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There are various reasons why Mac apps freeze or crash, ranging from hardware to software glitches. If you're facing such issues, check out these 6 methods to fix frozen Mac apps and regain smooth operation.
6 Effective Solutions for Fixing Frozen Mac Apps
Method 1: Exiting or Forcing Quitting Applications
If an application freezes or becomes unresponsive, with the cursor turning into a beach ball, it's likely due to low RAM, high CPU usage, or application errors.
While other applications may function normally, the beach ball cursor only appears when hovering over the problematic app's window. To resolve this, you first need to exit the application and free up space.
To exit an application, locate and right-click on its icon on the Dock, then select Quit. Alternatively, you can press Cmd + Q.
If an application is frozen and the regular Quit command doesn't work, you can access the Apple menu => Force Quit or press Option + Cmd + Esc. In the Force Quit Applications window, select the faulty app and click Force Quit.
If the above method is unavailable, consider trying some other troubleshooting methods below.
Method 2: Restarting Your Mac
The simplest way to resolve system freezes, crashes, memory leaks, and other app-related issues is to restart your device. To restart your Mac, click on Apple Menu and select Restart. On the confirmation screen, click Restart.
macOS will exit all background apps and running processes. This helps free up RAM and CPU, reducing virtual memory usage from the hard drive.
If the Apple Menu doesn't open or your Mac is frozen, press and hold Control + Cmd + press the Power button simultaneously to initiate a restart. Alternatively, hold down the Power button for about 10 seconds to restart your Mac.
Method 3: Software Update
If apps aren't functioning correctly, you can update available app versions to fix issues. Open the App Store, then click on the Updates button. To update an app, click on the Update button next to it.
When app updates are available, you'll receive notifications and update icons on the App Store.
Apps downloaded from developer websites may not have automatic update mechanisms. Some apps check for updates each time they're launched, while others do so on a fixed schedule or upon request. Your task is to find the Check for Updates command in the Help menu, Application menu, or Preferences window.
Additionally, you can enable automatic update feature to update apps whenever updates are available.
Method 4: Checking Compatibility Issues
If the issue persists, you can troubleshoot Mac app freezes or crashes by checking if the app is compatible with the latest macOS version. Open Apple Menu =>About This Mac to check the macOS version you're using. Visit the app developer's website to see if the app is compatible with the operating system you're using.
Additionally, try checking for old 32-bit apps on the system. To do this, open Apple Menu =>About This Mac then click on the System Report button.
Scroll down the left pane, select Applications under the Software section. Wait a few seconds for the list of installed apps to appear. In the right pane, locate the column labeled 64-bit (Intel). Adjust the column width and click on the header to sort the list.
No indicates 32-bit apps and Yes indicates 64-bit apps.
During the WWDC 2018 conference, Apple announced that macOS Mojave would be the last version to support 32-bit apps. This means if you have any 32-bit apps installed, it's best to find alternatives.
While developers strive to support their apps on newly released macOS versions, errors are inevitable, especially with early updates. Check forums to see if other users have encountered similar issues to yours.
Method 5: Deleting Preference Files
Preference files contain app settings, including essential parameters for proper functioning. If preference files are corrupted, apps may freeze, crash, or even lose data.
Most preference files are located within the following Library directories:
-/Library/Preferences or /Library/Preferences
-/Library/Application Support/[App or Developer name] or /Library/Application Support/[App or Developer name]
-/Library/Containers/[App name]/Data/Library/Preferences
According to Apple's developer documentation, preference files follow a standard naming convention called the reverse domain naming system. This includes the company name, application bundle identifier, followed by the property list file extension (.plist). For example, com.apple.finder.plist is the Finder's preference file.
Developers may use proprietary naming conventions, but focus on clarifying the application name. For instance, org.idrix.Veracrypt.plist is the preference file for the Veracrypt application.
To locate an application's preference file, the first step is to close the application if it's running. Open the Library folder and set the view mode to List view, then click on the Name column to sort the list of applications alphabetically.
Enter the application name in the search box. To narrow down the search result list, click on the plus sign icon and set the second row to System files are included.
Drag the preference file onto the desktop. As the server process runs in the background to maintain the entire preference structure, your task is to clear its cache memory to remove outdated preference data. This way, the application cannot use old preference files, and app freezing or crashing issues will be resolved.
To do this, first select Apple Menu =>Log Out to log out and log back in. Then, open Terminal and enter the command killall cfprefsd, and press Return.
Another way to delete preference files is to use AppCleaner. AppCleaner is a free utility designed to uninstall Mac applications without leaving any data behind, as well as remove preference files.
Download AppCleaner from here: Download AppCleaner
Simply enter the application name into AppCleaner, then uncheck the application, tick the options, related settings, and click Remove.
Method 6: Clearing App Cache Memory
All Mac applications use cache memory. Cache files store frequently used information, helping applications operate more efficiently.
If the cache memory files are corrupted or damaged, it can lead to application errors or improper functioning. macOS attempts to remove corrupted cache memory files, but because app cache memory files are inherently hidden, identifying issues stemming from cache memory can be quite challenging.
Cache memory files are located within the following Library directories:
-/Library/Caches or /Library/Caches
-/Library/Containers/[App Name]/Data/Library/Caches/[App Name]
-/Library/Saved Application State
Application names adhere to the naming convention of preference files. Close the application and locate the application's cache memory file or folder using the specific paths provided above. Once found, drag these files or folders to the trash. The application will automatically regenerate cache memory files.
If the application displays an issue, you can clear the system cache memory. Open Terminal and enter the command below, then press Return:
sudo atsutil databases -remove
Enter your Admin password when prompted. Once the process is complete, restart your Mac.
A small note is to not clear system cache memory recklessly, only do so when the system or applications encounter issues. Cache memory helps Mac run smoother. Clearing system cache memory means Mac will have to recreate them from scratch.
This article just provided you with 6 ways to fix frozen or stuck Mac applications. Additionally, you can consider optimizing your MacBook system with CleanMyMac 3 to ensure more free space and stable operation. If the above methods don't work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the application or checking log files, or seeking assistance from the developer.
