Windows 10 and 11 users are no strangers to random freezes of the system. From insufficient memory to malware infection, there can be multiple reasons your PC won’t work as intended. We’ve collected 10 common reasons and effective solutions to bring your computer back to life.
Contents
- Outdated drivers on your PC
- Disk Errors
- Screen resolution is too high
- Malware corruption
- Incorrectly installed updates
- Insufficient memory
- Excessive or incompatible startup items
- C-States are enabled
- CPU overheating
- Insufficient ventilation
Why Does My Computer Keep Freezing? Reasons and Solutions
Freezing happens when a system struggles – sometimes it is the machine’s hardware letting down, other times malicious code hides inside, or faulty programs stumble. Look closer at typical causes like slow processors or damaged files causing delays, then explore practical fixes anyone can try.
1. Outdated drivers on your PC
Outdated drivers tend to cause problems over time if ignored. System stability often drops when old versions stay in place. Hardware and software start failing to work properly as time goes on. Performance slowly wears away without signs at first glance. Graphic drivers lagging behind cause the biggest decline in speed.
First, updating graphics and chipset drivers:
- Press Windows + X, then search for Device Manager.
- Expand the category “Display Adapter” (or “Network Adapter”).
- Right-click on the device.
- Choose Update Driver.
Windows will scan for available updates and install them.
Install recent updates, including drivers, through Settings:
- Use the key combination: Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Windows Update.
- Check for updates.
- Install updates (including optional drivers in Advanced options).
2. Disk Errors
Sometimes, the reason behind Windows freezing is registry errors, corrupted files, and other disk problems. Running system scans helps maintain drive integrity and can free up system resources.
You can use Command Prompt to run specific scans using these tools:
- “DISM” (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)
- “SFC” (System File Checker)
- “CHKDSK” (Check Disk (Disk Repair)
This is how you can execute these commands:
- Type “CMD” in the Start menu.
- Choose “Run as Administrator”
- First, run the “DISM” command.
- After it. Insert “SFC” and hit Enter.
- Complete the scan.
- Insert “chkdsk c: /f /r” and hit Enter.
Note: The message “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use” may appear. Press “Y”, hit Enter, and restart the computer. Your system will finish the scan during boot.
3. Screen resolution is too high
Why does my PC keep freezing every few seconds? That lag could come from something small: your system running a 4K screen fixated on older processing units. Instead of speed, mismatched demands meet thin hardware. Using more than one screen at once can be another contributing factor.
Follow these steps to adjust scan resolution:
- Go to Settings.
- Choose System and then Display.
- Under Scan & Layout, decrease your screen resolution.
- Apply the changes by clicking Keep Changes.
4. Malware corruption
Hidden from view, harmful programs – like viruses, spyware, or malware – can sit quietly, running quietly. Still, they hog CPU power while altering key system files and registry entries. Such shifts tend to spark friction among core system elements.
Use Windows Provacy&Security feature to remove malicious programs:
- Open Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- Proceed to Windows Security.
- Choose Virus & Threat Protection.
- Opt for Full Scan. (Click Scan Now).
5. Incorrectly installed updates
System updates can occasionally contain buggy patches or provoke driver conflicts. Remove them to improve the system stability.
Use Settings to uninstall recent updates:
- Open Settings (preferred method), then select Windows Update.
- Go to Update History.
- Click Uninstall Updates.
- Locate the latest update number (right-click).
- Choose Uninstall.
- Restart your PC (when you are prompted).
Remove updates through CMD:
- Open CMD as Administrator.
- Run “wusa /uninstall /kb:KBXXXXXX”
- Replace XXXXXX with the KB number (Update history)
- Press Enter and confirm the command.
- Restart your PC.
6. Insufficient memory
When a machine runs low on RAM, problems tend to pop up faster – slowdowns become common. 2 GB is the bare minimum Windows 10 accepts; turn to Windows 11, and it wants no less than 4GB. If there’s too little physical memory, the OS shifts into virtual mode instead. That swap happens quietly behind the scenes.
To increase virtual memory:
- Press Windows + I and proceed to System (About).
- Choose Advanced system settings at the bottom of the menu.
- Click Settings under the Advanced tab.
- Go back to Advanced and choose Change.
- “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” remains empty.
- Choose the drive with Windows installed (typically C).
- Set the Initial/ Maximum size of virtual memory.
| Initial | Choose the recommended number (the best size depends on your computer). |
| Maximum | Set the value to 1.5 times the size of your RAM. |
7. Excessive or incompatible startup items
A frozen screen often shows up when too many apps wake up at startup. These background tasks eat into memory and slow things down. Sometimes, a program clashes during boot, since mismatched settings cause trouble.
Start managing startup programs:
- Launch Task Manager.
- Stop heavy apps or unused apps.
8. C-States are enabled
“C-States” or “CPU states” are power-saving options in BIOS. They make your PC use as little power as possible when it’s not used actively. Sometimes, they can cause Windows bugs, so disabling C-States improves system stability.
To disable C-States, follow these steps:
- Press the Startup key when your PC restarts.
- In BIOS, navigate to Advanced > CPU Configuration.
- Ensure the C1E Function and Intel(R) C-STATE tech are Disabled.
9. CPU overheating
The CPU temperatures exceeding the norm can trigger the protection method called thermal throttling. Here are the reference temperatures for CPU usage.
| Idle state | below 50 degrees Celsius |
| Heavy Use | 80 to 90 degrees Celsius |
To check the CPU temperature in BIOS:
- Restart your PC.
- Press Del, F2, or F10.
- Enter BIOS/UEFI.
- Under Hardware Monitor, go to PC Health.
If using the BIOS seems too complicated, you can download a third-party solution to track CPU temperature and prevent critical overheating.
10. Insufficient ventilation
Dirt builds up slowly when a computer runs often – fans might get blocked this way. Because of that, the heat rises past 70 to 90 degrees Celsius before cooler changes happen. Shutdowns happen on their own now since temperatures climb too high without warning. Every half year or so, swap out the old thermal gel and wipe clean what lives inside the machine where air moves thin.
Bottom Line
Your screen freezes, but the PC keeps running? On the whole, Windows performance issues stem from too much pressure on memory, tangled apps, or older gear slowing down. Clearing clutter, like running disk checks or patching systems, often helps things come back to normal again. When nothing else works, reaching out to a trained support team might make sense.
