1.Press and hold the Power button to restart.

2.Keep holding till you see the Startup Options on the screen.

3.SelectOptionsand click onContinue.

Choose the user and enter your Mac password to authenticate.

1.Press the power button to start your Mac.

2.Then, pressCommand + Runtil you see a spinning globe or Apple logo on the screen.

3.Choose the user and enter your Mac password to authenticate.

2. Reinstall macOS

Once you have entered the recovery mode, follow the steps below.

1.ChooseReinstall macOS Venturaand click onContinuebelow.

2.Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the Mac to complete the installation.

3.Then, enter your Mac’s password and start over again.

Mac Up in the Air

Hopefully, your MacBook Air is no longer frozen. The process is straightforward and involves a few methods that work for almost all. If nothing works, you can either look for updating the system or reinstalling your Mac might do the job.

Did you know you can nowshare files between Android and macOS wirelessly? Yup, it’s possible now and we will show you how.

Kanika Modi

Kanika loves writing about everything Apple and hoping to add meaning to what people read. She has been creating content for over 7 years now about tech guides, tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and gadget reviews. Keeping aside tech, she is a massive football enthusiast or better say Lionel Messi fan.